ARTICLE
15 August 2016

UAE Family Matters Q&A: Can My Husband Ban Me From Seeing My Family?

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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.
Question: Is the waiting period to remarry after a divorce always three months for a woman?
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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Question: Is the waiting period to remarry after a divorce always three months for a woman?

Answer: No. The waiting period could be extended for more than three months if the ex-wife is pregnant. Article 138/2 of UAE Federal Law No?28 of 2005, the Personal Status Law, states that, in the event of the woman being pregnant, the period can be extended until the baby is delivered. Additionally, if the husband were to die, either during the waiting period or before the divorce is finalised, the waiting period for a woman to remarry is four months and 10 days, even if she is not pregnant. It needs to be noted that if husband dies during the waiting period, the period that has already passed will not be adjusted from the four months and 10-day period, which will still have to be seen out before remarrying.

Question: I am a non-Muslim western woman married to a Muslim man. After we were married, my husband said that he does not want me to visit my family. He says that I am not allowed to do so under the law. Is this true?

Answer: This is not true. According to the Personal Status Law, it is your right to visit your family. Your husband cannot stop you from doing so.

If he continues to forbid you from visiting your family, you will then have the right to claim for a divorce from him on the grounds that your husband is not allowing you your legal rights as a wife.

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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