ARTICLE
21 July 2017

UAE Family Matters Q&As: Can I Forbid My Wife From Working?

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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 want my wife to go back to our home country and take care of my children. Do the laws allow me to stop my spouse from working?
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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Question: I want my wife to go back to our home country and take care of my children. Do the laws allow me to stop my spouse from working?

Answer: To answer your question I would like to refer you to Article No 72 of the UAE Personal Status Law. The law would not prevent your wife from working if she was already working when she married you and if there have been no new developments at her workplace or with the family that may have an affect on the best interests of the family.

Article 72 of the UAE Personal Status Law, states that, 1. A wife may go out of her home in the instances that allow her to do so by law, custom or in case of necessity and this is not considered a transgression to the duty of obedience.

2. A wife working shall not be considered a transgression to the duty of obedience if the husband married her while she had a job. Similarly if the husband agreed that the she start working after they are married or if the wife included a condition which allows her to work in the marriage contract. The existence of such a condition must have been confirmed by the authorised marriage official prior to drawing up the marriage contract, unless the fulfilment of such condition is against the interest of the family.

Question: I would like to agree with my husband to have divorce. I have been informed that after we sign the divorce papers, I will have to wait for 3 months before I can remarry. This period is called Iddat period. Is there any way that I can avoid having to wait for this period?

Answer: No. Iddat period (waiting period) cannot be waived with the spouse's consent.

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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