Q: I'm Tunisian woman married to a British passport holder and we're both Muslims married in Qatar and live now in UAE. I want to know what happens if I ask for divorce. We grew apart and he's been nasty with me, threatening me to have a mistress or get married again or even threaten to hit me if I reply to him during an argument. We have a joint account with full ownership (anyone of us has full authority over the account) for both of us but I actually own 90% of the money in it. Lately, after our relationship started suffering, I discovered he transferred all the money to an off-shore account and he didn't consult me or ask for my permission, until he didn't tell me about it. I don't trust him anymore and want to divorce and have my money. Would filing for divorce affect me or my assets (I have another separate current account)? Would I be able to get my money back? How will Sharia law affect this process assuming he won't cooperate? Please advise.

Q: My husband and I are South African & have been married for 6 years. We live in Dubai. He also has a Canadian passport. We were married with an Anti-Nuptial Contract (prenup) but the ANC was not registered, so we are married in community of property. We have nothing between us, no money/kids/assets. My husband did receive inheritance money 2 years ago. I supported us financially for our marriage because my husband worked on commission only job. He refused to find a job that paid a monthly salary. He contributed financially but I carried the bulk of our expenses. I used my own personal savings from before us being married to support us. He promised that when he receives his inheritance he would return my savings, would buy us a house and more. He received this money about 2 years ago and has given me nothing. He is an alcoholic, he has admitted that he has cheated on me by calling a sex line & has been arrested twice due to alcohol. We have been for counselling in the past. I moved out on 5/11/16.

Q: Dear, I am writing this on behalf of my sister in law: "I married this guy almost 15 years ago. He left for a job in the UAE. Now he rarely visits me in Pakistan in years. He also got married to some other Pakistani girl in the UAE. Meanwhile, he is forcing me to live in Pakistan in his own home and does not directly give me the money to take care of myself and my children. He sends the amount to his father and he then assesses my needs and gives me a calculated amount. Is there any law in the UAE through which I can bind him to pay me my expenses or I can take khulaa (separation)?" P.S. The lady is really heartbroken and desperate. Please respond asap, I shall be very thankful.

Q: Hello lawyer! I need an expert advice from you. I was married 3 years back and my husband and inlaws cheated me on his medical condition (i.e. he had both kidneys removed and transplanted his mother kidney). A year after my marriage, I was pressured and tortured for not having a baby. I was very worried, and hence, got all my tests done and alhamdulillah everything was normal. The doctor also checked my husband and as a result, his reports were negative and the reason for that was associated with his transplant and medicines. He and his family behaviour is getting worse day by day, and hence, I am planning to get a divorce from him and wanted to know my legal rights and process to go further. I am living with my parents since 9 months and my husband hasn't supported me in any way. Now, he has started defaming me on social media also. I would be very thankful if you can help me in this regard.

Q: My husband wants to move to Abu Dhabi and he doesn't want to provide for me a roof or to be committed in any way to me and asks me to manage myself! What can I do? And he says "if you want, I can divorce you but I don't pay you anything." I don't have kids and we've been married for 3 years. During these 3 years, he didn't pay except the roof and I paid all bills and we share grocery and any other expenses.

س: زوجتي طلبت الطلاق، هل يحق لي المطالبة بأن يعيش أولادي في بلدي الأصلي (مصر) بعد الطلاق، علمًا بأنني ما زلت أعمل هنا في الإمارات؟ الأب والأم من مصر، والأم تعمل هنا ولكني لا أريد أن يستمر الأولاد هنا.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My wife and I are getting a divorce, and we want to settle it here in Dubai. However, we got married in Egypt and have a 5-year-old daughter together. I want to know the legal financial requirements from my side towards them after the divorce to include in the agreement.

الأسرة هي عماد المجتمع، ويدور صلاحه مع صلاحها وجوداً وعدماً، فأن فسدت الاسرة فسد المجتمع؛ ولذلك اعتنت الشريعة الإسلامية بتنظيم العلاقات الاسرية أيما عناية. فالزوج والزوجة هما الأصول التي يتفرع منها الأبناء، فإن لم تستقِم العلاقة بينهما انعكس ذلك على بقية أفراد الاسرة من الأبناء وبالتالي فسد مجتمع الأسرة. وفي دولة الامارات العربية المتحدة يولي المشرع اهتماماً بشؤون الأسرة من خلال قانون الأحوال الشخصية الإماراتي وتقنينه من وقت لآخر بإجراء عدد من التعديلات عليه لكي يتماشى مع أوضاع الأسرة المختلفة.

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 law On Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions (Law of Evidence) govern evidence in civil and commercial disputes in the UAE.