Can a woman file for divorce in the UAE if her husband refuses to agree?

Yes, you can file for divorce in the UAE without your husband's agreement — his consent is not a legal requirement, whatever he has told you. The route depends on your situation. If you are non-Muslim, the civil personal status framework allows either spouse to seek divorce unilaterally, without proving fault or harm. If your marriage falls under Sharia personal status rules, you can petition for divorce on recognised grounds such as harm, or pursue khula, which ends the marriage in exchange for returning the dower. In either case the process begins with filing at the court, usually passes through a conciliation stage, and proceeds to judgment if no settlement is reached. His control of the finances does not block you: the court can order interim maintenance for you and any children while the case runs, and financial disclosure can be pursued through the proceedings. Start gathering your marriage certificate, identity documents and any evidence relevant to your grounds. A consultation with a UAE family lawyer will identify the strongest route available to you before you file anything.