Marriage is considered as a sacred event preluded with love, bliss, and joy until it comes to an end abruptly through a divorce, leaving behind bitterness over financial and custody matters. It all may end a lot worse if emotions lead to financial insecurities leaving you bankrupt all your life. Having said that, most couples enter into a fair deal prior to the marriage to ease the procedure of divorce referred to as Pre-Nuptial Agreement.
To elucidate briefly, a pre-nuptial agreement is an agreement entered into by any couple, yet to get married. The said agreement highlights the procedure for distribution of assets and other financial obligations, in the event spouses part their ways. On the other hand, any agreement signed post the conclusion of marriage is referred to as Post-nuptial Agreement.

Family Lawyers of Dubai receives numerous inquiries concerning the validity of any nuptial agreement signed by the spouses under the Personal Status Law (Federal Law 28 of 2005). Consequently, this article will annotate various aspects of pre/postnuptial agreement.

Under Personal Status Law

Personal Status Law of UAE is derived from the principles of Shariah Law; ergo, it does not entail the concept of pre/post-nuptial agreement. Therefore, the country does not have any specific law which shall govern the nuptial agreements signed by the parties. Nevertheless, it shall be construed under the Civil Law, like any other contract signed in the country. Yet, it is of utmost importance to utilize due care whilst drafting such agreement as any provision against the Law of Shariah will lead to invalidity of the contract.

Prenuptial agreements do not have a standard format and can be tailored as they desire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each contract shall have certain elements for its enforcement which includes, voluntary intent to sign the contract, complete disclosure of information, equitable distribution and realistic or achievable prerequisites. In the UAE, the treatment of nuptial agreements is based on several factors such as the religion of the spouses and their jurisdiction.

The Law of Shariah as afore-mentioned does not validate the concept of pre/post nuptial agreements or distribution of property attained during the marriage. Accordingly, the property remains of the spouse who acquired it. This is in line with Article 20 of the Personal Status Law which highlights that the marriage certificate shall include the conditions agreed between the parties.

Henceforth, UAE nationals should enter any prerequisite in relation to their marital status or any circumstances post the dissolution of marriage in the marriage certificate, and any contract shall not be recognized as an ancillary contract to marriage. Nevertheless, it might be considered under the Civil Transactions Law subject to the conditions of the Civil Law.

In another context, the prenuptial agreements entered by Muslim expatriates living in UAE shall be construed according to the jurisdiction in which the divorce was finalized. In this regard, the UAE Personal Status Law shall be applicable, if the divorce was filed in UAE; accordingly, the pre-nuptial agreement would not be valid. Whereas, if the divorce decree has been issued by another jurisdiction, the prenuptial agreement shall be interpreted under the provisions of the Civil Transactions Law of UAE.

On the contrary, in cases of non-Muslim foreign expatriates, the nuptial agreements shall be taken into consideration, if the local laws of the expatriates allow for distribution of property acquired during the marriage, the prenuptial agreement shall be enforced and will be binding on the parties. Pursuant to Article 1(2) of the Personal Status Law, the foreign expatriates can apply their country laws in any family dispute. Furthermore, according to Article 5 of the foregoing law, the courts of UAE are authorized to entertain cases of foreign citizens residing in the UAE. Therefore, nuptial agreements of foreigners will be enforceable under UAE Law subject to their adherence with the governing law.

In a nutshell, the personal status courts of UAE will uphold the nuptial agreements signed by the parties concerning the distributions of matrimonial property or any other issues regarding the financial situations of the spouse's post-dissolution of marriage.