-- Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy has contributed the United Arab Emirates chapter of ICLG – Family Laws and Regulations 2027, authored by the firm’s Founder and Principal, Mrs. Awatif Al Khouri.
The publication forms part of the International Comparative Legal Guides series, which provides jurisdiction-specific legal insight across a range of practice areas. The Family Laws and Regulations guide brings together contributions from different jurisdictions to help legal professionals, businesses and individuals better understand how family law issues are addressed in different legal systems.
The UAE contribution covers a wide range of matters arising under family and personal status law, including divorce, financial issues following separation, marital agreements, child maintenance, custody and parental responsibility. It also considers the additional legal questions that may arise where parties, children, assets or court proceedings are connected to more than one country.
A significant part of the discussion focuses on recent legislative developments in the UAE, including Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status and Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status. These laws form an important part of the country’s current approach to family and personal status matters and reflect the continued development of the UAE’s legislative system.
The contribution also refers to the civil family law regime applicable in Abu Dhabi, setting out the different legal routes that may be relevant depending on the circumstances of the parties. The coexistence of these regimes means that issues such as nationality, religion, residence and the nature of the marriage may play an important role in determining which legal provisions are applicable in a particular matter.
This is especially relevant in the UAE, where many families have international connections. A marriage may have taken place abroad, spouses may hold different nationalities, children may reside in another jurisdiction or family assets may be located in more than one country. In such cases, questions relating to jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition or enforcement of foreign judgments can become central to the dispute.
The UAE chapter considers these issues from a practical perspective, including the circumstances in which UAE courts may hear a family matter, the possible relevance of foreign law and the treatment of decisions issued by courts outside the country. It also addresses considerations that may arise in cases involving relocation, international travel with children and the enforcement of family court orders.
Financial matters are another important area covered in the publication. These include maintenance, child-related expenses, financial support following divorce and the treatment of marital agreements. Such issues can become particularly important where the parties have differing financial circumstances or where assets and obligations extend beyond the UAE.
The discussion of children focuses on custody, parental responsibility, maintenance and the wider considerations that may arise when parents separate. In matters involving children, the circumstances of the family, the applicable legal provisions and the orders sought before the court can all play an important role in determining the outcome.
Mrs. Awatif Al Khouri has more than three decades of legal experience in the UAE. As a divorce lawyer in Dubai, she regularly advises and represents clients in family and personal status matters. Her work includes divorce, custody, maintenance, guardianship, inheritance, financial settlements and disputes involving international considerations. She also advises on matters involving jurisdiction, foreign law and the recognition or enforcement of judgments issued outside the UAE.
Through her contribution to ICLG – Family Laws and Regulations 2027, Mrs. Awatif Al Khouri shares practical insight into the current position of family law in the UAE and the considerations that may arise in both domestic and international matters.
The publication reflects the firm’s ongoing engagement with international legal commentary and its role in sharing practical perspectives on developments in UAE family law with a wider global audience.
The United Arab Emirates chapter of ICLG – Family Laws and Regulations 2027 is available at:
https://iclg.com/practice-areas/family-laws-and-regulations/united-arab-emirates/
Contact Info:
Name: Awatif Al Khouri
Email: Send Email
Organization: Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy
Address: The H Office Tower 29th floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, United Arab Emirates
Phone: +97143254000
Website: https://www.alrowaad.ae
Release ID: 89208532
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