United Arab Emirates: Family Law

When parents go through separation or divorce in the UAE, one of the most important concerns is child custody. Alongside legal rights and responsibilities, many people also want a clear answer to a practical question...

Child custody is often one of the most sensitive issues after divorce. For parents in the UAE, the main concern is usually simple: who will the child live with, who will make important decisions...

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When it comes to inheritance in Dubai, it’s important to find a good balance between legal requirements, family ties, and personal wishes.

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.

The wife has alleged that she has been receiving more maintenance, child support and housing allowance due to the increment in the income of the husband. After reconciliation failed, she filed a case against her ex-husband in Personal Status Court, requesting the following:

In 2025, A wife petitioned against her husband claiming spousal maintenance after the reconciliation did not work, requesting AED 5,000 per month, which would cover all the costs of maintenance but not housing. She further demanded that he carry on paying to her the villa they are currently staying in as the marital home, utility bills, salary of the maid, school fees and supplies, child support, Eid clothes of their two children, a modern vehicle with a driver and recompense her to furnish the marital home as per Article 51 of the Personal Status Law.

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.