Divorce, child support & property division

Divorce, child support and property division in the UAE

Updated 4 November 2026

Lawyer fees for a divorce with representation in the UAE typically range from AED 15,000 to AED 50,000, and a contested case with significant assets can cost more. Court filing for a basic divorce petition starts at about AED 500. For a current figure for your situation, send a request on BlaBlaPrice, because the total depends on what is agreed and what is contested.

Prices are quoted per case, and the total depends on:

• Whether the divorce is agreed or contested, and how many hearings it may take.
• Whether children are involved, including custody, visitation and child support.
• The property to divide, such as a home, a business or savings.
• Where the other party lives, and the stage the case has reached.
• Whether you attend in person or through a lawyer, and the city where the case is filed.

Property is not always split equally

UAE law does not automatically divide all marital property equally on divorce, so the outcome depends on the assets involved and on what is agreed or decided. Gather ownership papers, bank statements and any business records before the first meeting, and name the assets at stake in your request.

Child support and maintenance

The amount of child support depends on income, the children's needs and the court's discretion, and it can be changed later if circumstances change. Spousal maintenance and child support are priority debts, and claims can be backdated up to six months, so do not let a claim wait.

Which court and when to go

The Dubai Family Court handles most divorce cases in the emirate, but procedures and applicable rules depend on the case and on the emirate, so confirm the right court in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman or Al Ain before you file. The desert summer runs from May to September with very hot days, so it is easier to plan court visits for the mild months from November to March.

What to write in the request

Say whether the divorce is agreed or contested, whether there are children and how old they are, what property is involved, where the other party lives, which stage the case is at, and whether you can attend in person. Add your city and a budget in AED. Share documents only once you have chosen a lawyer.

Get offers through BlaBlaPrice: describe your situation in your own words in the chat, and the BlaBlaPrice AI asks about missing details, looks through law firms' websites and price lists in the UAE, and shows the prices and firms it found. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their fee and terms. Your contacts stay hidden until you decide to share them. For related help see Legal services and Court representation.