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Can an Indian couple living in Dubai get divorced in the UAE or must we file in India?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 10, 2026·1 answers
My spouse and I are both Indian citizens who have lived in Dubai for years, and we've agreed to separate. We're confused about whether we can complete the whole divorce here even though we married in India, and which court we would approach. Where should a couple in our position start?

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 11, 2026
Yes — you can complete the entire divorce in the UAE, and you do not need to file in India. The UAE courts take jurisdiction over residents regardless of where the marriage took place, and as non-Muslim foreigners you can use the civil family route, which allows divorce without proving fault; where both spouses agree, the process is considerably quicker. You may alternatively ask the court to apply Indian law to your case, though most couples find the local civil framework simpler. The practical starting point is filing through the Dubai Courts' personal status system, and an agreed settlement covering finances and any children will shorten everything. One issue deserves attention before you file: recognition in India. Indian courts generally accept a foreign divorce where both spouses participated in the proceedings and the grounds are compatible with Indian law — a divorce by mutual consent usually satisfies this, but it is worth confirming with an Indian advocate so you do not end up divorced in one country and still married in the other. A family lawyer familiar with both systems can confirm the cleanest route for your circumstances.
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