Fujairah Court Rules Parents Cannot Transfer Alimony Burden to Children

A federal court in Fujairah has rejected a lawsuit filed by a father seeking to compel his three sons to contribute Dh15,000 a month towards alimony payments owed to his two ex-wives.

In his claim, the man argued that he was facing severe financial hardship following his divorces, which left him responsible for spousal support, child support for his minor children, housing rent for his ex-wives, and arrears from past obligations. He also said he supported his elderly mother while struggling with loan repayments and bounced checks that had pushed his debt beyond Dh1 million.

The father maintained that his three sons, all unmarried and gainfully employed, were in a stronger financial position to assist him. However, the court noted a contradiction: during hearings, the man admitted his salary exceeded Dh40,000 a month. The judges held that while his debts were significant, they resulted from personal choices and financial commitments that could not be transferred to his children.

The sons, who earn between Dh15,000 and Dh16,000 each, successfully argued that their salaries barely covered their own living expenses.

Citing Islamic legal principles, the court stressed that each individual is responsible for their own financial upkeep, except in the case of a wife, whose support is a husband’s obligation. Since the father retained sufficient income to sustain himself, the court dismissed the case, ordered him to pay court fees, and found that his evidence failed to establish genuine insolvency that would justify burdening his children.