Emirati mum loses custody of kids after marriage to foreign national

abu dhabi — An Emirati mother has lost custody of her two children because she got married to a foreign national. Custody of the children has now been granted to their father by the Federal Supreme Court, cancelling earlier rulings by the lower court.

The father had requested custody of his two boys, claiming that the children won’t be brought up well under a foreign national with different culture and traditions.

Court records stated that the custody of the children had been granted to their mother after the couple got separated a few years ago. The father was ordered to provide financial support of Dh5,000 and a housemaid to his children and their mother. After learning that the woman got married to another man, who is a non-citizen, the Emirati man filed a lawsuit demanding the custody of his children.

The Family Court of First Instance had earlier rejected the man’s claims and awarded the children’s custody to their mother because there was no evidence to prove that the children were not safe staying with their mother.

The court also increased the children’s monthly expenses to be paid by the father to Dh6,000 in addition to Dh1,000 for a housemaid.

The man went to the appellate court, which maintained the first verdict. The Emirati challenged the ruling at the UAE’s top court, which has cancelled earlier rulings and granted the father the custody of his kids.

The Supreme Court judge issued the ruling after confirming that the father was fit to take care of the now grown-up children. The court said he can raise them in accordance with his culture and traditions.