UAE legal Q&As: My husband left me and took everything, what can I do?

Wife questions what she can do, while another reader complains about harassment.

My husband, who is from the UK and works in Dubai, has informed me that he is having an affair. He has left our daughter and I penniless as he has moved all our assets offshore without telling me. Where do I stand legally?

Your husband is not allowed to move your money, unless it was in his name or you have given him power of attorney to take action on his own. If you can prove that you owned some, or all, of the money that he moved, you can file a case against him and claim what is rightfully yours. As for the illegal affair you say he is having, you have to prove it and then seek divorce, if that’s how you want to proceed. If you have evidence, the court will grant you custody of your daughter. To pursue a case, you must either go in person or assign a lawyer, who can also lodge a complaint with the police against your husband for having an affair.

I am writing to find out more information on the law in Abu Dhabi. I am being harassed by an Emirati, a former acquaintance. He told me of a group outing, which turned out to be just him and I. He tried to put his hands down my shorts and, since I rejected him, he has been sending me vile messages and voice messages. I have proof on all this, including him drink-driving, but as he is a local, I wonder how the police will react to this if I bring it to their attention? How does the law protect me? And could it affect my career? I want to know how to proceed. I am a British citizen and I’m not sure whether I should take the matter to my embassy.

The UAE Penal Code No 3 for 1987 does not differentiate between Emiratis and non-Emiratis as all are equal under the law, therefore you have the right to visit the nearest police station and file cases of sexual assault and issuing threats against the man in question. You should provide police with your testimony and all evidence you possess then they will take action and refer the person to prosecutors. If thorough investigations prove that the crime exists, they will refer him to court and he will stand trial, with a prison term a possible outcome if found guilty.

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