A new framework for international families
The most consequential change to UAE family law in a generation.
Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status — together with the Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021 that preceded it — fundamentally rewired the UAE's family law regime for non-Muslim foreign nationals. For the first time, non-Muslim couples in the UAE can elect a civil framework that operates in English, defaults to joint custody, treats marital assets on principles-based division, and recognises prenuptial and postnuptial agreements properly drafted under the parties' chosen law.
For the international families who increasingly call the UAE home, this is transformative. The previous reality — where many expat couples felt forced to divorce in their home jurisdictions to avoid Sharia-default outcomes — is over. Civil divorce can now be obtained in the UAE, in English, often without either spouse needing to leave the country.
What we handle
- Civil divorce under Federal Decree-Law 41 of 2022 — for non-Muslim foreign nationals, in English, before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court or Dubai's non-Muslim personal-status divisions.
- Sharia-framework divorce — for Muslim couples, before the onshore Sharia courts, including khula, talaq and judicial-divorce procedures.
- Cross-border custody & relocation disputes — including travel-restriction applications, Hague Convention-style coordination with foreign counsel, and recognition of foreign custody orders.
- HNW asset division — including identification and tracing of multi-jurisdictional assets (real estate, business interests, investment portfolios, family-office structures, trusts), freezing-order applications, and parallel proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
- Prenuptial & postnuptial agreements — drafted under the chosen governing law, properly notarised for UAE enforceability.
- Inheritance & succession — including civil-framework wills for non-Muslim residents, DIFC Wills Service Centre wills, and Sharia-framework inheritance for Muslim families.
- Recognition & enforcement of foreign divorces — and foreign custody and maintenance orders in the UAE.
- Maintenance, alimony & child-support applications and enforcement.
For HNW & international families
Where significant wealth and multiple jurisdictions are involved, family-law work becomes a coordinated commercial-litigation exercise. The professional team often expands well beyond family lawyers — forensic accountants, valuers, asset-tracing investigators, international tax counsel and reputational advisers. We act as the UAE coordinating counsel, working alongside lead family counsel in the client's primary jurisdiction (typically London, New York, Geneva, Singapore or the client's home country).
Discretion is operational, not just promised. NDAs are signed with all professional advisers from day one. A media-management protocol is agreed at the start. Communications run on encrypted channels. Filings are scrutinised for what they expose to public record. The objective is a result that can never be inferred from a search of UAE court records.