Child’s Best Interests Prevail in Dubai Relocation Case
Contact
Lee Henderson
Table of Contents
Planned Dubai relocation with child was pragmatic, but not in child’s best interests
The family and children team at Osbornes Law represent clients in child arrangements and child relocation matters.
International employment is increasingly common in our modern society, but it can also raise difficult challenges for co-parents following a separation. Any parent considering a move abroad to work, should consider the implications for any child involved.
Recently, a mother was prevented from relocating with the parties’ son to Dubai where her new husband was working.
What’s the background?
In SA v JR [2025] EWFC 279, the parties separated 6 months after the birth of their son in 2019, but had since maintained consensual child arrangements. When their son was around 2 years old, the mother met someone else and they married 2 years later. The stepfather went on to become an important part of the child’s life.
In late 2024, the stepfather was relocated to Dubai and the mother asked the court for permission to relocate there with her son. The father opposed the move, wanting the son to remain in England under a 50/50 shared care order which would see the child spend one week with his mother then one week with his father.
The court recognised that the mother and her husband’s proposal for relocation had been well planned and had not been motivated to limit or restrict the father’s relationship with the child. However, the decision had been made knowing the mother and son might not be able to follow – it was a risk the mother accepted she had taken.
The judge decided it was in the child’s welfare interests to refuse permission to relocate, even though it was “a pragmatic plan with genuine motivations”. His reasons included:
- The move was not required for financial reasons. While it would improve their financial situation, the net effect was relatively modest.
- The move was not justified because of environmental circumstances. The judge acknowledged that there may be a stark distinction between London and Dubai but did note the broader cultural benefits of growing up in London. Further, the child was of mixed heritage which the judge said was “unlikely to be replicated in Dubai”.
- The child’s primary relationship was with his mother, but he had an important bond with his father. Relocating him to Dubai would have a significant and negative impact on that relationship and it would not meet his emotional needs.
- If relocation was permitted, the child would spend around 45 nights per annum with his father compared to the 100 or so nights he spent with him whilst he lived in England.
- Relocation would also impact other significant relationships with family, including the boy’s paternal half-siblings.
- The family’s move to Dubai was not a necessity – in fact the stepfather had actively pursued the post and given up his employment to do so.
Workable outcome
The judge decided that the separation between the family could be made to work. The distances between London and Dubai were manageable and permit regular travel between the two jurisdictions. “This is a state of affairs which is by no means unique,” the judge observed.
The status quo would continue for the most part with the child continuing to live with his mother. However, holiday arrangements would be modified, enabling the son to be taken to Dubai for at least 9 weeks every year.
How we can help
If you’re considering relocating abroad for financial or other reasons and it could impact a child, it is important to take expert legal advice before taking any steps – the case above is a clear example of why this is so important.
If you need advice, our specialists family and child relocation solicitors, can help you. Please contact us by:
- Filling in our online enquiry form; or
- Calling us on 020 7485 8811.
Share this article
“The family law team at Osbornes is one of the strongest in London; across all areas of work from international cases, financial and children work, Osbornes is a market leader.”
“Osbornes is a power house of a family firm. They are robust but realistic and client focused.”
Contact us today
Call us 020 7485 8811
Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you
They represent the whole spectrum of society, through to the most high-net-worth clients.
Osbornes are one of the few firms in London that are able to offer a high level of expertise across the family law spectrum, whether children or finances or public or private law.
A highly respected firm with many capable lawyers.
Osbornes‘ family team handles divorce and financial matters involving trusts, locating assets within companies, and resolving multijurisdictional issues.
Osbornes is an under-the-radar jewel. They have very good lawyers who are tenacious and highly effective.
Osbornes have a first-class family law team providing an excellent service for their loyal clients.
They care about their casework, and they do a full spectrum of family work, handling complex finance matters and also difficult children work.
A really dynamic and knowledgeable firm with high quality individuals from top to bottom.
Great firm with a brilliant reputation.
They are a full-service team dealing with both children and money.
Osbornes are a London based firm but their client list goes far and wide.
Osbornes has the very best solicitors dealing with children law, with experience of the full spectrum of cases involving children.
Osbornes has a culture of dedication to clients and hard work.
Osbornes do some really complex work. The team is very solutions-focused, know the law and know when to take a firm line.
Osbornes' solicitors know what their client needs on each day as it’s an emotional and difficult journey. They are always there, 24/7.
