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: My relationship with my wife has ended and I am seeking a divorce. Reconciliation is not an option and the divorce will not be amicable. We have an Islamic wedding contract and also an EU wedding contract. We are both expats (different nationalities) but I am a Muslim and she isn’t. We have an infant daughter. My wife insists on our daughter living with her but giving me rights to visit and take her on weekends. She expects me to pay everything to keep up with her current lifestyle, e.g. rent, bills, nanny's salary, car, etc. If I don’t, she has threatened to leave the UAE with our child. My wife is working but claims not to earn enough. I also have a strong suspicion with some proof that my wife is having an extramarital affair with one or if not more partners. Kindly seeking advice if I should seek a divorce through Shariah court? I would like to have the custody of my child. I have no objection over any claims on our assets. Thank you.

Q: My husband is cheating on me. We are married for 21 years and I always suspected this, but this time I have some proof with a new lady. What are my rights?

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: My ex-wife is now living with her boyfriend. And she has custody of our daughter. When I asked my daughter if that guy is living with them, she said that her mother told her it was a secret from me and not to tell me anything. Obviously, my ex is refusing that he is living with them. Can I do something about it?

Q: I filed for the custody of my 8-year-old child and the judge ruled in my favor. However, my ex appealed. His reason is I don't speak Arabic but the Court did not ask me to attend hearings and only my lawyer was heard. He claims I don't speak Arabic because I am Spanish. Basically by nationality because in reality I do speak some Arabic and he lied to the Appeal Court I don't know at all. Is the Arabic Language a reason to transfer custody to the father if the mother is Muslim and qualifies as a custodian?

Q: Hi, Please how do I report my ex-husband, who refused to pay child support as ordered by the court in Nigeria? He works in a gas company in the UAE, while I live with 2 children in Nigeria. He was the one that forcefully relocated us back home and filed for divorce. Is there any way I can get help?

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.