Q: I married in Poland, my wife is Polish and I am English. For the past 3 years, she has refused to live here and now has no residency visa. We have a 13-year-old son, and she is pregnant. She organized this by IVF treatment which was from a spermicide sample of mine without consultation. I am considering whether I can divorce in the UAE where I am a resident, and what would be the financial implications of doing so.

Q: Good day, I am a South African citizen married to a Romanian citizen under the Romanian law. [We were married in the Romanian embassy in Qatar and issued a Romanian marriage certificate.] We are residents of the UAE since 2006. Each of us has worked under own company sponsorship. Our marriage has now come to an end. I wish to have the divorce proceedings taking place here in the UAE although I am certain that my wife wishes to have it done in Romania. We have assets both in Abu Dhabi and Romania. Two properties each in both countries fully paid off. Will it be possible to start the divorce proceedings from my side here in the UAE (Abu Dhabi) even if she is unwilling to do so? Many thanks, Marius Strydom

Q: Hi, My wife and I got married both in the UAE and in Russia. In the UAE, we could get a divorce but she refuses to sign it in Russia. Is the divorce that took place in the UAE recognized in Russia? Thank you

Q: A marriage between Greek National and Indian origin was solemnized in India at Delhi marriage courts. Living in Dubai since 2015 as she was based in Dubai and then in Nov of the year 2016, a child was born and she moved back to Greece. Since then, she has disappeared and On 11 Oct 2018, she was granted ex-parte divorce in her home country in Cyprus on many grounds, and the document was shared by her. As the marriage was solemnized and registered in Delhi under the Christian marriage act in India and this document was invalid to grant me a divorce. Hence, in 2019, I filed a case in Delhi seeking divorce against the ex-parte decision received also contesting the grounds of divorce granted. Since then, the lawyer in Delhi has sent three notices through registered post on WhatsApp asking the respondent to be present, however, no response was received. I fought the case in the UAE and got a divorce on the above grounds. Is it valid for submission to the Indian consulate in the UAE? How long will the UAE courts take?

Q: Hi Abdul Wahied, Good Day! I intend to divorce my wife as it was a fraudulent marriage. How can I force my wife to go out of the UAE? Kindly advise on legal action! I intend to divorce her in India.

An interview-format article covering the topic of divorce for expatriates in the UAE and seeking to apply the laws of their countries. 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.