Family mediation for UK families in Dubai and the UAE

Who this is for

The UAE is home to a large British community, and many families move there for work. Our service is for UK families in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates whose separation, children or finances are tied to England or Wales. Typically:

• One parent in the UAE, one in the UK. You both join the same mediation by video, from wherever you are.
• Divorce or money tied to England. You both live in the UAE, but your divorce, home, pensions or savings are in England or Wales.
• On a posting, still based in the UK. You are working in the UAE, but England or Wales is still home for your family or your case.

Many families assume they have to fly home, or go straight to court, to sort out children or money in England. They don't. You can take the first step from home.

Do I need a MIAM if I live in the UAE?

Usually, yes. If you plan to apply to a family court in England or Wales about child arrangements (form C100) or a financial settlement on divorce, such as dividing a property in England (Form A), you will normally need to attend a MIAM first, wherever in the world you live. Your MIAM certificate is accepted by family courts in England and Wales, and the meeting also tells you whether mediation could settle things without a hearing.

You do not need a MIAM to apply for a consent order, where you have already agreed and are asking the court to approve it.

Why separation in the UAE needs careful planning

Separating while living in the UAE raises questions that families in the UK don't face:

• Can one parent return to the UK with the children, and on what terms?
• How will the children stay close to the parent who stays in, or leaves, the UAE?
• What happens to residence visas sponsored by one partner?
• How are assets in the UAE, the UK and elsewhere divided?
• Which country's courts and laws apply?

• Civil family law for non-Muslims. Since February 2023, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 has provided a civil framework for non-Muslim residents, including no-fault divorce and joint custody as the starting point.
• No Hague Convention. The UAE is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction, so there is no automatic route to return a child.
• UK orders are not automatically recognised in the UAE, although they can be put before a UAE court.

This is why a negotiated agreement, reached early and reflected in proper legal documents in both countries, is often the most reliable way to protect your children's relationship with both parents.

An England and Wales mediator or a UAE mediator?

• Use an England and Wales mediator, like Ark, if your children, divorce or money will be dealt with by courts in England or Wales, or you need a MIAM certificate for a C100 or Form A.
• Use a mediator or lawyer based in the UAE if your matter falls under UAE law or will go to a UAE court.

Some families need advice in both countries. If that applies to you, we will say so at the start.

How mediation helps

• Agree whether, when and how the children move, before anyone books a flight
• Build a detailed plan for school holidays, flights and video contact between countries
• Divide UAE, UK and other assets in one structured process
• Reduce the risk of costly proceedings in both countries

Practical details

• Time zones. The UAE is 4 hours ahead of the UK from late October to late March, and 3 hours ahead during British Summer Time, because the UAE does not change its clocks. A 10:00 UK appointment in winter is 14:00 in Dubai. Evening and weekend sessions are available.
• What you need. A private space, a stable internet connection and a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone. A laptop gives the best experience.
• Language. Sessions can be held with a professional interpreter, who is bound by the same confidentiality as the mediator.
• Paying. Online by card, in pounds sterling, at the same prices as in the UK. See our fees.

What we can and can't help with

We can help with: MIAMs and mediation under England and Wales family law; child arrangements, divorce finances, property and pensions connected to England or Wales; MIAM certificates for English and Welsh courts; and sessions where one of you is in the UAE and the other is in the UK or elsewhere.

We can't help with: mediation under UAE law or for UAE courts; legal advice in England, Wales or the UAE; or deciding which country's courts should deal with your case.