‘Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status for Non-Muslims’ regulates family affairs of non-Muslim residents of the UAE. It also provides non-Muslim residents the option to follow the laws of their home country or select alternative personal status laws in effect in the UAE over the provisions of this Decree Law.
The Decree Law covers family matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody.
It sets out the requirements and procedures for getting married and registering the marriage with the competent courts. It outlines the procedures for divorce which can be initiated jointly or singly. It organises the procedures for settling the financial claims after divorce, and the arrangement of joint custody of the children. It organises the procedures for inheritance, wills and proofs of paternity. The Decree-Law took effect on 1 February 2023.
The Decree Law does not apply to Muslims, as ‘Sharia’ or Islamic laws govern family matters of Muslims.
Refer to Ministry of Justice and Dubai Courts for more information about the personal status law for non-Muslims.
Read about personal status matters for non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi.
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