Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
5 available 5 • View allCan a non-Muslim wife of a Muslim husband divorce as per the non-Muslim personal status law?




0
Q: Can a non-Muslim wife of a Muslim husband file a divorce as per the new non-Muslim personal status law?
Or she must file for divorce only as per Sharia law?





Feb 23, 2023
202
How can I divorce my husband in the UAE as a non-Muslim expatriate?


1
Q: I want to divorce my husband after 11 years of marriage due to incompatibility issues.
We have an almost 10-year-old daughter and we are both Indian Christians.
How will the proceedings be and who will get custody of our daughter?



Jan 26, 2022
270
Which law is better to apply for non-Muslims, UK or Sharia law?
1
Q: I wish to file for divorce from my wife. We are both non-Muslim, UK nationals living in Abu Dhabi. We have 3 children (12, 9, and 8).
I know we will both be awarded joint custody after the divorce but I wish for the children to mainly live with me at our family home.
If their main home is with me, will I still be liable to pay my wife alimony, even if she works?
What percentage of my monthly salary of AED 35,000 should I reasonably expect to pay? How long will the alimony payments last?
I am just trying to understand that if I am the children's primary carer, pay their school fees, and cover their living costs (if they live with me), then what would my wife be entitled to in the settlement as a monthly payment?

Apr 27, 2022
193
How to get a divorce for a non-Muslim with an 8-year-old daughter?




1
Q: Dear Lawyers,
How to get a divorce for a non-Muslim with an 8-year-old daughter?





+4
Jul 12, 2024
152
Negotiate asset split and spousal support: direct talks, mediator, or lawyer negotiations?




1
Q: Hello,
I am currently getting divorced from my wife in Abu Dhabi. We are Americans, got married in the US 6 years ago, and are both non-Muslims.
We are officially divorced and we wrapped up custody proceedings for our 19-month-old daughter last week and it was decided for 50/50, joint custody.
I believe the next stage is for asset split and spousal support. Is that best handled with one-on-one talks with my ex-wife, or the use of a moderator, or have lawyer-to-lawyer negotiations?
Also, can spousal support be paid from the former wife to the former husband? In the US this is very possible.
I am very concerned about this as my ex-wife makes considerably more than I do (we moved to Abu Dhabi so she could take a lucrative position).
Thank you!





+1
Aug 12, 2024
51
Legal blog
3 available 3 • View allPersonal 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
2533
Recent Amendments of the Laws in the UAE 4
An interview-format article covering the topic of the new amendments to the laws in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Feb 3, 2021
3065
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
2912
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
49060

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3187 3187 answers •
View allHow can I cancel my current visa immediately without serving notice? 0
Hello,
I got an offer letter from another company. I want the immediate cancellation paper before 20th April.
I don't have time to submit my notice period registration. What should I do?
Please give me the best advice!
Apr 4, 2025
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During the notice period, is an employee allowed to take sick leave? 0
Hello,
During the notice period, is an employee allowed to take sick leave? If not, can the employer deduct the sick leave from the employee’s end-of-service benefits?
Additionally, what is the legal basis for this? Specifically, which law or ministerial decision governs this matter?
Apr 4, 2025
139
Can I request reopening a civil case if the judgment was in my absence due to sending notices to the wrong address? 0
Lawyers misunderstood my question. Please read carefully and then guide me.
Case Type: Civil Case
Claim amount: 400,000
Paid: 65,000
Reason: Commercial agreement of supply
Emirate: Ajman
This case was registered in 2022. The judgment was in my absence, as notices were sent to the wrong address.
I was sent to jail. I made a down payment, bailed, and paid some more amount as installments. The total paid amount is AED 65000.
Now, again, an arrest warrant is issued as I did not pay the remaining 335,000 of the claim.
According to me, I had to pay only this amount because the executioner made a wrong claim, not as per the genuine claim.
So I want to reopen the case file.
I want the court to reinvestigate and start the case from scratch.
1) How can I make that request?
2) What documents are required?
3) Chances of reopening of case?
4) Cancellation of arrest warrant
Please guide me in detail, as I will do everything myself, as I cannot afford a lawyer right now.
Apr 4, 2025
73
I booked a hotel stay for Eid through a travel agency and it was canceled two days before Eid. What to do? 0
I booked a hotel stay for Eid through a travel agency two weeks before Eid. The travel agency confirmed the booking on payment.
One day before Eid, the agency reached out, saying they had an issue with the supplier/hotel and the booking would be cancelled.
They offered alternative hotels that didn’t match the original property. I suggested some properties, and they couldn’t arrange them, or they asked for further payment, so I didn’t book anything through them.
What are my rights to a refund and compensation, as I had to book other arrangements separately at a significantly higher cost due to the last-minute prices?
It also caused significant emotional distress, less than 24 hours before the holiday. To which authority can a complaint be made in case of an unsatisfactory outcome?
Both the agency and the hotel are in Dubai.
Apr 4, 2025
67
How can I renew my Ejari if the landlord hasn’t signed the new contract? 0
Hi,
I have been here for 3 years now and paid the increased amount (as per the agreement) for the 4th year.
However, the landlord did not send me back the signed contract, although I have both made the payment for the full year via bank transfer and sent my signed contract to him.
I need to renew my Ejari; however, how can I do it without the landlord's signature?
I have all the previous contracts signed by both parties, along with the Ejari for those contracts.
Apr 14, 2025
12

