Travelling Wives

Women's rights has taken a step forward in the UAE:

"The UAE has taken another step towards enhanced rights for women and children with a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court that women may travel abroad with their children even if their husbands object.

"The Supreme Court argued that although the law granted husbands the power to prevent a mother from travelling with her child or children, it also granted citizens and residents the freedom of travel and movement.

"The new judgment follows a decision announced last week that a husband divorced by his wife must pay her 'deferred dowry', a portion of the dowry payable only after divorce, if there is evidence of abuse. Experts say that ruling would prevent a husband from abusing or harassing his wife with the intent of forcing her to file for divorce, thus forfeiting her financial rights under the marriage contract."