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: Hello, I'm 23, female, Pakistani, under my dad's sponsorship on a residence visa for the next 2 years. During these 2 years, I hope to leave my house, but my abusive parents would raise hell if I even brought up the topic. So my only option is to leave without them knowing. My concern is: what legal action can they take against me if I move out without their approval? I don’t want to do anything illegal or risk my residency.

Q: Hello, My husband is mentally harassing me for my salary. He wants my full salary and savings. He knows I am an epilepsy patient, so proper sleep is very important for me. Still, he fights with me all night. He just wants my salary. Last year, I left him and went back to India, but after a few months, he came to me and assured me he wouldn't misbehave with me. But now he has again started fighting with me all the time for my salary. According to him, my salary is his asset because after marriage, I came to Dubai. Please help me and suggest.

Domestic violence is considered a serious issue prevalent globally, especially in the Arab world. Many Arab households and families experience verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, directed towards both wives and children. This form of violence is deemed a dangerous and widespread phenomenon, carrying numerous negative effects on both individuals and society, as we will explore in this article.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 On the Issuance of the Personal Status Law, known as the "New Personal Status Law", governs the laws of personal status in the United Arab Emirates. The New Law of Personal Status repeals the previous UAE Law of Personal Status (Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 on Personal Status).