Other answers by
207 207 answers •
View allDo I have to pay the value of training to the company in case of terminating the contract? 0
Salam,
My company has filed a complaint against me in MOHRE related to training fees.
This is the clause mentioned in my contract:
"The Second Party shall be obliged to pay back the value of the training (which is estimated at an amount of 10000 AED) when they terminate the employment contract based on their own free will (within One Year) from the date of commencement of their contract, without prejudice to the First Party's legal or contractual obligations. (the amount agreed on for the value of the training period must be commensurate with the employment period of the employee)"
My question is:
1. I served 11 months in the company. Can they demand the full 10,000 or it should be less due to 11 months (as per the last line of the clause)?
2. I didn't even get training from the company. I learned normally by working on projects with seniors. No training session was conducted for me. Should I still have to pay?
My case is in MOHRE.
Thanks
Nov 13, 2024
232
Can I apply for Amnesty 2024 with a bounced cheque and credit card debt? 0
Hi,
Amnesty 2024 has just started, and I really want to apply for it, but I have a company bounced cheque and personal credit card debt.
Is there any solution to avail of the amnesty and legalize my status? If yes, what is the step-by-step procedure?
Thank you to those who can enlighten me on this question, and God bless us all!
Sep 2, 2024
960
How can I resolve a travel ban with an expired passport and a bounced check case? 0
Hello,
I have a civil case for a bounced check and a travel ban. My passport has expired and can only be renewed in my home country.
Due to the travel ban, it is not possible to exit and renew the passport. With an expired passport, I can't work.
What are the options in this situation? Can my wife take this case and start paying in installments so that I can go to renew his passport and come back?
Thank you!
Jun 28, 2024
156
I have an unpaid credit card in the UAE and I will be traveling to Qatar. Will I be arrested? 0
I have an unpaid credit card of approximately AED 45000 in the UAE.
I will be traveling to Qatar due to work.
Will I be arrested in Qatar?
Jun 21, 2024
135
Requesting additional fees due to cheque postponement. What should I do? 0
Good day,
I requested the lessor to divide my upcoming cheque into two payments instead of the full amount on the 1st of December. I paid 50% on 1st December, and the second payment was scheduled for 30th December.
However, they considered it as a cheque postponement and asked for an additional fee.
Upon reviewing the contract, I found point number 8 states that a cheque postponement request will be subject to management approval, and it doesn't mention any extra fees—just approval.
Is this normal, and should I pay for it, or not?
Please help!
Dec 19, 2023
181

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1585 1585 answers •
View allCan a Pakistani expat register a second marriage in the UAE without disclosing the first? 0
Hello,
I want to know the UAE rules regarding second marriage for expats. I am a Pakistani national and already have a wife back in my home country.
Now, I want to do a second marriage in the UAE with a Moroccan girl. Can you please let me know the procedure involved?
Can I get my marriage registered in the UAE? Is it mandatory to disclose the first marriage? I am on an employment visa in Dubai.
Apr 7, 2025
133
Missing business partner since 2003. What to do about his share in the LLC? 0
Hello,
I am a manager of an LLC company with 25% share. In February 2003, a partner joined the company with a 25% share.
After two months, he didn’t like the company and left. After two years, we did not know where he was. We just heard that he left to Tunisia before his visa expired.
What to do with his 25% share, please?
Apr 7, 2025
127
I got a work permit and entry from a Dubai employer for work. What documents do I need to carry? 0
I got a work permit and entry from a Dubai employer for work.
During the travel to Dubai, do I need to show any accommodation proof, return ticket, or anything?
What documents do I need to carry?
Apr 14, 2025
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My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and bounced cheque. How to follow up? 0
Hello.
My company has filed a case against a client for failure to pay and a bounced cheque. The client's company is registered as a virtual office in the Creative City Free Zone in Fujairah, so our case is filed there.
The client basically purchased some equipment from us, and his payment via bank transfer did not go through and was rejected. Then, when we deposited his security cheque after multiple attempts to contact and no answer, the cheque bounced.
The company is under his wife's name, and we have filed a case on the same.
The court has accepted our application, however, they have instructed the execution bureau to get the Emirates ID of this authorised signatory. The bureau is asking us to get it, and we have no way to do so, unfortunately.
Without the Emirates ID, the court cannot freeze the bank accounts or put a travel ban, etc.
What are our options here?
Apr 14, 2025
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I received a legal notice to pay rent and cleared the amount. Can the landlord ask me to pat late fees penalty? 0
I received a legal notice to pay rent.
I have already cleared the amount specified in the legal notice, but my landlord is now saying that I also need to clear further late fees as per our contract within the legal notice time period.
Is that valid if it is not stated in the notice?
Apr 14, 2025
6
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