Q: I'm a US citizen from New York currently residing in Washington USA with my sister. I moved to Dubai around 3 years ago. I was working there but quit my job few months after I got married in Dubai on December 24, 2015. My husband is from Pakistan and resides in Dubai. He was living in my apartment after our marriage. As he physically and mentally abused me, I decided to leave Dubai, sell my stuff and come here to my sister. I had reported him to the police who had given him a warning letter. My first concern is how can I make sure he does not take away my daughter? Either he may come here or he may try to gain custody through Dubai Courts. Please let me know how I can have full custody of my child. Also now he believes he's free from any responsibility and said he will not give a single penny. Our daughter is 8 months old and US citizen as well. I need child support for my daughter. How can I get this? For my husband divorce is a joke. He said it multiple times and threatened me also.

Q: I want to divorce my husband; my concerns are as below; If the divorce proceeding is under Sharia Law, what are my chances when it comes to; 1. Child Custody & guardianship - I believe I will get the custody until age 11. My question is if the husband is unemployed for 6 months now, can he still be considered as guardian since he can't provide for the family? And if I can show that he has never been a provider for the family (basically, I pay ALL the bills since we got married) & I have a proof that he had an affair a year ago, can I get the guardianship as well & full custody? Can the child get an opportunity to choose where he wants to live with when he reaches puberty? 2. DIVISION OF ASSETS - Since I got a land inheritance from my parents, is he entitled to get 1/2 of the property? Obviously, he has no house/properties in his home country as well as savings and I am worried he will get everything. I own 50/50 in which he didn't sweat a dime on it. Awaiting your advice.

س: السلام عليكم، تنازلت طليقتي عن حضانة الأولاد والنفقة لأنها قررت الزواج. وثقنا اتفاق نقل الحضانة والتنازل عن النفقة في المحكمة الأسرية. بعد فترة، قررت طليقتي أنها لن تتزوج وتريد استعادة حضانة الأطفال واستعادة النفقة كاملة مع مسكن. هل تستطيع إجباري قانونيًا على إعادة حضانة الأولاد لها ودفع نفقة ومسكن بالرغم من وجود ورقة التنازل الموثَّقة في محكمة الأسرة؟ شكرًا جزيلاً!

س: السلام عليكم، لو سمحت أولادي 3 ذكور؛ الأول عمره 19 عامًا ويدرس بالبلد الأم في فترة الدراسة والثاني 16 عامًا و4 أشهر والثالث 14 عامًا و7 أشهر. الأم لها جنسية دولة عربية مختلفة وعلى وشك الانفصال. سؤالي: لمَن يكون حق الحضانة؟ مع العلم هي مَن طلبت الطلاق. وإذا كان الزوج هو مَن يريد الطلاق، فهل يختلف وضع الحضانة؟ وشكرًا!

Q: Hello, I have a question. My brother turned fourteen and he is with my mother and he does not need anything and he is getting 100% in his school. So now my father wants him back, will he get asked with whom he wanna stay or he will be forced to transfer to my father's house?

Q: Hello, Does physical custody mean that my ex-wife can change my son's name or not? She doesn't have legal custody only physical and I have visitation via video because I live overseas.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, If the child of divorced parents is 14, does the child get to choose who they want to live with? The father is asking for custody, and the child doesn't want to go with the father. What actions can be taken to prevent the father from taking full custody of the child?

Q: Hi, I am an Egyptian working in Dubai. I have a 2-year-old son. During my family vacation to Egypt, due to unavoidable circumstances, I divorced my wife in Egypt by mutual consent. Now my concern is about my child. I will return to Dubai, and my ex-wife will also come to Dubai with my son, as her parents are settled here. I want custody of my child. Can I file a court case for child custody in Dubai, even though my marriage and divorce happened in Egypt? What outcomes can I expect from the Dubai court?

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.