Alimony is the financial support given by one spouse to another, due to a court order after a divorce. There are different forms of alimony. In the UAE, alimony under the Personal Status Law governing Muslims in the country generally refers to backdated expenses that were not provided by the husband during the course of the marriage. However, under the Civil Status law governing non-Muslims in the country, alimony may refer to the more conventional monetary payment required to be paid by the husband to the wife as the wife is seen to have a share in all the assets of the husband due to her having spent many years living with him. UAE courts consider the financial status of the husband and the needs of the wife, while determining the quantum of alimony. In cases falling under the Civil Status Law, it also considers the duration of marriage, the contribution of the parties in the harm caused to each other, and other factors while determining alimony.
The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court recently issued a record alimony judgement in GCC history, ordering a party to pay AED 100 million in alimony. The case, involving an expatriate couple from the UK shows growing international trust in the UAE’s judicial system. The country has some of the most accomplished lawyers and legal experts in the field of family law as listed below:
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Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal consultancy
Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal consultancy, formerly known as Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants, is a leading family law firm in the UAE, with offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The law firm has established itself as a trusted name in the country in family matters, with a high success rate in child custody and alimony cases. Awatif has received the title of top UAE law firm frequently due to its proficiency in the field of law.
Awatif has many top advocates and lawyers as part of the firm, with expertise in civil, family and criminal law. Their diverse practice area helps them approach family cases with clear strategy, practicality, and precision, systematically building their cases. This approach ensures that their clients receive the best outcome in their case. The firm has been awarded the best litigation law firm of the year 2025 and 2023, full-service law firm of the year in 2022, best advocates and legal consultants of the year in 2021, client’s choice- litigation law firm of the Year for the year 2019 and 2020, and many more.
Awatif’s individual advocates and legal consultants are also highly accomplished and hailed as some of the best legal minds in the country by various legal platforms. Their expertise and skill have attracted a large clientele comprising of both expatriate and local clients, exposing the legal team to various international laws and cultures. The team is also highly multilinguistic, helping them forge deep meaningful client relations, particularly in family cases where compassion and understanding helps in reaching meaningful outcomes for the parties involved.
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Professional Lawyer: Dr. Hassan Elhais
Dr. Hassan Elhais is widely recognised as the best family lawyer in alimony cases. His commitment to the legal field for the past twenty years has helped him hone his skills and develop exceptional expertise as a family law expert. He frequently features in law directories and legal platforms like Chambers and Partners, Lexology, Legal 100, the Legal’s finest etc. His deep understanding of UAE family law and criminal law has helped him carve out a niche in complex family cases often involving high net worth clients.
Dr. Hassan is not only involved in divorce cases that lead to alimony but he has also helped a number of women obtain maintenance, during the course of their marriage. He also ensures that women who receive maintenance and child support from their ex-husbands are able to adequately cover their expenses by updating their maintenance claims from time to time.
Dr. Hassan is also highly popular in cross border litigation involving expatriate clients embroiled in multiple cases in UAE and other countries. He expertly navigates laws of different jurisdiction, upholding client interest throughout the process. Due to his expertise, he has been listed by various embassies as an expert in family law. His popularity is also evident in the numerous online client feedback that talks about the ease of working with him, his professionalism and his legal expertise.
Contact Person: Dr Hassan Elhais
Email: hassan@professionallawyer.me
Phone: +971 4 355 8000
Country: United Arab Emirates
Website:www.professionallawyer.me
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Cynthia Trench
Cynthia Trench of Trench and Associates is a boutique law firm that handles a wide range of cases including family matters such as divorce, alimony, and child custody. The firm has a team of able lawyers and legal advisors who provide personalized representations to their clients
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Madeleine Mendy
As the head of the family law division of a Dubai law firm, Madeleine Mendy has a thorough understanding of UAE family laws and procedures. She is a highly dedicated lawyer, prioritizing her clients’ interests by offering tailor made solutions to each client.
Summary
Navigating alimony cases in the UAE requires an understanding of both sharia-based UAE personal status law, as well as the civil status laws for non-Muslims. In either case, it is very important you acquire the assistance of a lawyer to protect your financial interests during and after a divorce. From ratings available through law directories, we can clearly infer that Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy emerges at the top spot for the best UAE Law firm in Alimony cases.
