Civil Law | Al Shaiba Advocates

Who can apply for divorce in UAE

Al Shaiba — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:05:01 +0000

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a proper system for divorce cases. When someone wants to get divorced in the Emirates, the UAE legal system helps them to deal with this matter. Local citizens and expatriates can apply for divorce, but they must follow the federal laws, court procedures, rules, and court verdicts. The UAE Personal status allows all couples living in the UAE to take separation in the form of divorce if they are unhappy with each other. Both Muslims and non-Muslims can apply for a divorce and get a divorce.

The UAE divorce cases are resolved under Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 on Personal Status. This law applies to Muslims. It is pertinent to know that, besides divorce, legal matters related to marriage, child custody, and property inheritance are also handled under this law. The non-Muslims can follow the civil laws for their legal matters. Civil laws mean they can apply their country’s law to issue the verdict. It states that non-Muslims may also request the application of their home country law, under certain conditions. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status is specifically applicable to non-Muslims.

Personal Status Court in the UAE

All divorce cases in the UAE are applied in the Personal Status Court only. The court authorities would suggest reconciliation to both spouses. They would give them time to reconsider their personal matters and to rethink their decision. Usually, they are advised to visit the family guidance departments. In some cases, divorces are canceled, and families plan to stay together. In the worst cases, divorce may happen after the reconciliation period is over. All these details based on the practical scenarios can be checked with expert family lawyers. You can check with our legal team for the further details

Divorce in Muslim Families

The Muslims must follow Sharia principles for divorce. It is also known as ‘Talaq’. When a woman wants to divorce from her husband, she applies for ‘Khula’ – a request for divorce.

Divorce in Non-Muslim Families

The non-Muslims can file for divorce according to the civil laws. It has given flexibility to the expatriates in whatever way they want to proceed with divorce matters. Along with that, the UAE civil family courts would review the application, evaluate the financial responsibilities, and resolve the child custody matters. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, is specifically applicable on non-Muslims.

Reasons for Divorces in the UAE

Marriage is a shared relationship between two people, and both have their own personality, lifestyle, thinking, likes, and dislikes. It is very normal for two different people to have clashes with each other, sometimes these clashes can be turned into conflicts, and this way, couples can feel burdened and cannot feel comfortable being together, so they can decide to go for separation. There can be several reasons for the separation. For example, Domestic violence is very common around the world or when the partner fails to provide financial support to their family, especially when they can afford to provide support.

Divorce Procedures in UAE Courts

Divorce cases follow a structured procedure within the UAE judicial system. An application for divorce is filed at the Family Guidance Department of the Personal Status Court. This department offers reconciliation before the case proceeds to court.

If reconciliation doesn’t work, the court schedules hearings to review the evidence and statements from both spouses. After examining the case, the judge issues a legal decision regarding divorce and related matters.

Before formal divorce proceedings begin, couples must attend sessions at the Family Guidance Department. This step encourages mediation and may help resolve disputes without litigation.

Financial Rights: Post Divorce

Divorce cases often involve financial considerations such as maintenance, housing support, and child expenses. UAE courts evaluate the financial responsibilities of both spouses based on the marriage contract and applicable laws. Financial support may include alimony for the wife, child maintenance, and housing arrangements for children after divorce.

Child Custody and Family Responsibilities

During the divorce case in the UAE, child custody is a significant matter. The UAE government prioritizes healthy family life, ensuring all children are equally treated and have a safe space to grow. With this vision, the legal authorities examine child custody carefully before it is presented to the rightful custodian.

Fathers as Guardians

The guardianship belongs to the father because they must provide the financial means to the child. They are responsible for the child’s education and legal responsibilities that relate to the child’s finances.

Why Should You Hire a Divorce Lawyer?

A legal consultant for divorce has a better understanding of the Personal Status Law than anyone else would know. They have hands-on experience in resolving divorce cases. In some cases, they are helpful in negotiating settlements for child custody and financial responsibilities.

The post Who can apply for divorce in UAE first appeared on Al Shaiba Advocates.

Deportation Laws in the UAE

Al Shaiba — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:35:15 +0000

Nowadays, immigration policies are strict. Individuals come to the country as illegal immigrants, and it is a serious offence in the UAE. Previously, biometrics were through fingerprints. In recent years, the UAE has implemented eye scan biometrics to avoid illegal immigration and re-entry of the banned individuals. In response to this, deportation laws are governed by federal laws in the UAE.

Deportation Laws in the UAE

The UAE Deportation Laws are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, which regulates the entry and residence of expats. It also authorises the authorities to deport the individual if they have violated the immigration law or are a threat to national security. Under this law, deportation is defined in two categories: judicial and administrative.

