Latest news with #AbuDhabiCivilFamilyCourt
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Abu Dhabi residents' wealth leads to skyrocketing divorce settlements
Abu Dhabi: Home to some epic wealth, and increasingly, some epic divorce settlements. An American woman, ending her UK marriage in Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court this month, was awarded more than 100 million dirhams ($27.2 million) in one of the largest such payments ever made to a female expat in the Gulf, The National reported. Recent changes to the UAE's courts are bringing in the exes. Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has handled more than 1,000 divorce cases involving expats since it opened less than five years ago. Non-Emirati lawyers are now allowed to represent clients, attracting a new crop of family law firms. Another draw: Divorces in Abu Dhabi take, on average, less than a month to be finalized. By comparison, such proceedings take at least six months in California.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi: Record Dh100 million divorce case settled for expat couple
In a landmark case, the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has finalised a no-fault divorce between a foreign couple, resulting in a record-breaking financial settlement exceeding Dh100 million ($27 million). The couple, previously married in the UK, filed for a no-fault divorce before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court. The Abu Dhabi Civil Marriage Law No 14 of 2021 allows civil, non-religious resolutions for expats in matters of marriage, divorce, wills, and inheritance. The divorce was granted in under three weeks during a single court session. It is the largest reported divorce settlement of its kind in the Gulf region and highlights Abu Dhabi's status as a leading international legal centre. And the couple reached a financial settlement through the court, in coordination with a UK-based family law firm. The case confirms the growing international confidence in the country's legal system, the couple's decision to choose the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department was based on the distinguished reputation of the local courts and the legislative and procedural developments they are witnessing. The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court is the only Family Court in the region where proceedings are conducted bilingually in English and Arabic. Its procedures are conducted by a specialised legal team, including lawyers from Britain, to prepare the case, ensuring that foreign litigants can fully understand and navigate the process with transparency and legal certainty. This case reflects a broader trend of high-net-worth individuals turning to Abu Dhabi for efficient and equitable handling of complex family disputes, reinforcing the emirate's emergence as a world-class legal hub for expatriates. This development reflects the Emirate's commitment to building a world-class legal and judicial framework for expatriates family matters, comparable to those in the best international practices like the UK, United States, and Scandinavian countries — further enhancing Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a destination for residence, work, and investment.
Gulf Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court settles largest divorce case in region worth Dhs100 million
The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, part of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, has settled a record-breaking no-fault divorce case involving a foreign couple, with a financial settlement exceeding Dhs100 million (US$27 million). It is the largest reported divorce settlement of its kind in the GCC region and highlights Abu Dhabi's status as a leading international legal centre. The couple, previously married in the United Kingdom, filed for a no-fault divorce before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court which was granted in less than 3 weeks within one court session, under the swift and progressive rules of the Abu Dhabi Civil Marriage Law No. 14 of 2021, which introduced, for the first time in the Arab region, civil non-religious rules governing the family affairs of foreigners including civil marriage, no fault divorce, civil wills and probate. The couple reached a comprehensive financial settlement through the court, in coordination with one of the UK's reputable family law firms. The settlement confirms the growing international confidence in the country's legal system, the couple's decision to choose the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department was based on the distinguished reputation of the local courts and the legislative and procedural developments they are witnessing. The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court is the only Family Court in the Gulf region where proceedings are conducted bilingually in English and Arabic. Its procedures are conducted by a specialized legal team, including lawyers from Britain, to prepare the case, ensuring that foreign litigants can fully understand and navigate the process with transparency and legal certainty. This case is part of a growing number of complex family disputes being brought before Abu Dhabi's courts by international parties, particularly high-net-worth individuals seeking modern, fair, and accessible legal procedures. This development reflects the Emirate's commitment to building a world-class legal and judicial framework for expatriates family matters, comparable to those in the best international practices like the UK, United States, and Scandinavian countries — further enhancing Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a destination for residence, work, and investment.
Al Etihad
08-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court settles largest divorce case in region worth Dh100 million
8 May 2025 13:54 ABU DHABI (WAM)The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, part of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, has settled a record-breaking no-fault divorce case involving a foreign couple, with a financial settlement exceeding Dh100 million (US$27 million).It is the largest reported divorce settlement of its kind in the GCC region, and highlights Abu Dhabi's status as a leading international legal couple, previously married in the United Kingdom, filed for a no-fault divorce before the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court which was granted in less than 3 weeks within one court session, under the swift and progressive rules of the Abu Dhabi Civil Marriage Law No. 14 of 2021, which introduced, for the first time in the Arab region, civil non-religious rules governing the family affairs of foreigners including civil marriage, no fault divorce, civil wills and couple reached a comprehensive financial settlement through the court, in coordination with one of the UK's reputable family law settlement confirms the growing international confidence in the country's legal system, the couple's decision to choose the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department was based on the distinguished reputation of the local courts and the legislative and procedural developments they are Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court is the only Family Court in the Gulf region where proceedings are conducted bilingually in English and Arabic. Its procedures are conducted by a specialised legal team, including lawyers from Britain, to prepare the case, ensuring that foreign litigants can fully understand and navigate the process with transparency and legal case is part of a growing number of complex family disputes being brought before Abu Dhabi's courts by international parties, particularly high-net-worth individuals seeking modern, fair, and accessible legal procedures. This development reflects the emirate's commitment to building a world-class legal and judicial framework for expatriates family matters, comparable to those in the best international practices - like the UK, United States, and Scandinavian countries - further enhancing Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a destination for residence, work, and investment.
Khaleej Times
19-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi court asserts jurisdiction in divorce case of US expat, British wife
In a landmark legal ruling, the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has declared jurisdiction over a divorce case involving an American husband and his British wife, rejecting claims of competing cases filed in other jurisdictions. The decision, issued in January this year, clarified that a family guidance application pending before another court does not count as a formal legal case, unless it is officially registered with a case number. The husband, a US citizen living in Abu Dhabi, filed for a no-fault divorce and joint custody of the couple's two children, aged 11 and 5. The marriage took place in Cyprus. His wife contested the court's authority, arguing that divorce proceedings were already underway in both the UK and Dubai. She failed, however, to provide any proof of an active case in the UK and admitted that the Dubai filing had only reached the family guidance stage. The Abu Dhabi court dismissed her objection, stating that the Dubai family guidance file was not officially registered as a court case until December 9, 2024 — five days after the husband filed his claim in Abu Dhabi on December 4. Legal consultant Dr Hasan Elhais of Awatif Shoqi Advocates, who represented the husband, welcomed the ruling. 'This judgment reinforces that courts must base jurisdiction on valid legal filings, not informal or preliminary applications,' he said. Determining jurisdiction Dr Elhais said the court accepted the husband's Abu Dhabi residency based on his lease agreement on Reem Island, in line with Article 17 of Law No. 13 of 2021. 'The decision ensures that justice is not delayed by procedural tactics and confirms that Abu Dhabi has clear authority in this case," he added. He also highlighted the broader impact of the ruling: 'It draws a clear line between administrative steps, like family guidance, and formal judicial proceedings. Only properly filed cases can determine jurisdiction. 'The court further ruled that Abu Dhabi's civil divorce procedures do not require prior referral to family guidance, based on Articles 6 and 7 of Law No. 14 of 2021. Either spouse can file for divorce without needing to prove fault or harm. Because the couple's children are both under 16, the court also activated joint custody under Article 26 of the same law. As no appeal was filed within the legal timeframe, the ruling is now final and legally binding." Abu Dhabi
