HRH Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates (may Allah protect him) promulgated Federal Decree Law No. (41) of 2022 on the Civil Personal Status. The provisions of this law apply to non-Muslim citizens of the United Arab Emirates and to non-Muslim residents in relation to marriage, divorce, bequests, wills and verification of lineage. The law permits the persons addressed under this Decree Law to be subject to the provisions of the Personal Status Law in effect in the United Arab Emirates. This Decree Law stated that divorce lawsuits, as an exception, must not be submitted to the Family Guidance Committee. Instead, divorce lawsuit filed pursuant to this Decree Law are to be submitted to the court directly. The ruling is to be passed about such lawsuits at the first hearing. This Decree Law treats both men and women on equal footing in rights and obligations, particularly in testimony, inheritance, the right to request divorce and the joint custody of children.
