United Arab Emirates: Divorce

The husband files a case against his wife, requesting the court to direct the wife to allow him to see his two minor daughters. The husband alleges that his wife had refused to let him see his children for the previous eight months even though he had attempted all amicable methods to convince her.

Wife seeks fault-based divorce, custody of her minor daughters and related maintenance charges from her husband. The wife claims that their marriage has been in a state of ongoing deterioration, culminating in the husband leaving her and their children by departing from their marital home, over a year ago, pursuant to an agreement between the couple. The husband is an alcoholic and has illicit relations with women. He has not shown any inclination in providing for the family, forcing the wife to bear expenses including the rent for the marital home.

The UAE's approach to child custody has undergone a fundamental transformation with Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, shifting from traditional frameworks to a modern shared parenting model.

Divorce is hard no matter where you are, but it’s even harder when you’re living abroad. Recent changes to the law in the UAE have made things clearer for non-Muslims...

In a country as diverse as the United Arab Emirates, the legal system thoughtfully accommodates residents of different cultural and religious backgrounds.

One of the first things fathers say in a divorce consultation is not about assets or maintenance. It's this: "Am I going to lose my children?" There is a persistent belief in Dubai that once a marriage ends...

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.

Divorce as an expatriate in the UAE can be quite challenging, especially with the various legal frameworks applying to non-Muslims.

The law which governs family matters and disputes (including divorce) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 (the UAE Personal Status Law).