ARTICLE
17 November 2016

UAE Family Matters Q&As: Can My Husband Marry Again To 'Resolve Financial Issues'?

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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.
Question: I am an Asian woman who lives outside the UAE, but my husband is there. He is unemployed and facing financial difficulties
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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Question: I am an Asian woman who lives outside the UAE, but my husband is there. He is unemployed and facing financial difficulties. He has told me that he will marry another woman on the pretext that she will solve all his financial difficulties. I do not believe him. I have a child with him and I'm worried about our future. What options do I have?

Answer: You have the right to claim a divorce from your husband based on the ground that he has not been supporting you and your child financially, under Article 124 of Federal Law No.28 of 2005, the Personal Status Law. Also, if he marries this woman he would be giving you another reason to claim divorce from him. You would have the right to claim from him compensation, or Nafakkit Muttaa, per Article 140 of the same law, as well as other financial rights such as any unpaid dowry, waiting period (Iddat) expenses, unpaid financial support backdated to 36 months, and so on. In addition to the above, if your child is still under custody age (normally until 11 for boys and 13 for girls) you would be entitled to keep custody of the child and he would need to provide financial support for their upbringing. Even if your husband does not have any money the court, in most cases, would enforce him to pay the minimum amount. It is important to note that you would need to be physically in the UAE to file your case in the family guidance section. Your lawyer can complete the remaining processes when the case is referred to court.

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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