ARTICLE
20 June 2017

UAE Family Matters Q&As: Can I Ask Police To Check Cheating Husbands Phone Records?

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Dr. Hassan Elhais

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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 suspect that my husband might be cheating on me but I do not have enough evidence to prove it. Can I request that the authorities get Etisalat to check the text message exchanges...
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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Question: I suspect that my husband might be cheating on me but I do not have enough evidence to prove it. Can I request that the authorities get Etisalat to check the text message exchanges between my husband and the woman I suspect is his girlfriend?

Answer: Yes, you can. In accordance with article 40 of UAE Criminal Procedure Law, police officers have the right to collect evidence and to listen to the accused before deciding whether to start a criminal action or not. So for this to happen you would first have to lodge a police report against your husband who, if found guilty of adultery, could be jailed and deported.

Question: I am non-Muslim Asian man and I got married to a Muslim woman in Europe. We moved to the UAE with our child but we now wish to divorce. Do I have the right to claim guardianship of my child in the UAE?

Answer: As your wife is a Muslim and you are not, the marriage is not considered valid in the UAE. Therefore, I refer you to the following points of law: Article 180/2 of the UAE Personal Status Law, which states that the child should have the same religion as the guardian (the father). If the guardian is not of the same religion, he is not a guardian. It is important to note here that the guardianship has to be decided only on the basis of a valid marriage. That is why there is no guardianship for any children born out of wedlock or through what is deemed an invalid marriage. This means that the mother would not even get legal custody but the child would be given to her under the term of joining him to his mother (but not legal custody). If the matter goes to court, there is a chance that the court might take the case to criminal prosecutors for further investigation.

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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