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UAE Family Law: Your Guide to Custody, Divorce, and Child Support

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Family matters often involve heavy emotions: children, marriage, separation, support, and the ability to move forward after the relationship ends. When a personal situation becomes a legal one, people want clarity. This guide answers real questions brought to us by parents and partners navigating custody, travel permissions, financial disputes, and reproductive rights inside the UAE legal system. The laws here are clear about one thing above all: protecting children and ensuring fairness between parents, no matter how complicated life becomes.

How Family Law Protections Work in the UAE

In the UAE, family law aims to:

  • Ensure children remain safe and supported
  • Clarify parental rights and obligations
  • Resolve custody without damaging family stability
  • Protect financial interests within a marriage and upon divorce

Courts prioritize the welfare of the child, particularly in custody and travel decisions. When parents disagree, judges step in to determine what best preserves the child’s life, education, and stability.

Why These Protections Matter

When family relationships break down, legal clarity creates emotional safety. Strong family protections ensure:

  • Children don’t become leverage in arguments
  • Parental decisions are transparent and enforceable
  • Hidden assets can’t disappear during divorce proceedings
  • A parent can’t vanish and abandon responsibility
  • Pregnancy and child support are enforceable regardless of marital status (in many cases)

Your Family Law Questions, Answered

These are actual questions people have brought to us when facing some of the most stressful moments of their lives.

1. My ex is preventing me from taking my children on holiday. How do I get travel permission?

The parent with legal custody usually controls travel decisions. If an ex refuses consent, you can apply to court for a travel order allowing the trip. Judges typically assess:

  • Duration and location of travel
  • School schedules
  • Whether the trip benefits the child
  • Risk of non-return (the main concern)

If there’s no legitimate reason to refuse, courts often grant permission.

2. I’m unmarried and pregnant. Can I claim child support if the father denies paternity?

Yes, the focus is on the child’s right to support, not the parents’ relationship status. You may file a case seeking:

  • Paternity proof
  • Child support, even if parents are not married
  • Custody arrangements and future parental involvement

3. My husband hid assets abroad before divorce. Can I include them in the case?

Yes. Courts expect full disclosure of marital assets. If a spouse intentionally hides wealth:

  • You can request international financial tracing
  • The court may adjust settlements based on findings
  • Dishonesty weakens the hiding spouse’s position

4. My husband abandoned me and the kids and left the UAE. What rights do I have?

Abandonment does not erase responsibility. You may pursue:

  • Child support orders enforceable against income or assets
  • Custody confirmation
  • Separation or divorce proceedings based on abandonment

5. We share custody, but I’m being transferred to another Emirate. Can the order be modified?

Yes. Custody rulings can evolve when life circumstances change. Courts will re-evaluate based on:

  • Impact on education and social stability
  • Ability to maintain meaningful contact with both parents
  • Quality of living arrangements

6. If my wife cheated, can I get full custody because of her adultery?

Adultery is serious under UAE law but does not automatically change custody. Courts focus on whether a parent’s behavior directly harms the child’s safety or upbringing. If there is no threat or neglect, adultery alone may not shift custody rights.

7. We are unmarried non-Muslims. Are we allowed to undergo IVF in the UAE?

No, unmarried couples cannot undergo IVF treatment in the UAE, even if both partners are non-Muslim. The couple must be legally married, and the embryos, eggs, and sperm must belong only to the married couple. Clinics cannot legally perform IVF for unmarried partners without a valid marriage certificate.

Consequences and Enforcement in Family Disputes

Depending on the situation, the court may order:

  • Travel permissions or restrictions
  • Child support enforcement and arrears recovery
  • Asset disclosure and seizure if required
  • Custody modifications
  • Criminal proceedings if neglect, abandonment, or adultery is proven

Family-based rulings remain high-impact, affecting visas, homes, finances, and parental rights.

How to Resolve Family Law Conflicts in the UAE

The typical path includes:

  1. Filing a case with the Family Court / Personal Status Court
  2. Mediation through court-appointed reconciliation
  3. Judicial assessment of custody, support, or travel
  4. Enforcement and follow-up proceedings where necessary

Supporting evidence includes:

  • School records, medical needs, expenses for the child
  • Proof of abandonment or refusal to support
  • Financial documents showing hidden assets
  • Any written communication relevant to parenting disputes

How LYLAW Can Help

Family disputes are emotionally heavy, and every conversation and procedural step matters. LYLAW assists parents and partners through:

  • Custody, relocation, and travel order cases
  • Divorce and separation proceedings
  • Child support enforcement and arrears recovery
  • Investigating hidden assets in complex divorce matters
  • Securing legal recognition for children born to non-married parents
  • Protecting residence rights tied to family status

If your family situation is changing and you need clarity fast, our team is ready to support you with experience and sensitivity.

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