WhatsApp divorce: What UAE law says about ending marriage over chat
Answer: It is assumed that you and your husband are Muslims, and earlier your husband was a resident of the UAE.
Furthermore, it is assumed that you intend to accept the divorce pronounced by your husband.
In the UAE, a divorce is defined as the dissolution of the marriage contract by the will of a husband through words indicating such separation. This is in accordance with Article 53 of the UAE Personal Status Law, which states, 'Divorce is the dissolution of the marriage contract by the will of the husband through the word indicating it. There are two types of these words:
1. Explicitly, which is the word of divorce or a derivative thereof.
Metaphorically, which is a word that may mean divorce or something else if the husband intends to divorce by it.'
A divorce is recognised in the UAE if a husband pronounces it to his wife either by speech or writing. This is in accordance with Article 54(1) of the UAE Personal Status Law, which states, 'Divorce is pronounced by the husband by speech or writing by any means, and if he is unable to do either, then by a comprehensible signal.'
However, a husband is required to document the divorce in the competent court within 15 days of the pronouncement of divorce. This is in accordance with the Article 58 (1) of the UAE Personal Status Law, 'The husband shall document the divorce before the competent court within a maximum period of (15) fifteen days from the date of its occurrence, and this does not prejudice the wife's right to file a case to prove the divorce.'
An individual may file a civil or personal case against his or her spouse, even though the spouse does not have residency in the UAE. This is in accordance with Article 4(2) of the UAE Personal Status Law and Article 20(4) of the UAE Civil Procedure Code, which reads as follows:
Article 4(2) of the UAE Personal Status Law - Competence of Courts in Cases Filed Against a Foreigner Who Has No Domicile in the State
'If the case is related to a request to revoke or annul a marriage contract, or to divorce or repudiation, and the case is filed by a state citizen wife or a wife who has lost the citizenship of the state, provided that she has a domicile or place of residence in the state, or if it is filed by a wife who has a domicile or place of residence in the state against her husband who had a domicile, place of residence or place of work in the state, provided that the husband has abandoned his wife and made his domicile or place of residence or place of work abroad, has been deported from the state or if his domicile abroad is unknown.'
Article 20 (4) of the UAE Civil Procedure Code
'The courts shall have jurisdiction over a foreigner who has no place of residence or domicile in the State in the following case:
- If the legal proceeding is instituted by a wife who has a place of residence in the state against her husband who had a place of residence therein'.
Additionally, a notarised foreign document may be enforced in the UAE. This is in accordance with Article 224 under Chapter 4 of Execution of Foreign Judgments, Orders and Instruments of the UAE Civil Procedure Code, which states,
'1. An order may be made for the enforcement in the State of notarised documents and Memoranda of Composition certified by the Courts of a foreign country on the same conditions laid down in the laws of that country for the enforcement of similar instruments issued in the State.
2. An application for an enforcement order in Clause (1) of this Article shall be requested by means of a petition submitted to the Execution Judge with the same procedures and conditions stipulated in Clause (2) of Article [222] of this Code. No order for enforcement may be made until after it has been ascertained that the conditions for the enforceability of the document or memorandum have been satisfied in accordance with the law of the country in which it was notarised or certified and that it contains nothing contrary to morals or public order in the state.'
Based on the above, a divorce pronounced by your husband via voice notes over WhatsApp outside the UAE may be valid if it fulfils the tests laid down in the provisions of UAE law mentioned hereinabove. If you have a consensus on the divorce pronounced by your husband, who is outside the UAE, you may request him to obtain a notarised document confirming the contents of the voice notes over WhatsApp sent to you, if the same is a valid procedure in his home country. Thereafter, once the said document is attested by the UAE embassy in the home country of your husband, it should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. On completion of this procedure, you need to legally translate the divorce confirmation document mentioned above and attest it from the Ministry of Justice in the UAE.
