UAE Introduces Major Family Justice Reforms to Speed Up Disputes, Strengthen Child Protection

The UAE has unveiled a comprehensive set of reforms to its family justice system, issuing five new regulatory decisions under the updated Personal Status Law aimed at resolving disputes more efficiently, protecting children, and advancing the country’s shift toward a fully digital judicial framework.

 

The reforms, introduced under Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024, modernise key aspects of personal status matters, including marriage, divorce, custody, financial rights, inheritance, affidavits, and documentation processes. They also reinforce the expanding role of family guidance, mediation, and arbitration as the first step in resolving disputes outside court.

 

According to the new framework, the updated law applies to a wide range of residents -- Muslims and non-Muslims -- and provides clearer rules for marital consent, guardianship, engagement gifts, dowry arrangements, and reconciliation procedures. It also expands the rights of mothers and children, gives courts greater discretion in determining the best interest of minors, and strengthens protections for a child’s psychological and social welfare in custody and visitation cases.

 

Among the most notable enhancements are the extended custody age—allowing boys and girls to remain under custody until the age of 18 -- and the child’s right, from age 15, to express a preference regarding which parent they wish to live with, subject to judicial review. The law additionally introduces stronger safeguards against misuse of minors’ funds, and it expands testamentary options by recognising wills across different religions, offering more flexibility to expatriate families.

 

To operationalise these reforms, the Federal Judicial Council has issued five new regulatory decisions designed to unify procedures and standardise implementation across federal courts.

 

Resolution No. (66) of 2025 regulates the work of arbitrators, outlining conditions for their selection and the mechanisms they must follow when attempting to reconcile spouses and submitting their reports to the court.

Resolution No. (67) of 2025, governing family guidance, expands the authority of family counsellors to mediate disputes, and grants their settlement agreements the force of an executive deed once approved by the court -- significantly reducing the need for litigation.

 

Resolution No. (68) of 2025 introduces a clearer framework for managing visitation arrangements, ensuring decisions place children’s emotional stability and overall well-being at the centre of the process.

 

Resolution No. (69) of 2025 focuses on affidavits and authentications, adopting electronic documentation and digital verification to enhance accuracy, streamline procedures, and make official records more accessible.

 

Resolution No. (70) of 2025 regulates Sharia marriage officers, establishing licensing conditions, detailing their responsibilities, and allowing marriage contracts to be completed electronically or remotely through digital signatures.

 

These reforms contribute to a more coherent, predictable family justice system, including the development of specialised family courts and more robust mediation pathways. They mark a significant shift toward a model that balances legal consistency with flexibility tailored to diverse family structures in the UAE.

 

Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council and Minister of Justice, said the initiative represents a major step toward a progressive and cohesive family justice system that reflects the needs of modern Emirati society.

 

The updated procedures also support the UAE’s plan to designate 2026 as the “Year of the Family,” a nationwide effort to strengthen family values, promote social cohesion, and improve the quality of life for parents and children. They further align with the broader “We the UAE 2031” vision, which emphasises stronger communities and a justice system built on efficiency, accountability, and technological readiness.

 

Taken together, the new Personal Status Law and its implementing regulations reinforce the UAE’s commitment to placing families at the heart of the legal system -- ensuring disputes can be resolved faster, more fairly, and with the well-being of children as the top priority.

 

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