Q: I filed for the custody of my 8-year-old child and the judge ruled in my favor. However, my ex appealed. His reason is I don't speak Arabic but the Court did not ask me to attend hearings and only my lawyer was heard. He claims I don't speak Arabic because I am Spanish. Basically by nationality because in reality I do speak some Arabic and he lied to the Appeal Court I don't know at all. Is the Arabic Language a reason to transfer custody to the father if the mother is Muslim and qualifies as a custodian?

Q: Hello, I have a question. My brother turned fourteen and he is with my mother and he does not need anything and he is getting 100% in his school. So now my father wants him back, will he get asked with whom he wanna stay or he will be forced to transfer to my father's house?

Q: Can anyone explain the latest divorce law in Abu Dhabi for non-Muslims?

Q: Good Morning, I divorced my wife last year in Pakistan and she opened a case in Dubai for child maintenance as I am paying 3000 dirhams for one year daughter. Now I lost my job and they canceled my visa. Soon I have to go back to my country as I didn't find a job. My questions here: 1. Will I be able to get custody of my daughter as I am returning to my home country? 2. If the judge gives her custody and I will go back to Pakistan, how will I pay for child maintenance and visit my daughter in Dubai? 3. She is doing a job in Dubai and her mother is handling my child which my mother can do as well in Pakistan as we have our own home and small business there.

Q: I am legally divorced since 2015 in the UAE and paying sustenance to my wife for our son (15 years). Son is under the sponsorship of my ex and she is not renewing her and my son's visa. My son has no visa or medical insurance. I am willing to sponsor my son however, my ex is not cooperating. My ex-wife is not working or earning either. What can I do? I want to protect the legal status of my son and have proper health insurance for him. Which government department can I report this matter to? Your advice will be appreciated.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a French national who divorced my Dutch wife in Dubai under Dubai law. We have been divorced for 7 years and have a 15-year-old son. Until recently (December 2022), our son was under my ex-wife's sponsorship. However, her visa expired in December last year and she has not renewed it. As a result, both our son and my ex-wife have been overstaying for the past 6 months. I have informed her that I can and should sponsor our son, as I am the legal guardian and the legitimate father. However, she has not been willing to hand over her Emirates ID so that I can transfer the sponsorship and apply for visa renewal and health insurance. I simply need to be able to transfer the sponsorship of the expired visa in order to process the residency visa renewal for my son, who needs to be registered for the next school year and needs health insurance as he is currently not covered and is on overstay.

Q: Dear lawyers, I have been divorced mutually in Dubai. The children have been living with me because my ex-wife chose to live with her boyfriend. Due to financial conditions, she chose a new life with a new man, abandoning the kids and her past. Now, as I legally want custody, she is creating drama, and her current boyfriend is taking advantage. She had a relationship with him before the divorce. I couldn't file for adultery as I was focused on my career and children. Can I do it now? All evidence is present. The children are residing in Dubai, and she has completely stopped meeting them as her boyfriend controls her. He is married too and has children he has kept abroad.

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.

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.

Joint Custody in UAE Law Article 10 of the Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status for Non-Muslims shines a spotlight on the significance of Shared custody following divorce. This article recognizes joint and equal custody as a right for both the father and mother post-separation or divorce.

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.