Does a father still pay child maintenance if he doesn't see the children in the UAE?

Yes. Under the UAE Personal Status Law, a father's duty to financially maintain his children generally continues regardless of how much contact or visitation he has. Maintenance (nafaqa) is treated as the child's right and is tied to the child's needs and the father's means, not to the amount of time he spends with them. Conversely, a custodial parent who restricts contact does not lose the right to claim maintenance for the children, and a father who pays maintenance does not automatically forfeit his right to visitation, the two are addressed separately by the court. Visitation disputes are resolved on the basis of the child's best interests, and a parent denied agreed contact can ask the court to enforce or arrange it. The maintenance amount is set and can be varied by the Personal Status Court based on circumstances. If contact is being blocked or payments stopped, the issues are pursued through the competent court. You can compare verified UAE family law professionals on LEXAI to address both maintenance and visitation.