What are the grounds for divorce in the UAE?

The grounds for divorce in the UAE depend on which law applies to you. Under the Sharia-based personal status rules for Muslims, divorce may be pronounced by the husband, sought by the wife on recognized grounds such as harm, desertion or failure to provide maintenance, or obtained through khul' where the wife requests dissolution, often by forgoing certain financial rights. Under the civil personal status track for non-Muslim residents, divorce can in many cases be granted without proving fault — a spouse can request it on the basis that the marriage has broken down, without having to establish wrongdoing. In all cases the matter is registered at the personal status court and passes through the Family Guidance / reconciliation stage first. The court then addresses related issues such as custody, maintenance and the waiting period. Because the accepted grounds and the evidence needed differ sharply between the Muslim and non-Muslim tracks, confirm what applies to your situation. A verified UAE legal professional on LEXAI can assess which grounds fit your case.