Ammevic

I lived in Dubai for 2 years, and have been back in the UK for one year now. Sadly my marriage broke down and we are now divorced through UK court. However, my husband is not happy with the situation and as I will not allow my son to visit Dubai for contact - he is threatening to report me abscoinding as I did not have his written permission to leave the UAE. I am happy for him to have contact here, but has made no effort to travel back to the UK to visit him in lthe last 8 months. Both of us have UK passports and are british citizens. Neither of us are Muslim. Need a good solictor in UAE but is proving difficult. I am not clear as to what he can impose on me here in the UK. I guess travelling to any arab country would be difficult if he did as he is threatening.

Englishmum

Just in case you fear that there may be an international child abduction (ie. in the scenario where your ex takes your son back to the UAE without your permission), the website listed below gives information on steps you can take to prevent this happening in the first instance. The website "Reunite International" is operated by a UK charity which specialises in international child abduction, and receives funds from the Ministry of Justice and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is 'kosher'.

http://www.reunite.org/

AFAIK, the Dubai and the rest of the UAE are not signatories to the Hague Convention, which is of concern, so naturally you want to take steps to prevent your son leaving the UK in the first place. There is a "Prevention Guide" here:

http://www.reunite.org/pages/prevention.asp

'Reunite' is based in Leicester and they have an advice line and also offer a mediation service.

Hope this helps!