United Arab Emirates: Family Law

There is a legal difference between the terms ‘Annulment' and ‘Divorce'. Both terms relate to marriage contracts and have very distinct meanings and resultant procedures to each.

As the UAE continues to position itself as a global hub for investment and lifestyle, there has been a notable shift in social and legal norms. One such area of evolving interest is cohabitation...

Abduction in legal terms refers to ‘taking a person away utilizing persuasion, fraud, or force'. It can also be an act of unlawful interference with a family relationship, such as the taking of a child from its parent, irrespective of whether the person abducted consents or not.

Dr. Hassan Elhais, Legal Consultant of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy recently attended an interview with MBC group regarding Parental Child Abduction under UAE Law. Middle East's first news and entertainment industry, MBC (Middle-East Broadcasting Center) is a gigantic media industry in the Arab world...

Infidelity is one of the grounds for divorce and it remains one of the major grounds for filing for divorce. That said, however, much depends on how infidelity can be proven before the courts.

The new personal status law under Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2024 ("New Law") has been enforced in the UAE since April 15, 2025 and the old family law under Federal decree Law No. 28 of 2005...

Child Relocation Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of United Arab Emirates, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries.

Inheritance is a very important aspect of family law. It is the branch of law that ensures welfare of family members and the continuity of the family unit after the death of an individual.

A new federal law regarding personal status has been issued by the UAE government on the 1st of October 2024 and which will come into effect on the 15th of April, 2025.