UAE Appeals Court Grants Divorce Over Verbal Abuse After 17-Year Marriage
An appeals court in the United Arab Emirates has granted a woman a divorce from her husband after 17 years of marriage, ruling that his persistent verbal insults amounted to marital harm. The decision, which overturns a lower court’s rejection of her initial petition, also awards her custody of the couple’s two daughters, a deferred dowry of Dh30,000, and ongoing financial support.
Witness Testimony Key to Ruling
The earlier ruling had dismissed the wife’s request for divorce. However, on appeal, judges accepted witness testimony confirming that she had been subjected to repeated verbal abuse by her husband. The court found that such behaviour constituted a legitimate ground for dissolution of the marriage under UAE family law.
Custody and Financial Provisions
As part of the final judgment, the mother was granted full custody of her two daughters. The husband is required to pay the deferred dowry of Dh30,000 and provide financial support for the children. The exact amount of the monthly maintenance was not disclosed in the ruling.
The case highlights the legal recognition of verbal abuse as a form of marital harm in the UAE, where courts increasingly consider psychological and emotional mistreatment alongside physical evidence when adjudicating family disputes.
