Q: Hello, I'm an Arab ex-pat living in the UAE my entire life. I have been married for 15 years. I have two boys and a good job, and I've been a good wife and mother. Unfortunately, my husband has left me for the past year and is staying with another woman. He sends me limited expenses and visits his children monthly. I've tried to reconcile with him but to no use. I have two questions: I prefer not to get a divorce as I yet have hope, but is there a way I can claim maintenance from him and how is this maintenance calculated? If I get a divorce, what happens to the custody of my children? Noting that they are both boys and the eldest is 14? My eldest is an autistic child who needs special support which his father can't provide, and I'm deeply concerned if he requests custody of this child. Thank you!

Q: Hello, My sister is married to an Indian who is working in Dubai for the last 6-7 years. He has been completely cut off from his wife and 1-year-old kid for the last 3 months. He writes in emails that he doesn’t want to continue and that he is going to cancel my sister's residence visa. What options do we have in this case? My sister wants that he should continue the marriage but his activities do not suggest so. Is he not liable for anything? What rights do we have to pressurize him or in the future should we apply for abandonment/divorce in India or Dubai?

Q: Hi, I wanted to understand the laws on asset split upon divorce. I and my wife are residents of Dubai, citizens of Australia. Our assets are in Australia, Singapore, India and the UAE. Which country laws would be applicable to us?

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?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My husband divorced me on WhatsApp, but he didn't want to come to the Dubai court to request a divorce. He left me when I was traveling. I remember that some time ago, when he was fighting with me, he told me, "If you divorce me, I will ask for the mahr." Maybe this is why he doesn't want to divorce me in court. But he's not paying me anything for the house or food. He divorced me so easily and blocked me. If I file a case, can he ask for the mahr?

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.

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.

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.