UAE’s new personal status law fines for child neglect and parental abuse

The UAE has issued a federal decree-law on personal status, aiming to bolster family stability, protect individual rights and enhance social cohesion. The new law introduces comprehensive reforms to regulate personal status matters, with some issues addressed for the first time in the country, reports Gulf News.

Key provisions include setting the legal marriage age at 18 and enabling court intervention if a guardian unjustly refuses to allow a woman to marry someone of her choice. The law also revises rules for recovering gifts and dowries in broken engagements, ensuring fairness in reclaiming high-value items.

In addressing marital disputes, the decree allows either spouse to seek divorce due to harm caused by addiction to narcotics or intoxicants. To expedite proceedings, the arbitration period for such cases has been reduced to 60 days. Additionally, the law mandates husbands to document divorces within 15 days, safeguarding wives’ rights and enabling compensation claims for non-compliance.

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Notable amendments to child custody provisions prioritise the child’s best interest. Custody now extends to 18 years for both genders, with children aged 15 and above allowed to choose their preferred parent. Courts will decide custody in cases involving non-Muslim mothers, focusing on the child’s welfare.

Fines are also levied on individuals who abuse, neglect, or refuse to care for their parents. These measures, which take effect on 15 April, aim to safeguard minors and elderly parents, according to the Khaleej Times.

Penalties, including fines up to around $27,000 (Dh100,000) or imprisonment, address offences such as child neglect, abuse and mismanagement of inheritance. The law also grants family court judges flexibility to rule in accordance with Islamic principles.

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