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My Ex Won't Let Me See My Children

“My ex won't let me see my children”

Being denied access to your children is a family law matter, and which rules apply to your case depends on your religion, nationality, and which emirate you're in.

Not being able to see your children is painful, and the legal path forward depends heavily on which regime applies to your family. UAE family law is not a single system — it splits several ways, and getting the right starting point matters. LEXNOVA Legal Connect can help you describe your situation and find a family lawyer to advise you directly.

LAST REVIEWED 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

WHERE THIS IS HANDLED

The personal status courts (Dubai or the relevant emirate), or, for eligible families in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court.

How the answer changes by jurisdiction

  • Dubai mainland

    There is no separate civil family court in Dubai. Family matters, including custody and access, go through Dubai's personal status courts under the federal regime — the traditional rules for Muslim families, or the federal Personal Status Law for non-Muslims (Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022) for others.

  • DIFC

    DIFC has no family law jurisdiction at all. It has no family court, and family matters connected to people based there are handled by the onshore courts under the applicable federal or Abu Dhabi regime, not by the DIFC Courts.

  • Abu Dhabi mainland

    Abu Dhabi has its own civil family court, established under Law No. 14 of 2021 and Regulation No. 8 of 2022. It's an English-language civil court that applies a default presumption of joint custody — a different starting point from the traditional regime, and one with no equivalent in Dubai. Families may also proceed under the standard personal status route depending on their circumstances.

  • ADGM

    Like DIFC, ADGM has no family law jurisdiction. Family matters connected to people based there go through the onshore courts, not the ADGM Courts.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

STEP 01

Work out which regime applies to you

The starting point isn't the same for everyone. Whether you're Muslim or non-Muslim, your nationality, and whether you're in Abu Dhabi or elsewhere all affect which court and which rules apply. This is often the first thing a family lawyer needs to establish before advising you further.

STEP 02

Understand custody and guardianship aren't the same thing

UAE family law traditionally distinguishes between day-to-day custody of a child and legal guardianship, which can involve decisions like travel, schooling, and official paperwork. Being denied access can touch either or both, and the remedy differs depending on which is actually in dispute.

STEP 03

Gather what you have

Keep a record of attempts to see your children and how they were refused — messages, dates, any existing court or agreement documents. This becomes the evidence a lawyer works from.

STEP 04

Many cases start with a conciliation step

Personal status matters in the UAE often go through a conciliation or guidance process before a judge rules on the dispute. This is a normal part of the system, not a sign your case is being dismissed, and a lawyer can prepare you for what to expect there.

STEP 05

If you're eligible for Abu Dhabi's Civil Family Court, understand what's different

Its default presumption of joint custody means the starting expectation is that both parents remain involved, rather than one parent holding primary custody and the other simply having visitation. Whether this court is available to you depends on your specific circumstances — a lawyer can confirm.

STEP 06

Going to court if informal routes don't work

If access still isn't resolved, a formal application can be made to the relevant court. A lawyer can help you prepare the application, the evidence, and represent you through the hearings that follow.

START YOUR REQUEST

Tell Us About Your Situation.

The matter type is already set to Family, so the form begins with your location. LEXNOVA is a lawyer-matching service, not a law firm — any legal advice comes directly from the independent legal professional you are connected with.

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Where is your matter located?

FAQ

It depends on your religion, nationality and emirate. In Dubai, it's the personal status courts. In Abu Dhabi, you may also have the option of the Civil Family Court. DIFC and ADGM have no family jurisdiction at all.

Custody generally covers day-to-day care of the child. Guardianship covers wider decisions — such as travel consent, schooling and official matters. Access disputes can involve either, and sometimes both.

This depends on which regime applies and the facts of your case. Abu Dhabi's Civil Family Court starts from a presumption of joint custody. Under the traditional regime, courts weigh a number of factors, including the child's age. A family lawyer can explain how this is likely to apply to you specifically — we won't predict an outcome here.

Eligibility depends on your specific circumstances, not simply where you live day to day. Ask a lawyer to check whether it's available to your family.

This is exactly the kind of situation where which regime applies isn't automatic. Get advice early, since it affects both the court and the rules that govern your case.

Many cases go through a conciliation or guidance stage first, which can sometimes resolve access issues without a full court process. A lawyer can guide you through it.

No. Neither has family law jurisdiction. Matters are handled by the onshore courts even for people based in DIFC or ADGM.

Dates and details of attempts to see your children, any messages about access, and copies of any existing agreements or court orders.

This raises separate, more urgent issues around cross-border travel. See our page on a child being taken out of the country without consent, and get legal advice as soon as possible.

Generally, yes — family arrangements aren't necessarily permanent, and a change in circumstances can be a basis to revisit them. A lawyer can advise on the process for doing so.

It can. Both scenarios raise specific questions about which UAE process applies and how a foreign marriage or divorce is treated here. Raise this directly with a family lawyer.

There are enforcement steps available if an order isn't followed, though what's appropriate depends on the specific order and court. A lawyer can advise on how to proceed.

In most cases, yes, at least for certain stages, though a lawyer can advise on what can be handled remotely or through representation.

Many personal status matters involve a conciliation stage that functions similarly to mediation. Ask your lawyer whether a more structured private mediation is also a sensible option in your case.

This varies a great deal by case, court and circumstances, so it's not something we'll estimate generally here. A lawyer can give you a realistic sense once they understand your situation.

No. LEXNOVA is not a law firm and doesn't predict legal outcomes. LEXNOVA Legal Connect can help you describe your situation and find a family lawyer to advise you properly.

Start keeping a clear record of what's happening, avoid confrontations that could be used against you, and speak to a family lawyer about which regime applies to your family before taking further steps.

LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, legal representation, or legal services. Any legal advice or representation is provided directly by the independent legal professional engaged by the client.

A connection or introduction does not constitute a guarantee, endorsement, or assurance of outcome. Users should independently confirm the professional's qualifications, authorization, fees, scope of engagement, and suitability.

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