Family Law
Marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance, and domestic violence protections under UAE Personal Status Law and 2022 civil reforms.
Covered in this guide:
The UAE runs two parallel family-law tracks. Muslim residents fall under the Personal Status Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024), which came into force on 15 April 2025 and expressly repeals the prior Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024. Non-Muslims can use Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 — a secular code for marriage, no-fault divorce, joint custody, and equal inheritance, run mainly through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). Wills can be registered at the DIFC Wills Service Centre. Domestic abuse is criminalised by Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2019; the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children helpline is 800-111.
Key Laws
Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024
Personal Status Law (in force 15 April 2025; repeals Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024)
Marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance for Muslims
Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022
Civil Personal Status Law
Civil family law framework for non-Muslim residents
Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2019
Domestic Violence Protection
Criminalises family abuse and provides restraining orders
Federal Law No. 3 of 2016
Child Rights Law (Wadeema's Law)
Protection of children's rights, welfare, and safety
Marriage Requirements & Registration
Marriage in the UAE has specific legal requirements that depend on whether the couple is Muslim or non-Muslim:Muslim marriages: Must follow the Personal Status Law. Both parties must consent freely, a...
Divorce Procedures (Talaq, Khul', Judicial)
UAE law provides several pathways to divorce depending on the couple's religion and circumstances:Talaq (husband-initiated): A Muslim husband can pronounce divorce unilaterally. The divorce must be re...
Child Custody Rules (Hadana)
Child custody (hadana) in the UAE determines who the child lives with after a divorce. The law prioritises the best interests of the child:Mother's priority: Under Sharia-based rules, the mother typic...
Child Support & Maintenance (Nafaqa)
Under UAE law, fathers have a legal obligation to financially support their children. This is called nafaqa:Father's obligation: The father must provide for the child's food, housing, clothing, educat...
Inheritance Rights
Inheritance in the UAE is governed by Sharia law by default, but non-Muslims now have legal options to apply different rules:Sharia distribution: For Muslims, inheritance is distributed according to f...
Domestic Violence Protections
The UAE criminalised domestic violence with a dedicated law in 2019, making it a standalone offence for the first time:Definition: Domestic violence includes any physical, psychological, sexual, or ec...
Guardianship & Adoption (Kafala)
The UAE does not permit formal adoption in the Western legal sense. Instead, the system uses kafala, which is a form of legal guardianship:Kafala: A kafil (guardian) takes responsibility for a child's...
Non-Muslim Personal Status (Civil Law Option)
Since 2022, the UAE offers non-Muslim residents a civil law alternative to Sharia-based personal status rules. This was a major legal reform:Civil marriage: Non-Muslims can marry in Abu Dhabi through...