Natasha Khalique is a Specialist Family Law Barrister at Exchange Chambers. She practises exclusively in financial remedy, international and private children law. She has a distinctive specialism in the validity of marriages involving the Islamic Nikah and sharia law, which often involve nuanced cultural aspects. Her professional excellence has been recognised through winning the 2024 National Resolution Rising Star Award, which recognises emerging talent and future leaders in family justice. More recently, Natasha was a finalist for “Barrister of the Year” at the Manchester Legal Awards 2025.
In September 2025, a delegation of barristers from the Bar Council of England and Wales travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a three-day business development programme. The visit brought together judges, legal advisers, practitioners and academics from both jurisdictions to share best practice, understand the rapid evolution of family law in the UAE and build meaningful international collaboration. What emerged was a picture of a legal system undergoing profound and ambitious transformation, with a clear appetite for exchange of expertise and cross border cooperation.
The programme began in Abu Dhabi at the Civil Family Court, now a central feature of the UAE’s modernised personal status framework. Delegates observed civil marriage proceedings and examined the operational features of the law introduced in 2021. The Civil Marriage Law No 14 of 2021 permits couples to marry irrespective of faith, nationality or background provided they meet the eligibility criteria, including being eighteen or older and entering the marriage of their own free will. The delegation had the rare privilege of meeting the President of the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court. He reflected on the system’s development, emphasising the deliberate distinction between federal personal status law and the establishment of a civil family system tailored to the expatriate community, who make up a significant proportion of the UAE population. His remarks highlighted the importance placed on continuous learning, adaptability and institutional openness to international dialogue. Delegates noted his generous engagement and willingness to discuss both achievements and future ambitions.
On the second day, the Bar Council hosted a conference held at the Capital Club in the Dubai International Financial Centre. It brought together practitioners from the UAE, England and Wales, and other jurisdictions. It addressed the complexities and opportunities that arise when family disputes transcend national borders. Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council, opened the day by situating the conference within a wider global context of growing mobility and increasingly international families.
Panel one looked at how courts in England and Wales, Dubai and Abu Dhabi handle jurisdiction, forum conveniens and enforceability in financial disputes, highlighting contrasting judicial attitudes and the strategic considerations in cross-border cases. The second panel compared approaches to financial relief across the UAE and England and Wales, focusing on maintenance options and the practical challenges faced by multinational families, particularly unmarried parents. Panel three delved into summary return, relocation and abduction issues, raising questions about enforcement, gaps where no treaty framework exists, and the role of neurodivergence in shaping outcomes in international family cases. The final session explored the expanding space for mediation, arbitration and other NCDR mechanisms, considering the UAE’s developing system and the growing importance of early neutral evaluation in resolving complex international disputes.
The day created a sustained exchange of practical ideas across jurisdictions. Delegates noted a strong appetite for collaboration and a recognition that the increasingly international nature of families requires cohesive solutions that cross legal boundaries.
The final day of the trip focused on consolidating professional relationships and exploring further opportunities for collaboration. Delegates met with law firms including Horizons & Co, Al Tamimi & Company, James Berry & Associates, HAS Law, Meyer Reumann & Partners.
The delegation also participated in the Family Law Intersected forum chaired by Sarah Malik. The panel comprising Fatima Balfaqeeh, Helen Tung, Nicola Wallace and Michael Patchett Joyce explored the intersection between commercial and family mediation. The session highlighted that disputes often turn on underlying human motivations that cut across the legal categories of commercial or family conflict. Understanding these drivers can lead to more sustainable resolutions.
The Bar Council’s UAE business development visit offered a rare and invaluable insight into a jurisdiction undergoing rapid legal evolution. Through court visits, judicial engagement, practitioner roundtables and a major international conference, delegates gained a deeper understanding of how the UAE is reshaping its family justice system to meet the needs of an increasingly international population. The conversations held across the three days demonstrated a shared commitment to cross border cooperation, the exchange of expertise and the development of effective mechanisms for resolving international family disputes. As global mobility continues to grow these relationships and insights will be crucial in helping practitioners navigate the complexities of modern family law.