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: Hi, My friend's wife has filed a case for divorce. They've been married for a year and a half. They have a 9-month old son. The wife works and earns AED 5600. My friend earns AED 15000, but he got some bank loans which he pays off with AED 7000. How is wife and child maintenance going to be calculated?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a Filipino national who's been working here in the UAE for almost 4 years now. I would just like to ask if it's possible to seek or file support for my children under the UAE laws against my husband who has been failing since ever with fulfilling his obligations to my children [ages 20 & 15]. Last May, I came to know that he officially submitted his resignation. I have learned also that he got a new job offer in Abu Dhabi. I sought assistance early last year from the Philippines Consulate. They advised me to file a case in the Philippines against him as I cannot file it with them due to restrictions in the jurisdiction. In the same year, I forwarded my concern to our office as we are of the same management but assistance wasn't fully accorded. I am certain that he will continue to escape his obligations especially now that I am no longer on hold of his whereabouts. Appreciate if you can give me advice on further actions I can take on this matter. Thank you, O. S. D. P.

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.

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.