How is child custody decided for non-Muslims under UAE civil law?

Under the UAE's civil personal status framework for non-Muslims, child custody is approached on a civil basis that emphasises the best interests of the child and, notably, can provide for joint or shared custody between both parents rather than automatically assigning the child to one parent. The federal civil law for non-Muslims and Abu Dhabi's civil marriage law allow the court to make arrangements for where the child lives, decision-making, and each parent's role, and parents may also be able to agree arrangements that the court can recognise. The civil model differs from approaches that distinguish between custody and guardianship along religious lines, and it gives the court flexibility to tailor outcomes to the family. Because the precise factors, procedures and how disputes are resolved are set by the law and the courts and applied case by case, you should confirm how the rules apply to your circumstances through official sources or a lawyer. Custody outcomes are highly fact-specific. You can find UAE family-law professionals who advise non-Muslim parents on civil custody arrangements on LEXAI.