Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
4 available 4 • View allApply for a divorce while the husband is not in the UAE

1
Q: Hi,
I am an Indian national and coming to the UAE to get settled with my boyfriend.
I and my husband are currently living in the UK. But we want a divorce. My husband will stay here in the UK after I move to Dubai.
Is there any way I can apply for a divorce in the UAE if my husband is not in the UAE?


May 19, 2021
422
Legal status of marriage
1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to enquire about my legal marriage status. I had a non-legal nikah marriage in the UK. Myself and my then husband moved to Dubai.
This nikah certificate was attested/ certified for visa/ legal purposes, however, I'm unsure of whether the UK would now recognise this nikah as a legal marriage, as another country has recorded it as such. If so then I would have to also legally divorce. As my divorce currently is an Islamic one.
Please, could you advise me further of if there are any ways of checking this or confirming etc? I had no legal marriage ceremony in Dubai.
The second question I have is that if I get a court order here in the UK for child maintenance. Is this then able to be registered in Dubai (can this be used to seek to enforce) in case he failed to pay? If so how much would this mirror order cost?
Kind regards,
Sarah

Oct 23, 2017
684
Divorce and division of assets in the UAE
10
Q: Hi,
I am currently negotiating a divorce with my wife who is a Russian National. We got married in 2013 in Moscow ZAGs (Registry).
I would like to know more about the division of assets upon divorce and what the correct procedures are, as I am in a deadlock with her negotiating.
We bought a property in the UAE and both contributed equally towards the down payment. However, moving forward, all mortgage payments were made by me.
I am trying to make an agreed settlement with my wife, however, she is asking more than what I feel is fair and equal. If I was to sell the property we would both end up with less.
In fact, she will end up with significantly less than what I am offering her. I would like to speak to someone with regards to the divorce proceedings and what the correct procedure is.
Jul 13, 2016
7369
How to obtain the bank records of the ex-husband?

1
Q: Hello,
I am from the USA and currently have a family law case here against my ex-husband to obtain the money that he rightfully owes me. My ex-husband used to live in Sharjah, UAE, but he now lives in the USA since 2020.
He had a bank account in Sharjah Islamic Bank, but now he claims that he does not have access to that account and does not have money in that account. I need to obtain his bank records from Sharjah Islamic Bank to prove otherwise.
Can I issue a subpoena to Sharjah Islamic Bank for them to produce his bank records?
How can I register a foreign subpoena in the UAE?
Your help and advice are greatly appreciated.
Thank you!


Aug 24, 2022
233
Legal blog
4 available 4 • View allTips on Winning Legally at Court and out of Court 2
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.
Jul 18, 2019
2366
Choosing the Jurisdiction of Expatriate Divorces in the UAE 7
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.
Feb 13, 2020
2926
Personal Status Law for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi 8
A new civil personal status decree has been introduced in the emirate of Abu Dhabi by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. This personal status decree will be applicable for non-Muslim foreigners based in Abu Dhabi in matters of marriage, divorce, Will, inheritance, and custody of children.
Nov 9, 2021
2540
The Legal & Psychological Effects of Mental Well-being on Marriage 0
An interview-format article covering the topic of the legal & psychological effects of COVID-19 on marriage. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Mar 29, 2021
539
Laws & Regulations
1 available 1 • View allFederal Law No. (28) of 2005 On Personal Status 24
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.
Nov 19, 2005
49088

