The UAE government has introduced special family laws for non-Muslim immigrants living in Abu Dhabi.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Rashid Al Nahyan has approved the new law.The law enacted in the state of Abu Dhabi will apply to non-Muslims in accordance with international legal provisions.
The purpose of enacting the said law is to harmonize the situation of non-Muslims residing in the state and to resolve their family disputes while residing in the country.
Abu Dhabi Judiciary Secretary and Legal Adviser Youssef Saeed Al-Abri has said that "family law for non-Muslims living in the state of Abu Dhabi is a unique experience of its kind."
"Before the law is approved, it has been drafted with due diligence in accordance with the laws in force in the world."
"A separate unit has been set up under the judiciary for family law for non-Muslims, where court proceedings will be conducted in Arabic and English," he said.
"The new family law includes more than 20 provisions that cover every aspect of private life.""One of the provisions of the law applicable to non-Muslims is the law of marriage and divorce."
"The second clause deals with the rights and obligations of the spouses, including the division of property and financial matters in the event of divorce."
"The third clause of the new law deals with the maintenance of children after divorce."
He said that the fourth clause of the new law is related to will and inheritance in which a non-Muslim residing in the state has the right to bequeath all or part of his property to someone.
