Q: Hello, I’m a 20-year-old (soon to be 21) Emirati university student, and I’ve been horribly abused by my brother for decades. My father passed away not long ago, I have a half-brother but he’s also a bad person and my 2nd brother is very abusive. I live with him and my mother and my mother doesn’t seem to care about me getting abused physically, emotionally, and psychologically. I called the police on him 2 times before and all they said was to go to the hospital and get a report. They didn’t do anything else to help. I eventually went and got a report. But my mother is threatening me if I ever report him. I don’t know what to do, I get 20K dirhams monthly because I was still underage when my dad died. But my brother and mother are not getting anything and they’re eating my money. I was thinking of moving out, but I’m not sure if it’s legal for me because of the Sharia law. Please help me I can’t stay here any longer. If I don’t leave, I will take my own life.

Q: Hi, I've been facing harassment from both my parents and I am 23 years old. I am not being treated as an adult whatsoever. They are causing mental and emotional issues. What can I do for the case of my freedom?

Q: Dear Lawyers, Is it possible for my parents to withhold my passport from me? Due to my strict family, as an Emirati female above the age of 21, my mother is withholding my passport from me. I have the opportunity to study for my master's abroad, and my flight is due in less than 3 weeks. She hasn’t allowed me to renew my passport, nor is she aware of the opportunity due to my fear of the abuse I might receive. There is a history of both physical and emotional abuse in the past; however, the proof is only my memory. I have a voice message proving that she won’t give me my passport, and I’m afraid that they will hurt me upon knowing I’m packing my bags or lock me up. What can I do?

Q: Hello, I am trying to leave the country. My father is my residency sponsor and guardian. I am 19 years old and not from the UAE. Am I allowed to travel alone without my father’s consent? I am planning to run away and seek asylum abroad because they are abusive, and I have proof of it. My father does not know that I am traveling, but after I pass immigration, he might receive an SMS notification that I have passed immigration and exited the country. Can he file a travel ban on me after I pass immigration? Can he stop me in any way? Since the age of majority in the UAE is 21, I am unsure if I am considered an adult. This is an emergency, and my father could kill me.

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.