Premium
Other answers by
278 278 answers •
View allWhat are the legal consequences of my partner's voluntary withdrawal from our company? 0
Hello,
My partner voluntarily withdrew from our company which we established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
We established this company on July 1, 2024. Until now, there is no income or revenue. What is the legality?
Apr 9, 2025
82
Getting my children back from the UAE after my ex-husband took them to avoid divorce 0
Hello,
I'm in Canada, and I filed for divorce. My husband, who owns a real estate company in Abu Dhabi, kidnapped our children and took them to the UAE to avoid the divorce and force me back to him.
My children are twin boys, 8 years old, and a 10-year-old girl. What can I do?
I want to follow them and take my children back, but he says his local Emirati connections will file criminal cases against me and have me jailed if I go there. What can I do remotely?
Does the UAE return kidnapped children to their mother? In the UAE, a guardian cannot legally kidnap their own child; what does this mean for my case?
If I report him, what happens to my children? Will they be held until I arrive to take them?
Mar 3, 2025
68
I have video recording of my husband beating me. Can I show this in the child custody hearing? 0
I have a video recording of my husband beating me in our garden.
Can I show this in the child custody hearing?
It was filmed with my phone camera
Mar 19, 2025
54
Can a DTC holiday home permit be used as proof that my landlord re-rented the property after evicting me? 0
Hello,
My landlord vacated the property with 12 months' notice, stating he would live there himself.
However, he started renting the property through the holiday homes system.
Is a permit issued by the DTC for a holiday home valid proof to prove that he is renting and to claim compensation?
Mar 18, 2025
53
Can I file a case against a friend for privacy breach if he claimed I scolded him for his act? 0
On Jan 2, 2025, one of my close friends did a privacy breach and recorded me and my van in some specific place.
On Feb 5, when I called and asked him why he did this to me, he went and gave a complaint that I scolded him and threatened him.
The same case was later closed by the PP when we negotiated outside the station and apologized.
At this juncture, can I file a privacy breach case against him, which happened on Jan 2, 2025, and on Feb 5 I scolded him only for the privacy breach that happened on Jan 2?
Mar 18, 2025
64

Other answers by
313 313 answers •
View allCan the landlord request the tenant to pay the chiller in the middle of the contract? 0
I live in Dubai Marina, and the landlord claimed that according to new Dubai Land regulations, the chiller now has to be paid by the person occupying the apartment.
Even though my contract says that the landlord should pay the chiller, they want to implement this mid-contract.
I understand that the terms upon renewal will be renegotiated, but on what grounds can they implement the change mid-contract?
Does a new DLD regulation precede a tenancy contract? Moreover, I am receiving a disconnection notice from the chiller company due to non-payment.
What can I do if this happens?
Please advise.
Mar 23, 2022
1589
Can I travel with a non-paid telecom bill in the UAE if my visa is canceled? 0
Can I travel with a non-paid telecom bill in the UAE if my visa is canceled?
Feb 16, 2023
729
Does the new property owner have to sign a new contract with the tenant? 0
Hi,
I'm a new landlord of the property which is already rented.
Kindly advise, do we have to sign a new tenancy contract with the tenant for the remaining period? And who will pay the cost of Ejari?
Feb 16, 2023
2567
Cleaner's resignation with 30-day notice in incomplete contract 0
Hello,
Good afternoon!
My friend works as a cleaner for a cleaning company and she now wants to resign with a 30-day notice. However, she has not completed the two-year contract and has only served for 16 months.
Additionally, she has not taken any vacation leave. The sad part is that when she signed the offer letter, she did not receive a copy of it and only signed it.
I would be very grateful if you could let me know if she would have to pay or if her boss has the right to not accept the resignation if the notice period mentioned in the offer letter is more than a month.
Her boss has not provided her with any kind of proof that she can use in the future if anything happens.
Feb 13, 2023
561
The ownership of a code of a web application 0
Hello,
I represent a tech-based marketplace company registered in a Freezone, in the UAE.
This is in regards to the UAE's law regarding the ownership of code when there is no clause mentioned in the agreement. One of our products (web application) is being developed by an agency in the UAE.
While we do have agreements in place, there is no clause regarding ownership of code. In the situation mentioned above, I've heard that the ownership of code either goes to the author or the agency that employed the author. Is this true?
Your assistance and help would be of great help.
Sep 7, 2021
319
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