Q: I'm Tunisian woman married to a British passport holder and we're both Muslims married in Qatar and live now in UAE. I want to know what happens if I ask for divorce. We grew apart and he's been nasty with me, threatening me to have a mistress or get married again or even threaten to hit me if I reply to him during an argument. We have a joint account with full ownership (anyone of us has full authority over the account) for both of us but I actually own 90% of the money in it. Lately, after our relationship started suffering, I discovered he transferred all the money to an off-shore account and he didn't consult me or ask for my permission, until he didn't tell me about it. I don't trust him anymore and want to divorce and have my money. Would filing for divorce affect me or my assets (I have another separate current account)? Would I be able to get my money back? How will Sharia law affect this process assuming he won't cooperate? Please advise.

Q: My husband and I are South African & have been married for 6 years. We live in Dubai. He also has a Canadian passport. We were married with an Anti-Nuptial Contract (prenup) but the ANC was not registered, so we are married in community of property. We have nothing between us, no money/kids/assets. My husband did receive inheritance money 2 years ago. I supported us financially for our marriage because my husband worked on commission only job. He refused to find a job that paid a monthly salary. He contributed financially but I carried the bulk of our expenses. I used my own personal savings from before us being married to support us. He promised that when he receives his inheritance he would return my savings, would buy us a house and more. He received this money about 2 years ago and has given me nothing. He is an alcoholic, he has admitted that he has cheated on me by calling a sex line & has been arrested twice due to alcohol. We have been for counselling in the past. I moved out on 5/11/16.

Q: We separated with my wife almost a year ago and my 4-year-old daughter stays with me and her nanny in my apartment full-time. I am taking care of all the expenses and supporting her with all needed. And I want everything to be the same after divorcing. Would it be possible for me to get custody in this situation? What are the fees of the family lawyer in Dubai? 

Q: I'm an Egyptian Muslim married to a Christian Macedonian according to Islamic Sharia at the Egyptian Embassy in Dubai. It has been a very difficult marriage and I want a divorce with my wife who's pregnant and doesn't want it in peace. I'm her sponsor in Dubai as she isn't working now. Continuing in this marriage is impossible and we didn't have any divorce agreements before marriage. I want to know her rights and my rights, please.

Q: What are my rights in case of emotional abuse and being held in the UAE against my will and not allowing me to go back to my home country, so that I am unable to file for divorce (khula')? How can I prove emotional abuse? I have been asking for a divorce for almost a year and a half now, but my husband is not giving me because my parents are not supporting me, what should I do???

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I want an experienced lawyer to handle my divorce case. I need to understand in which court jurisdiction I should file the case. My visa is in Sharjah and my wife's visa is stamped in Abu Dhabi. What is the court fee?

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.