Q: I'm going to marry my girlfriend at the end of the summer and before the wedding we are going to live together in my apartment. Is it legal in the UAE if we are not married yet?

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: I am an Indian married woman staying with my husband and son in Abu Dhabi for the last 10 years. My son and I are on husband's visa. Last year in September, I discovered that my husband has been cheating on me, at least, since the past 2 years or more. I have evidence from his phone. He has accepted his wrongdoings and admitted everything in front of my father and me and has promised to change. However, I've completely lost trust in him. There were times when I suspected his actions and asked him directly but he refused and always said that I should try finding proofs. He also called my sister once to tell her that I was nagging and doubting him. Probably he was playing safe. But since his actions have surfaced up, he projects that he has changed for good. I do not believe him a bit.This has affected and traumatized me to a great extent that I had to seek medical advice from a psychiatrist and it has affected my son too. How can I file a divorce in the UAE? Please advise.

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.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).