Abu Dhabi’s competition for the global rich takes a new form: divorce law

[Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.]

This summer, British lawyer Byron James filed what he believed would be the biggest divorce claim in Abu Dhabi’s history, from his laptop in Norway’s Arctic Circle. His client, a Caribbean national, sought Dh1bn ($270 million) from her husband of 20 years.

Her case reflects a growing trend among the wealthy who are choosing Abu Dhabi’s Civil Family Court (ADCFC) for fast and discreet divorces. Established in 2021, the secular court allows expatriates to resolve family disputes online, with no-fault divorces, joint custody, and prenuptial agreements all recognized under civil law.

James says the system offers “just as good an outcome” as England’s courts but in a fraction of the time and without public scrutiny. For wealthy expats, it is an appealing alternative to the UK’s expensive, slow-moving legal system.

Previously, foreign residents in the UAE were subject to sharia-based courts, where inheritance and divorce laws often favored men. The ADCFC marked a major shift, part of Abu Dhabi’s broader plan to modernize and attract global professionals. The emirate’s overhaul of personal status laws in 2018 paved the way for interfaith marriages, civil unions, and joint custody rights.

The court’s convenience has made it popular with the internationally mobile rich. Hearings can be attended remotely, and one client even joined from a first-class seat on Emirates Airline. The court’s privacy protections have also drawn high-profile couples. Since its creation, it has registered more than 43,000 marriages.

Not everyone welcomes the change. Religious scholars across the Gulf have criticized the move away from Islamic law, and even locally, some view it as controversial. Still, the ADCFC has become a powerful symbol of Abu Dhabi’s effort to position itself as a hub for modern living and global wealth.

Lawyers say the court tends to favor the less wealthy spouse and delivers rulings quickly. But enforcement abroad and uncovering hidden assets can still prove challenging. Even so, massive settlements, including one involving Dh8bn, are increasingly common.

As Abu Dhabi competes with Dubai to attract talent, investors, and residents, its civil court represents more than a legal reform. It is part of the city’s strategy to become not just a place to work and live but to marry, separate, and start over.

For more information see Chloe Cornish “Abu Dhabi’s competition for the global rich takes a new form: divorce law,” The Financial Times, October 21, 2025.