Husband spots wife in another man’s car, fight ends in Dh51,000 payout

An Abu Dhabi man discovered his wife inside another man's vehicle, without a legitimate marital relationship between them, and subsequently sustained injuries during a fight with the driver. The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court awarded the husband Dh51,000 in compensation for both material and emotional damages resulting from the incident.

The claimant, an Asian national, informed the court that the defendant had physically assaulted him and caused injuries verified by a medical report. Additionally, the husband cited a prior criminal conviction against the defendant for assault, described in UAE law as promoting sin. The dispute originated when the husband spotted his wife in the defendant's car, which led to a confrontation and physical altercation.

The earlier criminal court sentenced the defendant to a suspended three-year prison term, along with Dh10,000 in fines for assault and Dh20,000 for promoting sin. The civil court deemed the prior judgment sufficient in establishing the defendant's misconduct, focusing instead on the damages incurred and the connection between the defendant's actions and those damages.

The husband suffered medical expenses, physical pain, emotional distress, and reputational harm as a result of the confrontation, while the incident also tarnished the marital bond and social customs, contributing to the dissolution of the marriage, which affected their children. Consequently, the court ordered the defendant to pay Dh51,000 in material and moral compensation, along with court fees and expenses.