BR Law Firm ( Office Of Hassan Tamim Advocates ) - Hassan Tamim Advocates and Legal Consultants handles highly-sensitive and confidential child custody cases in the UAE. Our child custody lawyers have successfully dealt with and won child custody battles in line with divorce.
How to get child custody in Dubai is one of the major considerations, and probably the most challenging aspect of a divorce case, considering that children's well-being is at stake. The case can become even more difficult, sensitive and traumatising when it involves abduction or abuse. This is one reason why it is critical to find child custody lawyers in Dubai who are experienced in this type of case.
Our child custody lawyers in Dubai ensure efficient, professional and diligent ways of handling cases. We take pride in our team's expertise and excellent winning rate not only for child custody cases but for other family cases such as divorce, domestic abuse and violence, alimony, and visitation rights.
Custody vs Guardianship: What's the Difference?
They're two separate things under UAE law, and most custody questions make more sense once you separate them.
| Custody | Guardianship | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Day-to-day care of the child: where they live and who looks after them | Decisions about the child's affairs |
| Can sit with | One parent | The other parent |
So one parent can have the child living with them while important decisions rest with the other. That split is often where disputes start.
Which Law Applies to Your Family?
It depends on the law that applies to the family, and that's the first question to settle.
Under the UAE Personal Status Law, custody and guardianship are separate legal concepts, and the court considers the circumstances and best interests of the child when determining custody arrangements.
For eligible non-Muslim families proceeding under the UAE Civil Personal Status Law, joint custody is generally the starting position, with both parents having an equal right to joint custody until the child reaches 18.
Because the rules can differ with the parties' religion, nationality, marriage and circumstances, get specific advice before relying on any general custody rule. For the wider picture, see our divorce lawyers in Dubai page.
How the Court Decides Custody
There's no automatic rule that one parent wins. The court looks at the circumstances of the family and the welfare of the child, and at whether each parent can realistically carry the responsibility.
Records matter. What each parent does in the weeks before an application is often what the other side points to afterwards, so take advice early and keep a note of arrangements, payments and communication. Fathers often ask where they stand; our page on fathers' rights in the UAE covers that.
Travelling With Your Child
Don't take a child out of the UAE without the correct consent or authority. Doing so can seriously damage your position in the custody case and carries consequences of its own.
If you're worried the other parent may take the child abroad, an application can be made to the court about the child's travel. Whether an order is granted depends on the circumstances and the evidence, and where travel is close, it's urgent.
Changing a Custody Order Later
Orders can be revisited when circumstances genuinely change: a move, a new job, a change in the child's needs. The court will want to see what has changed and why it matters for the child.
If You Live Outside the UAE
It's possible to seek custody, but living abroad is a factor the court will weigh alongside the child's circumstances and the applicable law. Schooling, the child's existing arrangements and contact with the other parent all come into it. Indian families can also see our page for Indian divorce lawyers in Dubai.
What It Costs
Consultation fee: AED 1,050 to AED 5,250, depending on the nature and complexity of the consultation. Case fees are quoted separately, and court fees are separate from legal fees.
Where abuse is involved, speak to us straight away. Our domestic violence page explains what can be done.
Reviewed by the family law team at BR Law Firm ( Office of Hassan Tamim Advocates & Legal Consultants ). Last updated September 2026.
