Federal Supreme Court Ruling on Deferred Dowry, Iddah Housing, and Gifts in Marital Dissolution Case

Judgment summary

The UAE Federal Supreme Court examined Appeal No. 1416 of 2024 (Personal Status) involving a divorce dispute based on harm and discord. The Court affirmed that deferred dowry is a confirmed legal right of the wife upon consummation and cannot be forfeited based on speculative evidence without clear legal justification. It also established that a divorced woman is entitled to housing during her waiting period (iddah), and that gifts, jewelry, and travel expenses provided by the husband during the marriage are considered unconditional donations that cannot be reclaimed. Consequently, the Court partially overturned the appellate judgment, ordering the husband to pay the deferred dowry and denying his counterclaims for reimbursement.