For further clarification on this matter, you may seek legal advice from a legal counsel practising in the UAE, or you may approach a Personal Status Court in the UAE to seek more clarification on this matter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
High achievers in UAE praised for stellar IB performance
UAE pupils have secured outstanding scores placing them among the International Baccalaureate global high achievers. Top pupils from schools around the UAE earned scores well over 40 points in the International Baccalaureate exams reaching exceptional academic success. The pupils will now head out to prestigious universities after the IB exam results were announced this weekend. Several star pupils including at least three from Gems Modern Academy and two from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills hit the maximum score of 45 and were celebrated by their friends and family for an achievement earned by less than 0.5 per cent candidates worldwide. Satvik Gupta, among the Gems Modern Academy pupils to score a perfect 45, said he learnt to handle stress over the past two years of intense studying and has gained skills that will support him through college. 'As I go on to study electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon, I hope to enhance the skills I learnt and apply them towards meaningful projects and experiences,' said the Dubai pupil who benefitted from adhering to discipline and time management. His classmate Aanya Khandelwal, who also got a perfect score, will study international law in a New York college. ' The IB experience was both challenging and fascinating,' she said. 'It helped me grow and push boundaries. Moving forward, I'll be studying in New York city with my eyes set on law school to study human rights and international law.' The Gems Education group said pupils from seven schools in the UAE who took the IB diploma exams this year secured an average point score of 34 and a pass rate of 95 per cent that exceeded the global average last year of 30 points and 80 per cent. Support from teachers Alia Abdel Hamid, from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, said she owed her perfect score of 45 in the IB exams to the 'incredible support' and commitment of her teachers and the school community. 'The commitment of my teachers and the broader school community created an environment where I could truly thrive,' she said in an Instagram post. 'I'm proud of what we've achieved together.' Melis Yilmaz, also from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, was overjoyed with her perfect score and said her school journey had been transformative. 'The demanding academic environment, combined with unwavering support, has fostered both intellectual and personal growth,' she said. 'The strong sense of community and the constant encouragement to think critically and embrace a global perspective have equipped me for the future in ways I could never have imagined.' The UAE IB Association congratulated all pupils who completed the IB programme. 'We commend the extraordinary dedication of every student, especially those who achieved the maximum 45 points, a truly remarkable accomplishment reached by only a small percentage of IB graduates worldwide. Their success is a testament to the rigorous academic discipline and holistic development fostered by the IB,' said Richard Drew, chair of the UAE IB Association. 'Equally, we celebrate the achievements of all students who have earned access to universities and pathways of their choice, whether in the UAE or abroad. Each journey is unique, and every outcome is the result of months, and often years of hard work, perseverance and curiosity.' He said the support of families, teachers and school communities had empowered the young pupils to thrive, adding that their commitment 'continues to shape the UAE's future as a hub for educational excellence and international-minded leadership'. Confidence instilled UAE school operator Taalem celebrated the exceptional performance of pupils with schools across the group achieving 100 per cent pass rates. Officials said pupils scored high scores and had obtained offers from leading universities in the US, UK, Europe and the UAE. 'School leaders have praised this year's graduates as thoughtful, well-rounded individuals, ready to thrive in a complex, global society,' said Nicki Williams, director of education Taaleem. 'These results are a testament to the determination of Taaleem's learners, the dedication of their teachers, and the unwavering support of their families. Across the group, the Class of 2025 has set a new benchmark for excellence and leaves inspired to make a positive impact in the world.' Heads of education said they were proud of the pupils and praised teachers for the conviction they had instilled in the teenagers that would see them through higher studies and their chosen career paths. 'Our students have once again shown what's possible with ambition, perseverance, and the right support,' said Lisa Crausbym group chief education officer at Gems Education. 'These outstanding results reflect their tireless effort and the dedication of our world-class educators. As our students take the next steps into higher education and beyond, they carry with them the confidence and capability to lead, to innovate, and to shape a better world.' Repton Dubai said 87 per cent of their pupils scored above the global average of 30 points with an average score of 35 points and their top pupils had earned spots in their first university of choice. ' These results reflect not only academic rigour but also the resilience, creativity and critical thinking our students embody,' said Michael Bloy, principal of Repton Dubai School. 'I congratulate every graduate and thank our dedicated staff and supportive families who have guided them on this journey.'
