Man spared from paying for ex-wife's additional expenses in UAE

Abu Dhabi - The GCC couple had separated a few years ago after irreconcilable family differences.

A husband has been relieved of the burden of providing a housemaid, a car, a driver and fun expenses for his ex-wife on appeal.

The Court of Cassation in Abu Dhabi upheld an earlier ruling by a lower court that rejected the woman's request to oblige her ex-husband to increase her monthly alimony and also provide both her and her baby with a car, a driver and housemaid to take care of the child.

Court documents stated that the GCC couple had separated a few years ago after irreconcilable family differences. And after the divorce, the court granted custody of their child to the mother. The man was also ordered to pay reasonable alimony to his ex-wife, rent and other expenses for his child.

A few months later, the woman filed a lawsuit against the man claiming that he didn't fulfil his obligations as ordered by the court. She demanded to increase her monthly alimony, provide her with a car and a driver, a housemaid in addition to other family expenses. She also wanted her ex-husband to pay for the nursery for their child and also provide entertainment allowance.

The Family Court of First Instance had ordered that the man pay Dh3,000 as monthly alimony, Dh1,200 for fun and entertainment, provide the woman with a car, driver and housemaid, and pay for the child's nursery in addition to rent and other home expenses.

The husband appealed the ruling and the court cancelled the provision of housemaid, car and driver and the fun or entertainment allowance to the wife, but maintained the monthly alimony and other expenses.

The wife went to Abu Dhabi's top court which has rejected her appeal and maintained the appeal court ruling.

The husband argued that his monthly salary was less than Dh20,000 and couldn't afford to pay for most of the things his ex-wife had requested.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi