Q: My husband and I are South African & have been married for 6 years. We live in Dubai. He also has a Canadian passport. We were married with an Anti-Nuptial Contract (prenup) but the ANC was not registered, so we are married in community of property. We have nothing between us, no money/kids/assets. My husband did receive inheritance money 2 years ago. I supported us financially for our marriage because my husband worked on commission only job. He refused to find a job that paid a monthly salary. He contributed financially but I carried the bulk of our expenses. I used my own personal savings from before us being married to support us. He promised that when he receives his inheritance he would return my savings, would buy us a house and more. He received this money about 2 years ago and has given me nothing. He is an alcoholic, he has admitted that he has cheated on me by calling a sex line & has been arrested twice due to alcohol. We have been for counselling in the past. I moved out on 5/11/16.

Q: Dear, I have been recently divorced in Abu Dhabi. My ex-wife converted to Islam in order to get a sharia divorce, though during our marriage she's always been a Christian. She has gained custody of the children, I had guardianship. As I had no employment in the UAE, end of March, I had to return to Belgium. Since then she has blocked any contact with my 2 boys. This weekend, I found out she is pregnant and is living with her boyfriend and my children in our flat (we own it) in Abu Dhabi. On top of that, she has stolen most of my belongings (family souvenirs, all my photography equipment). I want to know what I could be doing, being in Belgium right now. I want to get my kids, I don't want her to get away with being pregnant, unmarried (she made me suffer and accused me of many lies). Her law firm is Al Rowaad!

Q: I am a Christian before and now Alhamdulillah 3 years Muslima already. In my Christian life, I was married but already no contact with him for 6 years. Now, I am planning to marry a Muslim man. What should be the requirements so I can get married to him?

Q: My question is that my ex-husband and I had a very ugly divorce in 2018 where both parties were involved in extramarital affairs. I moved back to Canada while he's in Dubai. It's been 2 years that my ex hasn't taken any responsibility for our 3-year-old daughter. He has threatened me if I take him to court he could get ugly by proving them that I had extramarital affair during our marriage by showing them pictures. Could that result in me losing the child custody? Could I still apply for child maintenance? Would he be accountable for paying it? Could it be a problem if he shows the court the pictures after 2 years of the divorce and which could result in me losing my daughters custody? Please let me know. I will be very thankful.

Q: If the wife is having a relationship with another religious guy and she wants to go with him and take the child with her, what will be decided if a case is filed? Who will get custody?

Q: One of my friends is married. Both are Muslims and based in Dubai. They married in Pakistan back in 2010. They have 2 daughters; 8 and 9 years. She's a housewife under the husband's visa. The wife is given a hard time for the last few years and she knows the laws that her husband must provide house rent and kids maintenance so she's doing blackmail and not willing to go back to Pakistan even. Recently, the husband caught her and knew that she was out with one Pakistani guy and kids were alone in the house. The husband is happy to cover the kids' maintenance. 1. In such a situation, what's the best way if the husband wants the family to live in Pakistan and the wife keeps refusing? 2. How to secure himself?

Q: My wife came to Dubai and has abandoned the family (Husband and 2 kids - 9yrs and 7 yrs). We don't know her whereabouts and she has blocked us from every contact. She is complaining everywhere that I am abusive and don't take care of her but the fact is she has had illicit affair in India before coming to the UAE and wanted to get married to that other person as well. Is there any way I can do something to get her back to family legally?

Q: How to get divorced from my Indian husband? I am from the Philippines. We are both here in the UAE. Can someone help me?

Q: Dear Lawyers, Is it possible to process a divorce in the UAE between two different nationalities (Egyptian & Tunisian) if the marriage took place in Tunisia, or must we go there? Note: We are both residents of the UAE.

An interview-format article covering the topic of custody and guardianship in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

UAE Personal Status Law (also known as Personal Affairs Law) governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and other personal affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The law equally applies to citizens of the UAE and non-citizens unless one of them asks for the application of his home country law.