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: Hello, I just want to know if a lawyer can represent me in a custody battle of my children while I am away from the country and manage the whole case and win custody for me while I am still outside the UAE.

Q: Dear Sir, My husband and I are separated. I have a 7-month-old baby to whom he provided no support whatsoever, however, he is holding all her IDs with the intention of harming me. Would it be possible to open a case and ask to be the guardian and custodian of the baby, so that all the rights will be with me and the so-called father will have no responsibilities nor rights over the child? Thank you. Best regards, Fatma

Q: Assalam Alaikum, I am French and have 4 children, and I am 3 months pregnant. I reside in the UAE and my husband clearly stated that he is leaving for Turkey because life is less expensive than the UAE and that I will have to pay all the bills here by myself and take care of the kids as I am working here. What can I do? What about when the baby will be born? All my children are under my residency (iqama) Alhamdulillah but will I be able to add my baby under my iqama knowing that the father abandoned us and we are not legally divorced? Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your answer.

س: مرحبًا، أريد توكيل محامي ولكنني خارج دولة الإمارات. أود أن أعرف هل يمكن للمحامي إصدار وكالة من خلال خدمة كاتب العدل أون لاين رغم أنني لست بالإمارات؟ هل يجب عمل الوكالة في سفارة الإمارات؟ أود حصر الوكالة وأريد أنا استلام المبلغ بعد تنفيذ الحكم وليس المحامي. هل يمكنني ألا أعطي الصلاحية للمحامي لهذا الأمر في الوكالة؟ أريد إبرام اتفاقية أتعاب مع المحامي والاتفاق على أن يأخذ المحامي أتعابه بعد تحصيل المبلغ بعد التنفيذ، هل هذا ممكن؟ أرجو أن أتلقى جوابًا على سؤالي!

س: السلام عليكم، أريد رفع قضية نفقة على طليقي الذي يعمل بالإمارات وأنا خارج الإمارات. ما الإجراءات اللازمة؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a UK resident with 2 children. Their British father (we were not married) has resided and worked in Dubai for 6 years but does not pay child maintenance. Is it possible to make a claim for maintenance?

س: السلام عليكم، كم تبلغ نفقة الحاضن والمحضون بالدرهم في حالة الطلاق إذا كان معاش الطليق 49 ألف درهم إماراتي؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, What are the charges to open an execution file in Sharjah for a divorce case and how much time will it take to execute the court order? My husband told the court that he does not have money to pay for me and my daughter's expenses because he is earning a minimum amount in which he can only survive. In that case, what can I do? He closed all his bank accounts and sent money to his parents in India. He also told me that he will show in court that he does not have a job or money, so the court or police cannot do anything to him. Can you please guide me on what I can do in this case? I do not have any proof of his salary or bank account because he was not informing me about anything related to his financial matters. In fact, he was forcing me to ask my parents to send money to us. Because of no proof, the court agreed with him and rejected my appeal. I do not have a job and I am struggling for basic expenses. Can I request the court to inquire about his gratuity and end of service? Or can the court ask him to submit proof of the money that he received from his company, as he was working for 30 years in the same company?

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.

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.

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.