Dubai Court Adjusts Visitation Schedule to Balance Parental Work Commitments
A Dubai court recently intervened in a child custody case to modify a father's visitation schedule, ensuring that the arrangement remains practical while prioritizing the child's best interests. Initially, a court order granted the father access on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays; however, an appeal revealed that the father’s work schedule, which included hours until 5 pm on Fridays, created significant logistical challenges. Legal consultant Hasan Elhais explained that the court recognized the need for a realistic timetable, noting that the original plan failed to account for the father's professional obligations or the mother's own time with their son.
To address these issues, the court adjusted the visitation days to Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays between 4 pm and 8 pm. By shifting the schedule, the judiciary aimed to balance the father's right to bond with his son without infringing on the mother’s time off or disrupting the child's academic and personal routine. According to Elhais, this ruling underscores a growing trend in UAE courts to move beyond theoretical rights, instead focusing on "workable" arrangements that safeguard a child’s wellbeing while respecting the realities of modern working parents.