Q: What are the most important factors in child custody cases in the UAE if both parents are Emirati? What is the best way of preparing for court i.e. what would the lawyers/ judges need? If the mother initiated the divorce does that put her at a disadvantage?

Q: I am an Indian citizen residing in Dubai since 2010 post my marriage which took place in India. I have a 6-year old daughter. I and my husband have mutually agreed to get divorced. I want to know the things which I am eligible to receive from my husband by default. I want help.

Q: If a married couple is filing for divorce and they have six children, what will happen to the children? The children are between 8-18 years old. My question is, who has the right to take them and take care of them?

س: زوجتي ممتنعة عن الفراش لأكثر من سنتين، ومنذ أكثر من أربعة اشهر ترفض السكن معي تحت سقف واحد والآن تطلب أن أطلقها رغم أنني حاولت إصلاح الأمور ولكن دون جدوى. كيف يمكن أن نتقدم بموضوع الطلاق؟ وما حقوقها في هذه الحالة؟ علمًا بأننا منفصلين كليًا منذ أكثر من ثلاثة أشهر ولكنني أجّرت لها شقة مع ولدي بعمر ٢٤ عام ويعمل حاليًا.

Q: Hi sir, I need to open a file in Abu Dhabi for a maintenance case against my husband. We are not living together since1.5 years. He is working in Dubai. I am under my father's sponsorship and currently working. I don't have children. I need to ask if I can get the maintenance amount even though I am working with a labor card. How much will I claim for the maintenance amount? After how many days will I receive my maintenance amount? How much are your fees?

Q: Hello Mr. Khaled, I am in urgent need of help. I was divorced by the UAE courts on December 30, 2022, and my ex-husband has refused to pay alimony for my child and me. Our son is 2 years and 9 months old and since his birth, my ex has never supported us. Now that it is a court order and I lost my job last month, I am in dire need of this financial support as it is the right of my son. My ex says he will contest it, but he is just finding ways to avoid paying, as he has never done so before. I am afraid that he might flee the country. What can I do in this situation? I am unable to file an execution case as I do not have any finances. I am looking forward to a hopeful response. Thank you!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, In 2019, I got divorced and moved to Abu Dhabi with my son. I worked at a school for four years. Recently, I moved to Dubai and have been working in healthcare for the past two years. My child is now 13 years old. In March 2022, I remarried after my divorce. My ex-husband has been blackmailing and tormenting me, saying that he wants custody of my child because I remarried. The Indian court had already granted me full custody during our divorce, but my ex is threatening to take my son away. I don't trust him because he is violent and abusive. My current husband is aware of my situation, but he is often upset about my ex's messages to my child and he is also abusing me and doing domestic violence. I feel unsafe. I am currently nine months pregnant and I have a 13-year-old son. I want to be protected, along with my two children. How can I escape this situation and live peacefully?

Q: Hello! I will have the online reconciliation session (divorce) scheduled by the Dubai Court next week. My question is, can I try opening the link to check if it works and if I am following the steps correctly, or could it cause an issue if I attempt it? Also, do you know if the couple enters together or separately? Thanks!

A new civil personal status decree has been introduced in the emirate of Abu Dhabi by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. This personal status decree will be applicable for non-Muslim foreigners based in Abu Dhabi in matters of marriage, divorce, Will, inheritance, and custody of children.

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.