Dubai Police have revealed that the boy found abandoned in a mall two weeks ago was in the care of a woman who was not his biological mother.
They say the boy's mother left him with the woman before she flew out of the country in 2014.
His new caretaker had raised him for five years but when she couldn't afford to take care of him any longer, she decided to leave him in a mall.
Police say they received a call from a woman in Sharjah hours after the child's photo was circulated in the media.
They coordinated with Sharjah Police to find and arrest the woman the same day.
The caretaker was detained along with three other women who were also involved in illegally keeping the child without informing the authorities.
Police have conducted DNA tests on all four women to confirm that none of them is his biological mother.
They also confirmed that medical tests conducted on the five-year-old confirm that he is healthy.
#أخبار | شرطة دبي تكشف تفاصيل قصة "الطفل الضائع"
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) September 19, 2019
التفاصيل:https://t.co/St4P1RLTWt#أمنكم_سعادتنا pic.twitter.com/ElPEHrIKCt
The boy is now being taken care of by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC).

World’s Coolest Winter campaign spotlights UAE entrepreneurs
UAE set for second phase of single-use plastic ban
Dubai tests drones to clean traffic signals
UAE leaders hail 'enduring bonds of friendship' on Bahrain's National Day
UAE locally produces 3 oncology medicines to strengthen fight against cancer
UAE stands in solidarity with Morocco over deadly flash floods
Dubai mandates front number plates for delivery bikes
UAE condemns drone attack on peacekeeping base in Sudan
UAE condemns Israel’s approval to establish 19 settlements in West Bank
UAE, European Commission Presidents explore closer ties
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan reviews Dubai Customs' innovative progress
UAE, Cyprus Presidents discuss enhancing strategic partnership
Emirates, Dubai Humanitarian launch airbridge for Sri Lanka cyclone victims
RTA chalks out route map for Dubai Metro Blue Line
UAE opens Emirates Medical Centre to serve patients in Gaza
UAE President receives official welcome at Presidential Palace in Nicosia
Rain hits parts of UAE: Dubai Police issues public safety SMS alerts
UAE condemns terrorist shooting at Bondi Beach
UAE condemns shooting at Brown University in US
Sheikh Mohammed honours Palestinian architect with 'Great Arab Minds' award
