The Ras Al Khaimah Court of First Instance (Personal Status) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has granted a divorce to a 38-year-old woman who accused her husband of years of abuse, neglect, and witchcraft. The ruling, issued in late October 2025, marks the end of a troubled five-year marriage marked by emotional turmoil and financial disputes.
Court documents reveal that the wife, represented by attorney Hanan Salem Al Shimili, filed for khula (a wife-initiated divorce under Islamic law) and full custody of the couple’s four-year-old daughter.
The couple married in Egypt in July 2020, and their union was certified in the UAE a year later, in July 2021. Their daughter, now enrolled in a UAE school, has been living with her mother.
In her testimony, the wife accused her 37-year-old husband of infidelity and engaging in “immoral acts such as witchcraft and sorcery,” which she said caused severe psychological distress. She claimed her husband’s behavior led to fear, humiliation, and an unsafe environment for her and their child.
The wife also presented evidence of physical abuse, emotional manipulation, and long-term financial neglect, submitting digital messages and official documents to support her claims.
Case files show that the husband allegedly assaulted his wife multiple times, once leaving her with a knee injury verified by a medical report. He was also accused of insulting her in public and sending abusive messages over WhatsApp.
The husband, who works in Fujairah, reportedly visited his family in Ras Al Khaimah only on weekends, leaving his wife and child largely unattended. Despite earning over AED 13,000 a month, he allegedly refused to contribute to household expenses, school fees, or even his child’s postnatal care.
From 2022 to 2025, the wife claimed she covered all living, education, and housing expenses on her own.
After examining the evidence, the court concluded that reconciliation was impossible. Judges determined that the husband’s behavior caused “emotional and material harm,” violating the legal and moral duties of marriage under UAE law.
The court ruled that the husband’s financial neglect breached Article 133 (1.2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, which requires husbands to provide for their spouses and children.
The court granted the mother full custody of her daughter and ordered the father to pay for her living, housing, and education costs.
The husband must pay:
These payments will continue as long as the child remains in school and under her mother’s care.
Additionally, the court authorized the mother to relocate with her daughter for educational or medical reasons if necessary. The husband must also surrender all official documents — including the child’s passport, birth certificate, and vaccination record — and ensure their renewal when required.