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
WhatsApp divorce: What UAE law says about ending marriage over chat
Question: I am a working lady from an Asian country. I am living alone here, and my husband is in his home country. Due to personal differences, he sent me a divorce in a voice note on WhatsApp. Please let me know what the UAE law says about divorce on WhatsApp. Answer: It is assumed that you and your husband are Muslims, and earlier your husband was a resident of the UAE. Furthermore, it is assumed that you intend to accept the divorce pronounced by your husband. In the UAE, a divorce is defined as the dissolution of the marriage contract by the will of a husband through words indicating such separation. This is in accordance with Article 53 of the UAE Personal Status Law, which states, 'Divorce is the dissolution of the marriage contract by the will of the husband through the word indicating it. There are two types of these words: 1. Explicitly, which is the word of divorce or a derivative thereof. Metaphorically, which is a word that may mean divorce or something else if the husband intends to divorce by it.' A divorce is recognised in the UAE if a husband pronounces it to his wife either by speech or writing. This is in accordance with Article 54(1) of the UAE Personal Status Law, which states, 'Divorce is pronounced by the husband by speech or writing by any means, and if he is unable to do either, then by a comprehensible signal.' However, a husband is required to document the divorce in the competent court within 15 days of the pronouncement of divorce. This is in accordance with the Article 58 (1) of the UAE Personal Status Law, 'The husband shall document the divorce before the competent court within a maximum period of (15) fifteen days from the date of its occurrence, and this does not prejudice the wife's right to file a case to prove the divorce.' An individual may file a civil or personal case against his or her spouse, even though the spouse does not have residency in the UAE. This is in accordance with Article 4(2) of the UAE Personal Status Law and Article 20(4) of the UAE Civil Procedure Code, which reads as follows: Article 4(2) of the UAE Personal Status Law - Competence of Courts in Cases Filed Against a Foreigner Who Has No Domicile in the State 'If the case is related to a request to revoke or annul a marriage contract, or to divorce or repudiation, and the case is filed by a state citizen wife or a wife who has lost the citizenship of the state, provided that she has a domicile or place of residence in the state, or if it is filed by a wife who has a domicile or place of residence in the state against her husband who had a domicile, place of residence or place of work in the state, provided that the husband has abandoned his wife and made his domicile or place of residence or place of work abroad, has been deported from the state or if his domicile abroad is unknown.' Article 20 (4) of the UAE Civil Procedure Code 'The courts shall have jurisdiction over a foreigner who has no place of residence or domicile in the State in the following case: - If the legal proceeding is instituted by a wife who has a place of residence in the state against her husband who had a place of residence therein'. Additionally, a notarised foreign document may be enforced in the UAE. This is in accordance with Article 224 under Chapter 4 of Execution of Foreign Judgments, Orders and Instruments of the UAE Civil Procedure Code, which states, '1. An order may be made for the enforcement in the State of notarised documents and Memoranda of Composition certified by the Courts of a foreign country on the same conditions laid down in the laws of that country for the enforcement of similar instruments issued in the State. 2. An application for an enforcement order in Clause (1) of this Article shall be requested by means of a petition submitted to the Execution Judge with the same procedures and conditions stipulated in Clause (2) of Article [222] of this Code. No order for enforcement may be made until after it has been ascertained that the conditions for the enforceability of the document or memorandum have been satisfied in accordance with the law of the country in which it was notarised or certified and that it contains nothing contrary to morals or public order in the state.' Based on the above, a divorce pronounced by your husband via voice notes over WhatsApp outside the UAE may be valid if it fulfils the tests laid down in the provisions of UAE law mentioned hereinabove. If you have a consensus on the divorce pronounced by your husband, who is outside the UAE, you may request him to obtain a notarised document confirming the contents of the voice notes over WhatsApp sent to you, if the same is a valid procedure in his home country. Thereafter, once the said document is attested by the UAE embassy in the home country of your husband, it should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. On completion of this procedure, you need to legally translate the divorce confirmation document mentioned above and attest it from the Ministry of Justice in the UAE. For further clarification on this matter, you may seek legal advice from a legal counsel practising in the UAE, or you may approach a Personal Status Court in the UAE to seek more clarification on this matter.
UAE Moments
15 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Today's Moon Mood: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Moon in Virgo has entered the group chat, and the vibes are giving: clean girl aesthetic, to-do lists, and judging your past decisions—but make it gentle. We're all about fixing stuff today. That could be your room, your mindset, or the situationship that's been on life support since last Mercury retrograde. You might feel more productive, a little pickier, and randomly motivated to declutter your inbox (or your dating history). Go with it. But here's the cosmic warning: Virgo moons can turn that helpful energy into overthinking real quick. If you find yourself spiraling about a text from 3 days ago… pause. Breathe. Drink water. Not everything needs to be fixed right now. Today's Moon Mood in a vibe: Productive with a side of perfectionism. Your Moon Mantra: 'I can clean up the mess without cleaning out my peace.' Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here
