ARTICLE
26 October 2016

UAE Family Matters Q&A: Whose Divorce Claim Takes Precedence?

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Dr. Hassan Elhais

Contributor

Dr. Hassan Elhais, a long-standing member of the prestigious Amal Alrashedi Lawyers & Legal Consultants, is a renowned legal consultant in the UAE, specializing in family law, criminal law, civil law, company incorporation, construction law, banking law, inheritance law, and arbitration. Dr. Elhais has gained wide recognition in the country, winning numerous awards and accolades. He was declared the Legal Consultant of the Year in 2026 by Leaders in Law. He was also elected as the co-chair of the ‘Relocation of Children Committee’ of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a worldwide association of practicing lawyers, widely regarded as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. Dr. Hassan Elhais’s continued recognition in the 2025 Chambers and Partners rankings for Family/Matrimonial services to High-Net-Worth individuals in the UAE from 2022-2025.
I have filed for divorce against my husband in my home country. Can he file a divorce case against me in the UAE because we are residents here?
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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Question: I have filed for divorce against my husband in my home country. Can he file a divorce case against me in the UAE because we are residents here?

Answer: On numerous occasions applications have been made to UAE courts to dismiss proceedings because the same issue is being tried in a foreign court. In these instances, the UAE courts have often insisted that the person making the application produce a final judgment from the foreign court before it makes a decision. As a result, just because the same issue is being tried or heard in a foreign court does not mean that a UAE court would automatically refuse to hear the same case in the UAE. However, some judges have relied on Article 102 of Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 (the Civil Procedures Law) to suspend proceedings, if a party successfully establishes that the case was registered first in a foreign jurisdiction. So, your husband may still have the chance to file and proceed with his case in the UAE, it just depends on whether the court chooses to dismiss the case or wait on a ruling from the foreign court because the case was first registered in that jurisdiction.

Question: I am an Asian Muslim woman married to a Muslim man for five years. We have a four-year-old boy, but my husband only comes home for a couple of hours at a time. I am his second wife and his first wife does not know about us. Do I have the right to get a divorce from him because he's neglecting us?

Answer: As per Article 55/6 of UAE Federal Law No. 28 of 2005, the Personal Status Law, if a man has more than one wife he has to treat all of them equally. That your husband only spends two hours in your home can be considered unfair or a moral harm towards you. You may claim divorce on this ground. Since your boy is four, you have the right to claim custody and financial support.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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