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UAE family matters Q&As: can my husband divorce me over a petty issue?

A reader asks if her husband has a right to claim compensation after having his wallet stolen.

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I'm a Muslim wife and my husband is planning to divorce me on a very petty issue. We are finding it difficult to live with his brother under the same roof. I told him to get me a separate apartment in Dubai but he has refused

and has chosen to divorce me instead. Do you think Dubai Courts would allow a divorce on these grounds, even though it’s a matter that could have been resolved between us?

Unfortunately, your husband has the right to claim for divorce regardless of the reasons or grounds. But you would still have the right to claim compensation, or Nafakkit Muttaa, per Article 140 of Federal Law No 28 of 2005 – the Personal Status Law. This article states that “if the husband divorced his wife who married him a correct marriage without any reason or demand on her side, she would deserve compensation after divorce, in addition to the period of waiting expenses according to the situation of the husband”. You also have the right to claim other financial rights such as unpaid dowry and unpaid financial support backdated to 36 months.

My husband was a victim of theft. His wallet was stolen and he referred the matter to the police. Does he have a right to claim compensation?

The law gives the right to all victims, in any crime, without exception, to claim compensation. This right is given during the criminal procedure and before a judgment is given from the court of first instance. The law does not cite minimum or maximum limits for compensation, leaving it to the discretion of the court. The criminal court can decide on a civil claim raised during criminal proceedings, with the following expected outcomes: (a) if the accused is guilty, the court will have the discretionary power to award the full compensation or part of it; (b) if the accused is found guilty, the court has the discretionary power to refer to the civil courts for compensation; (c) if the accused is not found guilty, then it is likely that they will not award any compensation.

If you have a question for our legal consultant, email media@professionallawyer.me with the subject line ‘Family Matters’.

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Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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