Differences Between Judicial and Administrative Deportation

A judicial deportation case is proceeding in the court. It includes the cases of theft and drug trafficking. The administrative deportation is conducted by the immigration authorities. It is related to the violation of the residency laws in the UAE.

Identification through Eyes

The immigration authorities are working on strict policies to prevent illegal immigrants. Therefore, individuals would do the biometric through face recognition. Their eyes are scanned for biometric purposes on entry and exit from the country. The eye scans have been successful in detecting the individual, even if the name on the passport has been changed. It helps the system and authorities in avoiding forged documents and enforcing travel bans.

Eye scans are used not only at airports, but also at border crossings and immigration counters. They help authorities identify individuals with outstanding deportation orders or entry bans, even if they attempt to re-enter using different travel documents.

Usage of Eye Scan

The immigration authorities have found an eye scan and an easy way to detect criminal records and bans. They can detect illegal immigrants on the border through eye scans.

Crimes Under UAE Deport Laws

The deportation in the UAE is based on judicial or administrative grounds. The judicial deportation includes offenses such as theft, drug offenses, heinous crimes, fraud, and forgery. In contrast to this, the administrative crimes include: overstays on an invalid visa, illegal employment, fleeing from another country, a threat to national security, and repeated fines and violations.

In some cases, deportation occurs even when penalties are small, because residency in the UAE is considered a privilege, not a right.

Penalties for Hiring Illegal Workers

There are punishments for the employers. They must ensure that hiring is done on a merit basis. This means that the job seekers should have proper documents, including a work visa. Violating the employment laws in the UAE can lead to fines, revoked license, and bans on the business.

Recent Deportation Orders: 2025

The UAE has made digitalised and accessible systems for the citizens. They can file a complaint online by putting information and evidence on the official portal. Further, deportation procedures are simplified with digital immigration systems. As soon as the judicial order is issued, it shows in the immigration database. However, the administrative deportation cases are handled by authorities in the federal, customs, and port sectors.

The authorities keep crime offenders in the immigration centres. They will resolve disputes related to salary and transfer of belongings before they enforce the judgment. In such cases, legal professionals are required.

Enforcement of Deportation Orders

The deportation orders are taken seriously in the UAE. A deadline is provided to the expat so they can depart voluntarily. If they do not leave the UAE by the deadline, the authorities will ensure to deport them at the earliest.

Can You Re-enter After Deportation?

The UAE may allow the individual to re-enter the country, based on their offense. Sometimes, deportation may last for a year; otherwise, it can be forever. Depending on the case, temporary bans and permanent restrictions are considered. Importantly, the eye scan biometric will detect the ban on the passport of the individual even if they are re-entering the UAE with a new passport or a different identity.

Difference Between Temporary and Permanent Bans

Ban is one of the severe punishments in the UAE. A temporary ban is lifted after a certain timeline. It could be up to 1 year. The permanent bans are forever and cannot be removed easily. The individuals can try for an exemption, but it requires legal professional help.

Can an Individual Appeal for a Deportation Case?

The individual can appeal or request to cancel their administrative deportation. Deportation is a strict penalty that is enforced after a thorough investigation of the case. It needs to be thought on humanitarian grounds and errors in the procedures. The deportation cases may not be canceled if serious offenses are filed.

Humanitarian Grounds in the UAE Laws

The individual may be released from penalty on humanitarian grounds. It means that the authorities may consider the individual’s family ties and their children’s custody. Other than this, their health condition is also taken into account.

How is Deportation Managed with Civil Disputes?

The civil cases against an individual may delay the process of deportation unless the settlement is made. However, the UAE courts would never deport the individual till they clear all disputes, including unpaid debts. The arrangements for repayment have to be made and so the individual can stay a bit longer in the country.

Deportation and Travel Bans in the UAE

The UAE law bans travel for individuals who have committed a crime that has threatened national security. Travel bans mean that they cannot exit the UAE. However, deportation means forced departure to the home country. The individual has to clear their status in the UAE before they are deported.

Summary

The UAE strictly emphasizes protecting national security. It has made a vast complaint mechanism, which has been digitalised. The biometric system through eye scan has proven to be an efficient tool. In case of deportation, the individual must clear all their debts and other conflicts in the UAE, so they can immediately be deported to their home country. The re-entries are entertained, but the eye scan biometric system would detect those entries, making the UAE a safe country.

The post Deportation Laws in the UAE first appeared on Al Shaiba Advocates.