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Family reconciliation as per the Personal Status Law
According to Article 8 of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on the Issuance of the Personal Status Law, before a case is referred to the competent court, the supervising judge may decide to refer the parties to the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Centre to try to resolve the dispute amicably, where this is considered appropriate. Certain matters are excluded from referral. These include:
- wills and inheritance
- urgent or interim cases
- urgent orders relating to alimony, custody or guardianship, and
- cases where reconciliation is not possible, such as applications to establish a marriage or a divorce.
If the parties reach an agreement before the Centre, the settlement is recorded in an official report signed by the parties and the family counsellor. Once approved by the supervising judge, the report has the force of an enforceable instrument and may not be appealed, unless it contravenes the provisions of the law. Family guidance in Abu Dhabi Family reconciliation in Dubai
The Family Guidance Department in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department was established to address and resolve family disputes, reunite families amicably, and guide both parties towards a binding family agreement without resorting to court proceedings. If a resolution cannot be reached, the case is referred to the competent court upon the request of either or both parties.
The Family Guidance Program (PDf, 500 KB) is a concept introduced by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department in 2020 and is the first of its kind in the GCC region. It focuses on the family, which is the first building block for a cohesive and interconnected society, and brings a change in family guidance processes to enable the parties to resolve family disputes in innovative ways.
Dubai Courts provides family reconciliation services to enable families to resort to family guidance and work to resolve family disputes between children, parents, kin and spouses, before reaching the courts.
Community Development Authority provides appropriate counselling to individuals in the family and with regard to marital problems. This service seeks to strengthen family ties through individual and collective guidance to all family members and help them to confront family problems that may lead to the dispersal of children, and to find solutions in line with Islamic values and Emirati culture.
Related links
- Apply for family guidance - Family Guidance Department in Abu Dhabi Judicial Department
- Family and family cases services - Ras Al Khaimah Courts
- Solving Family Issues - Government of Ajman
Updated on:
06 Feb 2026