Maria takes a child-focused approach to cases. She is good at grasping how a child might feel in a situation and this makes her stand out as excellent in her field.
Jonathan is thorough, intelligent, hard-working and committed. He knows the law very well and is committed to the rights of children.
Bridget has a phenomenal reputation, is a very good lawyer and one of the stars in children work.
Osbornes offers a high level of client care and manages client expectations realistically.
They have a strong team, are heavyweights in this space and are very well respected in the courts.
Simone McGrath is an excellent international children lawyer.
Osbornes handle a significant amount of complex, high-value divorce work.
Osbornes have talented fee-earners at all levels.
Osbornes is a top-end firm, a very well-established name. They have high-value matters, deal with complex matters and have a good team.
I have found the team at Osbornes works very well together to diligently produce a quality end result. Client service has been excellent and I feel like I am in safe hands.
I consider them a go-to for conciliatory work on the children side.
Osbornes is a power house of a family firm. They are robust but realistic and client focused.
Osbornes has lawyers with excellent experience.
Osbornes is a hugely impressive firm that offers strength and depth to its clients.
Bridget Thompson handles child inclusive mediations.
Lisa pepper heads the Mediation team and she is often mediating for high-net-worth individuals in both financial and private children matters.
Simone McGrath has an incredible knowledge of international cases. She has been involved in many leading cases and is a go-to lawyer in the field.
The family law team at Osbornes is one of the strongest in London.
Maria Kitsiou heads up the domestic children offering.
Lauren Hall leads the international children team.
Osbornes‘ family team is headed up by Mark Freedman, a mediator and fighter who will get the job done on both complex financial matters and international children cases.
A market leader across public law, international cases, financial and children work.
"Osbornes handle a significant amount of complex, high-value divorce work."
"Osbornes have talented fee earners at all levels."
"Osbornes is a top-end firm, a very well-established name. They have high-value matters, deal with complex matters and have a good team."
"Lisa Pepper is a standout mediator - smart, sensitive and able to narrow the issues with ease."
"Lisa is good at cutting to the chase and identifying issues. She gets people talking and brings people together."
"Lisa is excellent - she's efficient, has a very good rapport with her clients and has an enormously outgoing energy. She is very effective in managing clients' cases."
The team is experienced in handling matters where there are allegations of abuse and non-accidental injury, as well as situations where children's welfare is at risk due to parents' substance misuse or mental health issues.
The lawyers at Osbornes are very well established and have a lot of experience between them, which gives them a lot of confidence and a willingness to think out of the box.
Their client care is really impressive and they have such breadth of experience
Osbornes is vastly experienced and able to think around the issues and consider them in a new and refreshing way
Osbornes is a really good team that gives a first-class service which is both sensible and insightful but also supportive of the client's needs.
Osbornes Law offers affluent clients representation in high-value, complex family matters.
In a long standing issue with my ex and our child, Lisa and her team have always given me advice that has been first class. Lisa has a deep knowledge of how the courts work and which arguments will work and which will not and will advice exactly what to do and when.
My solicitor Jon Jonas came across as a genuine, very skilled solicitor who demonstrated great insights and experience in complex child arrangement cases. He has been able to create and implement an effective strategy to deal with extremely toxic matters.
Bridget Thompson is a public law specialist noted for her extensive children public law practice.
"David Leadercrammer is such an experienced wonderful lawyer who you would want on the other side of your case. He’s sensible, pragmatic and hugely experienced in money and children cases."
"Bridget Thompson combines her excellent legal knowledge with a clear, succinct and robust style of advice and advocacy. Her approach clearly inspires a high degree of client confidence in her"
"She is excellent. She's very reliable, talks about her cases passionately and is very committed to her clients."
"I consider the firm to be very experienced in child care cases and to provide a very professional and high standard of work"
Bridget Thompson is a public law specialist noted for her extensive practice in matters involving alternative families and adoption. An interviewee observes: "She's a fighter, she's clever, and she understands all aspects of a case."
"Well-regarded family practice assisting clients with substantial matrimonial disputes and sensitive children proceedings."
"Simone is absolutely on top of the game. She has great attention to detail, and has her clients' needs at heart."
"Bridget is client-focused, a pleasure to work with and incredibly supportive to her clients."
Bridget Thompson heads the family team, where client care is the top priority.
Simone McGrath is a highly knowledgeable practitioner with a focus on international child abduction matters. She has a large expertise in public and private law.
