UAE family matters Q&A: can I bypass the Family Guidance committee to get a divorce

A reader asks if they can avoid "wasting time" with the Family Guidance committee and get a divorce immediately

I have filed for divorce from my wife. I want to proceed directly to court and avoid wasting time at the Family Guidance committee. What do I need to do?

The first stage of the legal process for divorce is the Family Guidance committee. In family matters, the local courts cannot be approached directly. In such cases a no-objection certificate or a transfer letter must be obtained by the Family Guidance committee prior to approaching the courts. This is considered as an important step as they try to resolve any matters amicably between the husband and the wife due to the important of family in the social context.

When approaching the family guidance committee, the claimant should bring with them their Emirates ID and original marriage certificate.

If the couple married outside the UAE then the document must be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in that country and attested by the UAE embassy in that country. The same document then has to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE, translated into Arabic and stamped by the Ministry of Justice. Some countries require the marriage contracts to be stamped by their embassies in the UAE. That step should be followed accordingly to the requirement.

If you have a question for our legal consultant, email [e-mail] with the subject line "Family Matters".