Meet the Emirati Woman Breaking Grounds in UAE Law: Awatif Khouri

A distinguished Emirati lawyer, Awatif Khouri is the owner and director of Awatif Shoqi Advocates, previously known as Al Rowaad Advocates & Legal Consultancy.

Mrs. Awatif began her practice in 1989, and today she leads a team of over 45 legal professionals across branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Her legal training and qualification kickstarted Dubai, working with various UAE law firms and eventually branching out to establish her own firm.

Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, her trilingual abilities enable her to provide legal consultations for a diverse clientele effectively.

As a leading legal practitioner in the UAE, Mrs. Awatif’s has represented or consulted for thousands of clients. Among her large clientele database are notable esteemed entities including the French Embassy in the UAE, Emirates NBD, Middlesex University, and more.

Custody Battle for a Malaysian Mother:

Mrs. Awatif represented a Malaysian mother in a landmark custody battle before the Dubai courts, whose husband had abducted their 9-year-old son under the pretense of a "vacation" to the UAE, leading to a travel ban on the child.

In the face of initial setbacks and jurisdictional challenges, Mrs. Awatif won the case using compelling evidence presented to the Supreme Court, along with testimony from a witness flown in from Malaysia.

The mother was awarded custody, with the son safely and successfully flying back to Malaysia despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions at the time.

Surrogacy and Divorce for an Indian Woman:

In this landmark case, Mrs. Awatif represented an Indian woman who was seeking a divorce after discovering her husband had arranged a surrogacy without her consent.

On the basis that surrogacy is a breach of the UAE's laws and public morals, along with the father failing to comply with a DNA test, the final court decision ruled that the child is not the biological offspring of the client - winning Mrs. Awatif's case.

Indian Mother’s Custody Victory:

Mrs. Awatif's possession of a strategic legal mind and extensive understanding of international treaties helped her win an Indian mother's custody battle.

The husband had taken their daughter to Dubai and sought custody through the Dubai Personal Status Court. Leveraging a treaty between the UAE and India for an Indian court's ruling, Mrs. Awatif argued full custody for the mother, upheld by UAE courts.

Mrs. Awatif’s professional affiliations reflect her commitment to excellence and her active engagement in the legal community.

She is a member of TaG Law Alliance, the third largest legal alliance in the world, the Lawyers Union in Dubai Court, the Ministry of Justice, and a member of the International Practice Group.

Her involvement extends to other international organisations, including the International Bar Association, where she is a member of the Family Law Committee, and the American Bar Association, where she serves as an associate member on the Family Law Committee. She has actively attended and organised a large number of law-related international conferences.