What is the process of executing a foreign spousal and child support order in the UAE?

You must file a request for alimony with the Personal Status Court and request urgent alimony.

You can visit our office, and we will discuss the matter with you.

Hello,

To enforce alimony for a foreign wife or child in the UAE in cooperation with a European country, a ruling for alimony must first be issued in the UAE, followed by submitting a request for enforcement to the enforcement court in the relevant emirate, along with the required documents.

If the husband withdraws his money from the bank before the alimony is enforced, the court may take coercive measures such as seizing other assets, banning travel, or even imprisonment.

To facilitate the process, contact me, and I can help you [-----------].

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the enforcement of foreign spousal or child support orders in the UAE.

To summarize:

Recognition of Foreign Judgments

UAE courts can recognize and enforce foreign judgments if the country is reciprocally recognized.

The judgment must be final and attested by the UAE embassy, with an official Arabic translation.

Filing for Enforcement

Submit a petition to the UAE court requesting enforcement.

Include the attested judgment, translation, and any relevant financial or personal information about the debtor.

The court ensures the judgment does not conflict with UAE public policy or Sharia law principles.

Execution Procedure

Once recognized, the Execution Department can freeze bank accounts, seize assets, or issue travel bans to secure compliance.

If the Debtor Withdraws Funds

You may request the court to issue precautionary attachment orders to prevent the debtor from removing funds before execution.

Acting quickly and providing detailed financial information strengthens your position.

Next Step

We recommend engaging us as a UAE lawyer to handle the filing and to request any necessary precautionary measures to ensure effective enforcement.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Obtain official copies of the European spousal/child support order.

Authenticate (apostille/legalize) and translate the documents into Arabic.

File a petition with the UAE court for recognition and execution.

Request an urgent freezing order on the debtor’s bank accounts to prevent fund removal.

Once the UAE court recognizes the judgment, the order can be executed like a domestic debt.

Dear Inquirer,

Enforcing a foreign spousal or child support judgment in the UAE requires filing an application before the local courts for recognition and execution of the foreign judgment.

The UAE courts will review the order under applicable treaties and local laws before enforcement.

If the debtor transfers or withdraws funds prior to execution, additional legal measures, such as precautionary attachment, may be required to secure assets.

For tailored guidance and effective action, we recommend booking a consultation or granting a power of attorney to Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy to proceed on your behalf.

Best regards,

In the UAE, the execution of a foreign judgment for spousal or child support, such as one issued by a European court, follows a structured process, but it requires careful handling to ensure enforceability. Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. Recognition of the Foreign Judgment

The UAE is not automatically bound by all European court orders, so the first step is to apply before the competent UAE Court (usually the Court of First Instance) for recognition and enforcement of the foreign judgment.

The UAE courts will check that:

- The foreign judgment was issued by a competent court.

- The defendant had proper notice and the right to defend.

- The judgment is final and binding in the issuing country.

- The judgment does not contradict the UAE public order, Sharia principles, or existing UAE judgments.

If these conditions are satisfied, the UAE court issues an order recognizing the judgment.

2. Execution of the Judgment in the UAE

Once recognized, the judgment is treated as a local UAE judgment.

You can proceed with execution through the Execution Court. This includes:

-Freezing bank accounts.

- Garnishing salary.

- Attaching movable or immovable property.

- Travel bans if necessary.

3. Risk of Debtor Moving Money Before Execution

If the debtor removes his money from the bank before you file for execution, recovery becomes more challenging.

However, the UAE Execution Court can still:

- Trace other assets (vehicles, real estate, shares, etc.).

- Garnish salaries if he is employed in the UAE.

- Impose a travel ban and summons to pay.

To prevent asset flight, you may file for urgent provisional measures (like a precautionary attachment) once you start the recognition process, provided you show urgency and the risk of dissipation of assets.

4. Bilateral Treaties

The enforcement process may be faster if the European country has a judicial cooperation treaty with the UAE (many EU states have treaties with GCC countries, some under Riyadh Convention or bilateral agreements). Otherwise, enforcement relies on reciprocity.

In short:

✔ First, get the European support order recognized in UAE courts.

✔ Then, move to execution through the UAE Execution Court.

✔ If the debtor tries to hide/remove assets, you can still pursue salary garnishment, asset tracing, and travel bans, but early precautionary measures are key.

I can guide you on how to structure the recognition petition and secure precautionary attachment quickly to protect your rights before funds disappear.

You may contact me directly on WhatsApp or phone at [-----------] so we can review your judgment and documents, and I can advise on the fastest strategy to safeguard your claim in the UAE.

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East!

Your query touches on cross-border enforcement of spousal and child support, which requires careful coordination between the UAE and the European jurisdiction where the judgment was originally issued.

We successfully handled a nearly identical case in which a European court awarded child support, and our office obtained recognition of that judgment before the UAE courts, enabling execution against the debtor’s local assets.

There are several legal avenues, but the most effective begins with filing a recognition and enforcement petition before the UAE courts to have the foreign judgment declared enforceable.

Once recognized, the judgment can be executed like a domestic UAE ruling, targeting bank accounts, salaries, and other assets located in the Emirates.

If the debtor empties his bank account before execution, our strategy typically shifts to requesting attachment orders over any movable or immovable assets, garnishing income from his employer, or applying travel bans to secure compliance.

The strongest approach is a proactive one: filing for provisional attachment as soon as the enforcement petition is lodged, which can freeze funds or property before they disappear. This step often makes the difference in safeguarding your rights.

To advise you more precisely, we need to review the foreign judgment, its certification and apostille/legalisation status, and details of the debtor’s UAE-based assets.

Our multilingual consultants are available in Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese to guide you through the process.

Hello,

Enforcing a foreign spousal or child support order in the UAE involves filing a recognition and enforcement request with the UAE family courts.

The courts will verify if the foreign judgment meets criteria such as jurisdiction, fairness, and compliance with UAE laws under the Civil Procedure Code.

Once recognized, the UAE courts treat the foreign order as their own and can enforce it similarly to local orders, including ordering wage garnishment or asset seizure.

If the obligated party removes money from the bank before enforcement, the courts may still issue freezing or precautionary orders on assets once the enforcement proceedings begin.

It is crucial to act quickly to notify the courts and request urgent protective measures to prevent dissipation of assets.

Additionally, the UAE has bilateral treaties and mutual legal assistance agreements with several European countries, which facilitate cooperation in enforcement.

It is advisable to engage us to assist in the process and coordinate with foreign jurisdictions if needed.

If you want, I can guide you through the initial steps for filing the enforcement petition and discuss protective measures against asset dissipation.