People who were married outside the country and are present residents of the UAE can usually seek Divorce through civil processes or personal religious convictions. Contrary to popular belief, many foreigners choose to go via the UAE court system to handle their divorces since it is both speedier and less expensive in the long run.
In the UAE, mutually agreed-upon divorces can be concluded in as little as one month. When dealing with a failing marriage, most people consider Divorce to be their last option. However, many foreigners are uninformed of how Divorce works in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Most overseas expatriates have issues ranging from jurisdiction to child custody to the legal reasons for Divorce.
It should be emphasized that divorce decrees for Muslim marriages can be obtained under Sharia Law, whilst divorce processes for non-Muslim marriages can be obtained by Federal Law No. 28 of 2008, generally known as the Personal Status Law. Non-Muslims are permitted to use the personal laws of the nation where their marriage was solemnized under this policy—provided that they have legalized copies of their country’s rules translated and certified by a translator and the Ministry of Justice.
Non-Muslim expatriates have the option to file for divorce in their home country or the UAE, and they can also request to apply their own country’s law to their divorce case. However, if they choose to divorce in their home country, they need to follow some steps to make sure their divorce is recognized and valid in the UAE. These steps include:
If they choose to apply for divorce in the UAE, they must follow Federal Law No. 28 of 2005, also known as the Personal Status Law, which regulates personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody for non-Muslims. However, according to Article 1 of this law, non-Muslims can request to apply their laws to personal status matters, as long as they do not contradict public order or morals. This means that relevant parties may ask to apply their home country’s laws rather than UAE legislation.
According to Article 1 of Federal Law No. 29 of 2020 on Personal Status Matters Amendments:
The law also states that the husband’s nationality at the time of marriage determines the law that applies to the personal and property consequences of the marriage. If the law of the spouses’ home country does not address a certain issue related to the divorce process, UAE courts can decide to use UAE law instead.
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Muslims and UAE nationals are still subject to federal personal status law, which is based on Islamic Sharia.
Civil marriages in the UAE are marriages not based on any religious or customary rites but on the mutual consent of the parties and the registration of the marriage contract in a civil authority. Civil marriages in the UAE are governed by Law No. (14) of 2021 concerning Civil Marriage and its Effects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (the “Law”). The Law applies to foreigners who have a civil marriage contract registered in a foreign country or the UAE and who wish to divorce in the UAE.
According to the Law, civil divorce is based on the principle of no-fault divorce. Under Article 6 of the Law, to claim the divorce, one of the spouses declares before the Court their willingness to separate and end the marital relationship, without the need to justify such request, prove any damage suffered, or blame the other party.
Civil divorce is a legal option for spouses who want to end their marriage without following any religious law. In the UAE, civil divorce is available for both non-Muslim citizens and expat couples, as long as they meet certain conditions. The main steps to apply for civil divorce are:
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According to UAE law, the biological mother of a child is the custodian, while the father is the guardian. Custody, which is frequently granted to the mother, entails day-to-day care, such as education, medical treatment, religious counselling, and accommodation. The guardian is responsible for financial assistance; often, the father is appointed as guardian. In the United Arab Emirates, custody and guardianship are distinct concepts. A minor child is often given to the mother. She must demonstrate that she is sensible, mature, honest, disease-free, and capable of raising a child. Furthermore, she is not permitted to remarry without the court’s authorization. If a father is granted custody, he must have a woman – such as a female relative – at home to care for the kid.
Property split is a different aspect of Divorce. It may apply to anything in the UAE, from bank accounts and real estate to companies and automobiles. In general, each party will keep all property or assets that are in their name. Furthermore, a court would distribute joint assets equally between the two parties, like bank accounts in both partners’ names. Real estate is a crucial factor, particularly the marital home. Judges prefer to allocate the matrimonial house to the caretaker so that the children may live as normally as possible when their parents separate.
When the Divorce is finalized, the husband is required to support his former wife financially. A husband must provide food, clothes, and proper housing for his ex-wife and children. The father is also responsible for paying for his children’s education and the salary of any domestic worker, such as a maid or a driver. Spousal maintenance can be up to 30% of the husband’s salary, but he can pay more if he wants to.
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the subject. This article was produced with great care to ensure correctness. Because individual circumstances may vary, it is not meant to give legal advice or predict a specific conclusion. Readers considering legal action should seek legal advice from an experienced divorce attorney to learn about current laws and how they may apply to their case.
Don’t hesitate to contact our Best Divorce lawyers in Dubai if you require any legal assistance on the subject presented or related issues.