Can a Muslim wife get a khula divorce in the UAE and keep custody?

Khula is a recognised form of divorce under the UAE Personal Status Law: the wife seeks to end the marriage, typically in return for relinquishing certain financial rights. Khula does not, by itself, strip a mother of custody — custody (hadanah) is decided separately on the child's best interests, and a mother who obtains khula can still be custodian if that serves the children's welfare and she meets the conditions of a fit custodian. Khula affects certain financial entitlements between spouses, not the child's maintenance, which the father generally continues to owe; the exact consequences depend on the case. The process starts at the family guidance and reconciliation stage of the competent court. Full step-by-step guide: Khula divorce in the UAE. Compare verified UAE family law professionals on LEXAI.