The Ras Al Khaimah Court of First Instance has granted a 43-year-old woman a khula divorce from her husband for the second time in eight months. The couple had resumed married life under a new marriage contract after their first divorce, but renewed disputes brought them back to court just two months later. The court also awarded the mother custody of their 10 children and ordered the father to make recurring financial payments totalling AED 227,500 a year.

According to Al Emarat Al Youm newspaper, the woman, a former teacher, said in her petition that she had left her job to care for the children and manage the household.

The couple had 10 children—five boys and five girls—during their 12-year marriage. The woman also said she had cared for five of her husband’s children from a previous marriage, bringing the total number of children under her care to 15.

Couple Reunited One Day After Divorce Was Registered

According to court records, the couple’s marital disputes initially led to a khula divorce ruling in February 2026.

The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in April, and the divorce was officially registered on May 14.

However, the couple resumed married life under a new marriage contract just one day later, on May 15.

Under the new contract, the immediate and deferred portions of the dowry were each set at AED 5,000.

The remarriage lasted only two months, and the woman returned to court on July 15 to file another petition for a khula divorce.

She said the disputes that had led to their first separation had resurfaced, making it impossible for her to continue the marriage.

Woman Alleges Mistreatment and Financial Problems

In her petition, the woman alleged that her husband had mistreated her and the children and had failed to provide sufficient money for the family’s living expenses despite having the financial means to do so.

She also alleged that he had refused to pay her medical expenses, improperly taken money from her while she was working as a teacher, and prevented her from seeing her mother and other family members.

The woman said her husband had also treated her harshly in front of the children and that the continuing disputes had made married life difficult.

She asked the court to grant the divorce, award her custody of the children and order the father to pay their living and education expenses.

The husband opposed the divorce request and said he wanted the marriage to continue.

Citing the couple’s 10 children, he urged the court to preserve the marriage and submitted a salary certificate and other documents in support of his position.

The man acknowledged that he had not paid the immediate portion of his wife’s dowry but claimed this was based on an agreement between them.

The woman nevertheless maintained her request for a divorce in exchange for waiving the financial rights arising from the separation.

Father Seeks Custody of 10 Children

During the proceedings, the man filed a counterclaim seeking custody of all 10 children.

He also asked for a specialised technical body to examine and authenticate the documents and electronic communications submitted in the case and to refer any suspected materials to the Public Prosecution for investigation.

However, the court said it had not relied on the electronic evidence challenged by the man when issuing its ruling.

It therefore rejected his request for a technical examination and referral to the Public Prosecution, finding that such action would have no bearing on the outcome of the case.

The court also attempted to reconcile the couple, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

The woman continued to insist on a divorce, saying she did not wish to remain married and feared that continuing the relationship would prevent her from observing the bounds set by God.

Khula Divorce Granted Despite Husband’s Objection

In its ruling, the court said reconciliation efforts had failed and that the couple’s relationship had reached a level of emotional estrangement that made married life impossible.

The court also noted the woman’s insistence on ending the marriage and her willingness to waive her statutory financial rights in exchange for the divorce.

The ruling stated that the man’s opposition to the divorce, despite the woman’s offer of appropriate compensation, amounted to obstinacy and unjustified refusal.

The court therefore granted an irrevocable khula divorce. In return, the woman waived her statutory financial rights arising from the separation, outstanding marital maintenance and deferred dowry.

However, the court stressed that the children’s financial rights were separate from those of the spouses and that, under the UAE Personal Status Law, child maintenance and custody rights cannot be waived in exchange for a divorce.

Mother Retains Custody of 10 Children

In deciding custody, the court relied on a report by the technical committee for custody affairs.

After assessing the family’s circumstances, the committee found no obstacle to the mother retaining custody of the children.

The case records also contained no evidence calling into question her fitness to care for and raise them.

The court said the mother’s priority in custody was directly linked to the children’s best interests, noting that they were still at ages requiring care and guidance.

It therefore confirmed the mother’s custody of all 10 children and rejected the father’s request to transfer custody to him.

The court also granted the mother authority over the children’s educational affairs.

Under the ruling, she may deal directly with government and private entities and educational institutions and complete administrative procedures on the children’s behalf. Matters involving the children’s travel abroad are excluded from this authority.

Father Ordered to Pay AED 227,500 Annually

In addition to determining custody, the Ras Al Khaimah court ordered the father to cover the children’s living, housing, education and other expenses.

Under the ruling, the man must pay AED 10,000 a month in maintenance for the couple’s 10 children.

The father was also ordered to pay AED 50,000 annually for the children’s housing, including related utility costs.

In addition, the court ordered him to make a one-off payment of AED 25,000 to furnish the children’s home.

The ruling also requires the father to provide a domestic worker on a monthly salary of AED 1,000 and cover recruitment and employment costs of up to AED 6,000.

Other financial obligations include AED 1,500 a month for transport, AED 1,000 a month for nursery fees, AED 3,500 a year for school supplies and AED 600 for each child on each Eid.

If all recurring payments apply, the father’s total annual financial obligations amount to AED 227,500.

This excludes the one-off payment of AED 25,000 to furnish the children’s home and up to AED 6,000 for recruiting the domestic worker.

Father Ordered to Hand Over Children’s Identity Documents

The court also ordered the man to hand over the children’s original Emirates ID cards and birth certificates to the mother.

Under the ruling, the father must also provide the mother with certified copies of the children’s passports so she can handle their legal and administrative affairs.

The man was also ordered to pay court costs and legal fees.

By granting a second khula divorce, confirming the mother’s custody and setting the father’s financial obligations, the court underscored that children’s rights are independent of marital disputes and financial agreements between spouses and that their best interests must be protected.