Dubai Courts have issued an amendment to Resolution No. (26) of 2025 concerning jurisdiction over financial disputes between spouses that do not arise from the marriage contract. The amendment aims to clarify the jurisdiction of the Personal Status Court and streamline the allocation of such disputes to the competent courts.

The Resolution was issued after considering the Personal Status Law, the Civil Transactions Law, the resolutions adopted by the Judicial Leadership Council at its meeting held on 19 June 2025, and General Assembly of the Court of Cassation Resolution No. (7) of 2025, in the interest of ensuring the proper administration of justice.

Under the amended Resolution, the Personal Status Court of Dubai Courts has exclusive jurisdiction over claims relating to the spouses' contribution to the construction or establishment of the marital home, regardless of the value of that contribution.

The Resolution further provides that all other financial transactions and disputes between spouses that are unrelated to the marriage contract fall outside the jurisdiction of the Personal Status Court and must instead be brought before the competent civil courts in accordance with the applicable rules of jurisdiction. These include, among others, disputes concerning the investment or development of assets, loans between spouses, cheques issued by one spouse to the other, claims relating to the payment of traffic fines, partition of jointly owned real estate, recovery of company profits, and other similar financial transactions.

In addition, the Resolution prohibits the registration before the Personal Status Court of any claim, application, or matter relating to financial transactions between spouses, except for claims concerning contributions to the marital home. Parties are to be directed to file such disputes before the competent court in accordance with the administrative allocation of cases within Dubai Courts.

The Resolution also repeals Resolution No. (24) of 2025, issued on 15 July 2025, and directs the relevant authorities to implement its provisions.

The amendment provides greater clarity on the jurisdictional boundaries between the Personal Status Court and the civil courts, helping to reduce jurisdictional conflicts, improve procedural efficiency, and ensure that financial disputes between spouses are filed before the appropriate court from the outset.