Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
4 available 4 • View allFinancial rights of the wife after expats divorce in the UAE
36
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.

Apr 24, 2017
68092
Divorce and maintenance for a wife
4
Q: My husband is divorcing and said that he will not pay me any maintenance because I hired somebody to hack his phone because I suspect adultery.

Apr 30, 2017
5620
Divorce and maintenance for a wife when the husband refuses to pay

12
Q: My husband wants to move to Abu Dhabi and he doesn't want to provide for me a roof or to be committed in any way to me and asks me to manage myself! What can I do?
And he says "if you want, I can divorce you but I don't pay you anything."
I don't have kids and we've been married for 3 years. During these 3 years, he didn't pay except the roof and I paid all bills and we share grocery and any other expenses.


Aug 15, 2019
3226
Best way to file a case against my ex-wife to pay her agreed part of kids education
2
Q: My ex-wife had signed a document unconditionally agreeing that she will pay 50% of the cost of education for children.
I registered an expert dispute case with my ex-wife as a party. The court appointed an expert who determined that the share that my wife should pay is 468,300 AED.
Are the conditions for the performance order met? Or should I register a regular civil case?

Dec 21, 2021
292
Legal blog
2 available 2 • View allTips on Winning Legally at Court and out of Court 2
Winning the Lawttery - what it means to 'win at all costs' in the courtroom and what are the implications of a legal victory. UAE lawyer Diana Hamade shares through this article tips on winning legally while navigating through all possible ways to avoid losing while winning.
Jul 18, 2019
2397
Choosing the Jurisdiction of Expatriate Divorces in the UAE 7
An interview-format article covering the topic of divorce for expatriates in the UAE and seeking to apply the laws of their countries. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Feb 13, 2020
2956
Laws & Regulations
1 available 1 • View allFederal Law No. (28) of 2005 On Personal Status 24
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.
Nov 19, 2005
49118

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Are there any restrictions on a diplomat buying property in the UAE? 2
Hello,
Is there any restriction on a diplomat buying property in the UAE, where he works as a diplomat at his country's consulate?
Feb 20, 2025
98
If someone has a case in the UAE, can they travel to another GCC country? 2
Hi.
One of my friends joined a Telegram group. They said, "We will transfer some amount to your account, and your task is to transfer this amount to another account. Once the task is completed, you will get 30 or 50 AED per task."
He completed 3 to 4 tasks, but he realized it was not good, so he stopped. After one week, when he opened his account, it was blocked, and the bank said, "We are conducting an investigation; after this, we will let you know."
After some days, he had an accident and went to his home country. He then received a call from a landline number, which was from the Abu Dhabi police station.
They said, "We have received a complaint against you; come to our investigation department." However, due to his surgery and treatment, he could not go.
After some time, his bank account was reopened, and he did not receive any further calls. I want to know, if he comes back to the UAE or goes to any other GCC country, will he face any problems?
If someone has a case in the UAE, can they travel to another GCC country?
Please advise!
Feb 17, 2025
172
What can I do if my employer refuses to pay me and I have no contract? 5
Hello,
What legal action can I take in case the employer refuses to pay my salary and I don't have a contract with them?
Feb 18, 2025
164
I want to open an online shop. Do I need a license to open an Etsy shop? 1
I currently live in Sharjah and have a UAE residence visa but I am not a UAE or GCC national. I want to open an online shop (Etsy or Shopify) to sell handmade items, such as crocheted goods, bookmarks, greeting cards, etc.
Do I need a license to open an Etsy shop?
If so, which license do I need to sell my products online, including UAE and worldwide?
How much would it cost me?
Can I keep my residence visa (sponsored by my father) and not change it?
Feb 14, 2025
169
How can we locate a person with an ongoing legal case? 1
Hello,
I am seeking your legal advice regarding a friend who was previously imprisoned in Abu Dhabi. His case there is now closed, but he has another ongoing case in Dubai.
Currently, we have lost contact with him and are unsure of his whereabouts. How can we check where he is or access any other legal facility?
Are there legal procedures to locate a person with an ongoing case?
What steps should we take to get more information about his status and legal position?
Feb 11, 2025
187

