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Divorce in the UAE: New Personal Status Law Explained
Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status — what changes for expats, custody, alimony and the option to use home-country law.
Legal Ledger Team
4 min read
Apr 6, 2026
The 2024 federal civil personal-status law lets non-Muslim residents opt for a civil regime that is closer to Western family law.
Key changes
- No-fault divorce available.
- Joint custody is the default after divorce.
- Asset division can follow either UAE civil rules or the spouses' home-country law.
Couples should still register a marriage in the UAE Civil Family Court to benefit from these provisions and to avoid the application of Sharia by default.
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