Q: Hello/Salam I am a British citizen with a UK passport and married a UAE resident with a Pakistani passport in March 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, I could not see my wife until travel re-opened. At this time, I tried to apply for a UK spouse visa for my wife, but it was not approved on Jan 21. I then waited for things to re-open and visited my wife on Nov 21 and decided to move ahead with our Rukhsati and Walima in Jan 2022. I then applied for her UK visit visa, but again it was not approved. I then traveled to Dubai in Mar 2022 to live in Dubai with my wife, but she did not see me, has not responded to my messages or calls, and blocked me on social media. I was able to see her family but they were very disrespectful to me and threw me out of their house. I have returned to the UK now. What can I do to approach the UAE authorities that my wife's family has defrauded me, taken all the gifts and gold, and are now ignoring us? Please advise what can I do to save my marriage? Thanks/Jzk

س: مرحبًا، أريد رفع دعوى ضد زوجتي؛ فقد هربت من المنزل بأولادي الصغار ولا أعرف أين هي. أرغب في رفع دعوى إسقاط حضانة ودعوى عدم سفر للأطفال.

Q: My divorce case is going on in Dubai court, my ex has my child passport. In this case, can I put a travel ban on my child since I fear he will run away with the child when the case is ongoing?

ضمن إطار سلسلة التعديلات التي طرأت مؤخراً على عدد من القوانين الاتحادية لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، أصدر صاحب السمو الشيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيان، رئيس الدولة، في 25 أغسطس 2020، مرسوماً بقانون اتحادي رقم (5) لسنة 2020 بتعديل بعض أحكام القانون الاتحادي رقم (28) لسنة 2005 في شأن الأحوال الشخصية.

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.

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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.

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.

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.