Other answers by
The tenant's right to refuse visits of potential buyers without prior consent 14
I am the owner and have legally notified my tenant regarding my intention to sell and have given her first right of refusal.
But she is not signing nor allowing me access to arrange visits for other interested clients.
What are my rights / legal steps to force a viewing
Feb 17, 2021
9731
The developer refuses to pay the money back after delivery delay due to force majeure 2
I am seeking legal advice to terminate the contract due to a delay in the project for a period of 16 months only.
The following is the details of the project as per SPA and some givens:
- 30% paid in installments (on time, no delay in payment).
- 70% to be Paid on Handing Over.
- Expected Handing over date: 1st April 2019.
- Longstop date of Handing over: 1st April 2020.
- Actual date of delivery announced by developer: 10th August 2020.
- Notification sent to the developer by myself to terminate the SPA and return the 30% paid amount.
- Developer responded that the notification is rejected as the delay is due to force majeure (Covid-19 Pandemic).
Question:
Do I have a winning case if I filed to court to return the paid amount?
Feb 17, 2021
652
Overstaying because a family member is tested positive for COVID 2
Our residence visa grace period expires soon. Because a family member is positive for Covid-19 and he is in-home quarantine, we are unable to fly within the grace time. What should we do?
Will we be fined?
Please guide!
Feb 17, 2021
832
Cancellation of a property purchase and refund for over-delay in handover 3
Hello
I am contacting you from London. I have purchased a property in Dubai in a project in 2005. We purchased two apartments and today we have not received anything yet.
This construction project is still going on and the developer has changed many times. Another company now runs the project, and whenever I contact them they say it's going to be ready in the next 3-months or 6-months.
It keeps postponing work are currently at standstill. I have contacted them then and the same they're waiting for more information from the Dubai authorities.
Every time there's a different story, and we get delayed. It's now been 16 to 17 years since we have invested in this and I would like to put a stop to this now, possibly get a refund and compensation.
Could you please help me by advising me what my situation can be?
Feb 1, 2021
863
Can a father claim the custody of daughter when the mother marries unfit person? 3
My wife and I got divorced 3 months ago, she has custody of our 6-month old daughter.
She wants to remarry but I disagree with the person she wants to remarry as he has a history of violence and abuse.
Can I have the custody agreement revoked?
Mar 26, 2022
758

Other answers by
الضمانات التي تحصل عليها شركة التمويل مقابل إعطاء قرض 2
حصلت على قرض شخصي وكريدت كارد من مؤسسة للتمويل بإجمالي ٥٠ ألف وتعثرت لفترة والآن يطالبونني بدفع مبلغ ٢٠٠ ألف درهم بالفوائد وكنت أعطيتهم شيك بقيمة ٤٢ ألف وقتها.
سؤالي:
هل يوجد سند لأمر داخل عقد القرض (الأبليكيشن) الخاص بالشركة التي وقعت معها في البداية؟
أم لا يملكون ضمانًا آخر يُمكِّنهم من مقاضاتي به سوى الشيك الذي أعطيته لهم فقط؟
مع جزيل الشكر!
May 19, 2021
516
تقديم دعوى ضد مقاول استلم دفعتين من المال وأوقف العمل 2
هناك مشكلة مع مقاول إذ اتفقنا على بناء ملحق داخل منزل خاص ووقعنا العقد واستلم أول دفعة.
اشتغل حسب العقد واستلم الدفعة الثانية وأوقف العمل ويرفض المواصلة. تبين لي بعدما حاولت أن أقدم شكوى ضده أنه يستخدم ختم وعقد لشركة منتهية في سنة 2013 ولا يوجد لديه أي ترخيص.
كيف أستطيع أن أشكوه وبنفس الوقت أواصل البناء؟
May 20, 2021
993
Can the wife file for maintenance in the UAE after judgement in home country? 3
My wife and I are non-Muslims. Divorce was settled in our home country court which decided that I am the custodian of the children and no alimony has to be paid to her.
Children are living with me here in the UAE. However, she still resides here in the UAE using a tourist visa. She is planning to file a Maintenance Case against me in the UAE Family Court.
Can she do that?
Am I obliged to pay her alimony?
Dec 7, 2020
1425
ماذا بعد الحصول على حكم في قضية عمالية؟ 4
فصلتني الشركة فصلاً تعسفيًا وقمت بمقاضاة الشركة والحمد لله حصلت على حكم بمستحقاتي المالية من رواتب متأخرة ومكافأة نهاية الخدمة.
تقدمت بطلب تنفيذ ولم تدفع الشركة لي أي مبالغ حتى الآن!
ما الخطوة الواجب فعلها في هذه الحالة؟
Oct 8, 2020
580
Cancellation of an off-plan property and seeking refund 2
Hello
I bought an off-plan apartment with a developer, paid half and the other half was supposed to be paid on receiving the apartment which was supposed to be received end of 2019.
But they postponed it till March 2020, and now the project is way behind and no improvement at all as I'm in phase 2 and they are still building phase one.
What can I do to get my money back?
Sep 26, 2020
718
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