Simone McGrath handles international child abduction cases and challenging care proceedings relating to non-accidental injuries.
[The Family Law department] handles significant matrimonial finance cases and complex nuptial agreements. Respected for its expertise in cross-border children law matters.
This team is perhaps best known for its children work, often involving complex international dynamics.
Naomi Angell leads the market in cross-border children law matters. Sources confirm that she is "at the cutting edge of changing law and policy" when it comes to international adoption
Related InsightsVIEW ALL
28.8.2025Relocating with Your Child? Plan Thoughtfully
Planning to relocate with your child? Your case depends on a child‑focused, realistic plan Re Simon [2025] EWFC 249 highlights the...
Read more
17.2.2025Domestic Violence: Restricting Parental Responsibility
Domestic violence, coercive control and restricting parental responsibility Parental responsibility (PR) is an inherent legal right for most birth parents,...
Read more- 16.1.2025
The Importance Of An Older Child’s Feelings...
The importance of an older child’s feelings and wishes when making a final order When decisions are made concerning...
Read more - 17.12.2024
Domestic Abuse Allegations: Unsupervised Contact Controversy
Unsupervised Contact Was Premature When Domestic Abuse Alleged Unsupervised contact is not appropriate where a child is considered to be...
Read more - 16.12.2024
Vulnerable Clients: Female Psychologist Appointed
Court Allows Female Expert for Abuse Victim in Family Case Many of our family clients are highly vulnerable, and sensitivity...
Read more - 27.9.2024
Navigating Divorce, Child Arrangements, and the Jewish Festivals:...
A Jewish divorce presents unique challenges, especially regarding child arrangements and upcoming festivals. Balancing differing levels of religious observance can...
Read more - 5.8.2024
Why Did Lauryn Goodman Take Kyle Walker to...
Introduction to the case After a judge took the unusual step of making his judgement public, we’re starting to...
Read more 
11.7.2024Unmarried With Children and Splitting Up
Unmarried with Children? What are your Financial Rights? Know Your Financial Rights Under Schedule One Children Act 1989 A claim under...
Read more- 17.6.2024
What is Early Neutral Evaluation?
Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) is a form of Non-Court Dispute Resolution where the separated couple invites a neutral third party...
Read more - 4.6.2024
What is Parallel Parenting? Examples, rules, and why...
Parallel parenting is a practical solution for families experiencing ongoing conflict who find traditional co-parenting unworkable. In this article, we...
Read more 
3.6.2024Co-Parenting with a Narcissist
Can you co-parent with a narcissist? Co-parenting with a narcissist ex can be daunting, but it’s possible with the...
Read more- 29.5.2024
Co-Parenting Agreements
Is co-parenting right for us? There is no single approach to parenting your children after a divorce or separation. How...
Read more - 15.5.2024
Can a Mother Stop a Father from Seeing...
Can my ex stop me from seeing my child? There is a common misconception that mothers have more rights than...
Read more 
14.12.2023Parental alienation: A legal overview
Sometimes, a child may turn against one of their parents due to the other parent’s manipulation or influence. This...
Read more- 25.7.2023
Parental Conduct and Child Arrangements
The Role of Family Dynamics in Child Arrangement Cases In proceedings involving children, the parents should consider the impact their...
Read more - 22.3.2023
What is Parental Responsibility?
Understanding Parental Responsibility Parental responsibility is the legal term used to describe parents’ duties and responsibilities for their children. These...
Read more - 18.1.2022
6 cases that shape a private children dispute
Family disputes involving children can be particularly emotive, which is why our expert children lawyers work tirelessly to understand how...
Read more - 11.3.2021
Financial responsibilities of father on divorce
What are the financial responsibilities of a father for a child? The period drama Bridgerton, the runaway success of the...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Child Arrangements at Christmas
The Christmas period can be a hectic and stressful time for all parents, but for separated parents, it can be...
Read more - 4.4.2019
Parenting Plans
Do I need a parenting plan? A parenting plan can be highly beneficial for families that share parenting responsibilities. It...
Read more 
2.1.2018How To Tell Children About Divorce
How to tell kids about divorce The rise in divorce globally has turned the attention of academics and researchers towards...
Read more- 19.6.2012
Children disagreements during Easter holidays
The Easter holidays can be a flashpoint for disagreements. When couples separate, it can be very difficult to reach an...
Read more
