If you are experiencing abuse at home, please know two things: it is not your fault, and the law is on your side. UAE law provides fast, concrete protection for victims of domestic violence, and we handle these matters with the urgency, discretion, and sensitivity they demand.
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The UAE has significantly strengthened its domestic violence framework through Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2024 on Protection from Domestic Violence, which replaced the earlier 2019 law. The legislation covers physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse committed within the family, and expands both the definition of family members protected and the penalties imposed on perpetrators.
At the heart of the system is the protection order. The Public Prosecution may issue a protection order restraining the abuser — prohibiting contact or approach to the victim, barring them from the home, workplace, or shelter, and imposing other conditions necessary for the victim’s safety. Orders are issued quickly, can be extended by the court, and breaching a protection order is itself a criminal offence carrying penalties. The law operates alongside dedicated support institutions, including shelters and social support centres, and complaints can be initiated through the police in complete confidence.
A domestic violence situation also has family law consequences that must be managed in parallel: harm is a ground for judicial divorce, abuse is highly relevant to custody and visitation, and financial control by an abuser raises urgent maintenance issues. We coordinate the criminal protection track with your family law strategy so that your safety and your long-term rights are secured together.
Act urgently to obtain protection orders through the Public Prosecution
Accompany and represent you in filing police complaints, discreetly and safely
Pursue penalties for breaches of existing protection orders
Coordinate divorce, custody, and maintenance proceedings arising from the abuse
Connect you with shelters and victim support services where needed
Who this applies to: Any person — wife, husband, child, parent, or household member — experiencing physical, psychological, sexual, or economic abuse within the family, and relatives seeking to protect a vulnerable family member.
See also: Divorce & Marital Separation · Custody Rights Under UAE Law.
This page is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. All matters are handled with strict confidentiality. Law references last reviewed July 2026.
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