United Arab Emirates: Divorce

Case Summary: Wife who claims to have been abandoned by the husband, seeks custody of children and maintenance for them. The wife alleges that the husband of 7 years had alcoholic issues and a neurological condition due to which he was aggressive towards her and the children.

Case Summary: Wife, who has been married for 21 years, and has two adult sons, seeks divorce from her husband stating reasons such as abandonment, desertion of the conjugal bed and adultery. The wife states that it has become impossible to continue the marriage as the husband has changed his behaviors towards the wife and children for a year.

Case Summary: A divorce case between a Christian couple wherein the wife requests for a divorce from her husband due to desertion and lack of financial support from the husband for a period of five years. The wife also requests for child custody, child support, alimony, and other maintenance charges from the husband.

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.

In 2025, the husband filed a petition with the Dubai Personal Status Court. He requested to divorce with his wife on harm and visitation rights for his 8-year-old daughter. Such as a weekly visitation schedule, including overnight stays from Friday evening through Sunday evening, time on her birthday, half of all school holidays, and the first day of official holidays such as Eid and national day.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) operates a multi-layered judicial system that combines civil law principles, Islamic Sharia, and modern statutory legislation.

The United Arab Emirates has passed a comprehensive federal civil family law specifically for non-Muslim residents, marking a major step toward modernizing the nation's legal system. Federal Law No. 41 of 2022...

The UAE's New Personal Status Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024) has officially replaced the Old Family Law of 2005. This video breaks down the 25 most important changes in marriage, divorce, child custody...