Q: I'm an Indian Muslim expat living and working in the UAE. My marriage was solemnized in India. We also have a two-year-old son. Due to irreconcilable differences, I have informed my wife and our families that I wish to file for divorce. My wife has a residence visa valid till May 2019 but she (and my son) have not been in the UAE since December 2018. As I live and work in the UAE, I want to file for divorce here. While my in-laws are ok with a mutual consent divorce in India, my wife will not be returning to the UAE. I would prefer to file for divorce in the UAE as I'm not familiar with the law in India. I also don't want to deal with any potential false charges that could hamper my ability to come back to the UAE. While my in-laws have not indicated any such actions, I want to prepare for the worst-case scenario. I also would want to have legal visitation rights to him, even if he lives in India post-divorce. Can any lawyer help me understand my legal options in this case? Thanks.

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?

Q: Both my husband and I are Indian - Keralite Roman Catholic staying in Dubai. I have been a victim of emotional and financial domestic abuse from my husband and my in-laws over dowry. Where do I stand legally in this matter? A year ago, my husband abandoned me and my child in my parents' place and went to Australia. He does not want to communicate with me despite my efforts of trying to contact him and remains hostile towards me. Where do I stand legally? Mine and my child’s maintenance has always been provided for by my parents and self-finance (I am working too) because of my husband’s bank loans and job loss in Dubai. Now he found employment in Australia but he does not want to provide maintenance for me and my child. Additionally, he demands that I pay for his business class tickets if I want him to come to Dubai to keep my UAE visa. Can I claim for maintenance from my husband without a divorce In this regard?

Q: I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. I got divorced from my ex-husband since I was pregnant with my son and everything was okay. I was raising them and we were okay. He was supporting us but not all the time. I was scared cause I want to raise my kids but lately, we contracted COVID and my kids had no insurance. Actually, he didn’t help us and left us at home to die without hospitalization. Weeks later, he went to our home country and got married. A point of the story is; I am tired of being a slave to this guy. Is there a way I can just get the money and my rights without calling him or texting him? He keeps on ignoring and blocking me and I don’t work. It is a real struggle.

Q: I am an expatriate. My wife and I agreed mutually to divorce and we have a child also, which my wife wants to keep and I agreed to that. How much time will it take to get a divorce? Will it be through Dubai Courts?

Q: I want to divorce my husband after 11 years of marriage due to incompatibility issues. We have an almost 10-year-old daughter and we are both Indian Christians. How will the proceedings be and who will get custody of our daughter?

Q: Hello, What happens once the family counselor passes the case to the judge? Does the judge make the decision on the same day or does he give time? And how much time does it take? Kindly advise!

س: السلام عليكم، أنا أقطن الآن في بلدي فلسطين ورفعت زوجتي علي دعوى نفقة بمبالغ تقدر شهريًا ما يقارب 24 ألف درهم مع أن دخلي الشهري 8000 درهم و لدي تمويل شخصي وسيارة شهريًا يخصم 4000. كانت هناك الجلسة الأولى عبر الأونلاين وحكم القاضي بتأجيل الجلسة للصلح بعد حوالي أسبوع من الآن، خلال الجلسة شرحت للقاضي عن أسباب الخلاف حيث أن أخت زوجتي وأخوها ووالدها كانوا يقنطون عندي في نفس المنزل وطلبت منها بأن يذهبوا إلى إخوانها للعيش هناك في الإمارات نفسها. فحدث شجار وجلبت لي الشرطة وطردتني من المنزل علمًا بأن المنزل باسمها. سافرت لوحدي إلى فلسطين ورفعت عليها في بلدي دعوى طاعة ودعوى ضم أولاد حيث حسب القانون الفلسطيني يحق لي حضانتهم. الآن ليس لدي المقدرة المالية على توكيل محامي في الإمارات وحضور الجلسة القادمة للجواب على الدعوى. ماذا بمقدوري أن أصنع في هذه الحالة؟

There are rights and obligations for both parties of the marriage contract arise as a result of divorce, which often disputed by the spouses. Here we will explain the due alimony and its types for the wife (divorced - widow) and children after divorce in accordance with the UAE Personal Status Law, Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 and its explanatory memorandum.

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.