Family & Divorce

Sensitive, practical advice on divorce, children and financial arrangements.

Family matters require legal advice that is clear, discreet and sensitive to the personal circumstances involved. We assist individuals and families with divorce, financial claims, child custody, guardianship, maintenance and other personal status matters in the UAE.

Our approach combines practical guidance with careful preparation, whether the matter can be resolved through agreement or requires court proceedings. Particular attention is given to protecting children, preserving privacy and securing workable long-term arrangements.

The applicable legal framework may depend on the parties’ circumstances and the personal status regime governing the matter. We assess these issues at the outset, including any cross-border elements, foreign judgments or assets located in multiple jurisdictions.

What we do

• Divorce and separation — Divorce under both the Sharia-based and civil personal status regimes, including no-fault divorce for non-Muslims, and advice on which forum and which law produce the better outcome in your circumstances.
• Child custody and guardianship — Custody, guardianship and the distinction between them under UAE law, care arrangements, and the practical questions of schooling, medical decisions and day-to-day authority.
• Relocation and travel — Applications concerning a child’s travel and permanent relocation, and urgent action where a child has been removed from the UAE or is at risk of removal.
• Maintenance and financial provision — Spousal and child maintenance, housing, and the financial consequences of separation under each regime.
• Division of assets — Identification and division of property, businesses, investments and pensions held in the UAE and abroad, including tracing where assets have been moved.
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements — Agreements recording what should happen on separation, to which the civil regime gives real weight, and which are far easier to negotiate before a relationship has broken down.
• Wills and succession — Will registration for expatriates, guardianship provisions for children, and structuring so that UAE assets pass as intended rather than by default rules.
• Inheritance disputes — Contested estates, challenges to distribution, and the enforcement of foreign succession arrangements over UAE assets.
• Foreign judgments and cross-border families — Recognition and enforcement of foreign divorce, custody and maintenance orders, and the management of parallel proceedings in two jurisdictions.
• Protective applications — Urgent applications where there is a risk to a spouse or a child, handled with the confidentiality these matters require.

Who we act for

UAE nationals and expatriate residents, international families with assets and children in more than one jurisdiction, and clients for whom confidentiality is the primary concern.

Common questions

Can non-Muslims obtain a no-fault divorce in the UAE?

Yes. The civil personal status regime allows either spouse to seek a divorce without proving fault, which is a significant departure from the previous position.

Who gets custody of the children?

Under the civil regime, joint and equal custody is the starting point. Under the Sharia-based regime, custody and guardianship are distinct roles allocated differently. In both, the child’s interests govern.

Can I divorce in the UAE if we married abroad?

Generally yes, subject to residence and jurisdiction requirements. Whether you should is a separate question, and it depends on where your assets and children are.

Do I need a UAE will if I already have one at home?

Almost certainly. Without a registered UAE will, local assets may be distributed under default rules that do not reflect your wishes.