The court upholds the finality of earlier rulings and rules that the mother’s reopened complaint is inadmissible. Dubai: A mother’s lawsuit to reclaim custody of her two sons and obtain more financial assistance from her ex-husband was dismissed by the Dubai Personal Status Court, which determined that the case had previously been definitively resolved in prior rulings. Judge Majed Saif Mohammed Al Maamari of the Fourth Personal Status Circuit presided over the case. The court dismissed all claims in its final judgment after considering all pleadings and earlier decisions.
The decision, which was made on October 22, 2025, brings an end to a lengthy family conflict that has lasted for almost ten years. Because the plaintiff’s claims, which included custody, allowance, and various financial requests, had already been resolved in earlier procedures, the court determined that they were legally inadmissible. The custody dispute has already been settled. According to court documents, the parents separated in 2016 and the mother was given custody of the kids in addition to housing allowances and alimony. In 2020, when the children were older than the legal age limit for maternal custody under UAE law, a Dubai court granted custody to the father. That ruling became official and enforceable when it was later upheld on appeal and confirmed by the Court of Cassation.
In August 2025, the mother filed a fresh petition in spite of previous decisions, claiming that her 16-year-old younger son wanted to live with her. A 2022 Nissan Patrol or Dh200,000 cash equivalent for transportation, Dh10,000 for monthly maintenance, Dh1,000 for internet and study expenses, complete school fee coverage, and a domestic assistant were also requested. “Repeated Litigation” is mentioned by the defense. The father’s attorneys from Al Awami Al Mansoori Advocates and Legal Consultants contended that the action was a recurrence of claims that had already been resolved by a definitive ruling.
The defendant’s attorney, Mohammed Al Awami Al Mansoori, stressed that since the identical parties, cause, and subject matter had already been covered in earlier decisions, the court could not rehear a disagreement that had been definitively determined. In addition, he contended that the mother was not authorized to act on behalf of her older son, who became 18 in June 2025, since he is now fully capable of acting on his own behalf in matters pertaining to his personal status under UAE law.
The court upholds the legal majority Before the complaint was filed, the court verified that the older son had attained legal majority. People who are 18 years of age or older have the legal right to represent themselves in family matters under established judicial practice. Consequently, the court dismissed all relevant demands, ruling that the mother lacked legal authority to pursue claims on his behalf. Rejected financial requests The mother’s financial claims, which included requests for maintenance payments, school fees, domestic help, and a new car, were also denied by the court since they were directly related to the custody dispute, which had already been resolved.
The court reasoned that a case that had already been decided by final judgment could not be reopened since there was no fresh evidence or change in the circumstances. Court proceedings The court ordered the defendant to submit financial disclosures, such as bank statements, a list of assets, and salary records, during preparation hearings. Six cars and a personal bank account with a nearby financial institution were disclosed in the filings. Final verdict Citing the mother’s lack of legal standing to intervene on his behalf, the court decided to reject all claims pertaining to the older son. Since the issue had previously been definitively resolved in earlier decisions, requests to reclaim custody were similarly denied. All demands, even financial ones, were turned down.
The plaintiff was mandated to pay Dh 500 in attorney fees in addition to the court fees.
