Can the wife prevent her husband from claiming the custody of baby?

I am British and had a baby with a Syrian/Italian expatriate. We both live in Dubai, but I came back to the UK to have my baby.

During this time, he was sent to prison for fraud where he remains and I do not want him to have anything to do with my daughter as he is a very bad person.

He is not on the birth certificate and I did not give her his name so under British law he has no rights or claims to her.

However, I am moving back to Dubai and want to know the legal situation if he tried to claim her. I have heard even though we are British and he is not legally her father here, the UAE legal system will favor him as a man.

Please could you advise me?

Thanks