Dubai has introduced new regulations to simplify travel for divorced parents and their children, as announced by Dubai Courts on Thursday. The updated procedure allows for the permanent cancellation of travel bans after receiving the sponsor’s approval, facilitating easier entry and exit from the UAE for both the parent and the child.
“This process … accelerates the procedures of cancelling the travel ban in the system immediately after it is signed by the judge,” the authority stated in a Khaleej Times report. Salem Mohammed Al Misfri, head of the Personal Status Execution Department at Dubai Courts, explained that the previous system involved multiple steps, including a judge’s decision and a temporary lift of the travel ban by the Criminal Investigation Department.
Under the UAE’s legal framework, custody is generally awarded to mothers following a divorce, while fathers act as guardians responsible for the child’s financial support. Previously, exiting the country with the child without the other parent’s consent could be considered ‘child abduction,’ leading to severe legal repercussions. Concerned parents could also impose a travel ban to prevent the child from leaving the airport.