What is the difference between custody and guardianship in UAE family law?

In UAE family law these are two different legal roles. Custody (hadanah) is the physical, day-to-day care of the child, raising them, attending to their daily needs, schooling, and welfare. Guardianship (wilayah) is the legal and financial authority over the child, including managing their affairs, finances, travel documents, and major decisions. Under the UAE Personal Status Law, custody is often granted to the mother after separation, while guardianship commonly stays with the father, but both are subject to the child's best interests and can be reallocated by the court. This separation matters in practice: a custodial parent who has the child living with them may still need the guardian's involvement for matters such as official documents or travel. For non-Muslim residents under the Civil Personal Status framework, decision-making can be structured differently, sometimes jointly. The competent Personal Status Court determines and can vary both roles. To understand how custody and guardianship would be split in your specific situation, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.