Salary no bar to divorce payout, Abu Dhabi cassation court rules

The Court of Cassation has ruled that a woman’s independent salary or assets do not, on their own, prevent her from receiving financial compensation following divorce, upholding a lower court judgment in favour of a former wife under Abu Dhabi’s civil family law. The highest court in Abu Dhabi rejected an appeal by a former husband who argued that his ex-wife’s earnings and financial independence meant she was not entitled to a court-ordered financial award following divorce. The court emphasised that such claims must be assessed holistically, taking into account a range of factors rather than relying solely on whether one party earns a salary. These factors include the length of the marriage, the financial standing of both spouses, their respective obligations, and any imbalance in income or living standards.