Middle East: Family and Matrimonial

In a recent development, a woman filed an application for a landmark divorce settlement of AED 1 billion, before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court.

Under Article 98 of the Personal Status Law, divorce means cancellation of the valid contract of marriage between the spouses. Divorce can be commenced by the husband, and for the wife to initiate divorce, she must either have such right in the marriage contract or have grounds of ‘harm' as mentioned in the law.

Marital rights of a woman refer to those entitlements that a wife can have over her husband, as a result of their marriage. Some of these rights can be exercised during the married life, while some can be claimed only after the spouses proceed for divorce.

The UAE has established a comprehensive system of laws and registries for the draft and execution of Wills.

A civil will is a legal act through which a foreign national expresses their wishes regarding the disposition of their assets (estate), in whole or in part, after their death, in accordance with the provisions...

A Will is a vital legal document detailing how one's estate and property are to be distributed in the event of the person's death. The formulation and registration of a Will, especially for Muslims, are governed by the Personal Status Law, Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 in the UAE.

Based on Decision No. (26) of 2025 issued by the Chief of the Personal Status Court of Dubai Regarding jurisdiction over financial disputes between spouses:

The UAE has established a comprehensive system of laws and registries for the draft and execution of Wills.

In a recent development, a woman filed an application for a landmark divorce settlement of AED 1 billion, before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court.