Why in the world they're raised by their aunts, when this girls didn't even an orphan ( I heard their birth mother are also alive) and have many stepmom who can raise them. Is it common for Arab to do this thing?
It's not usually common, but it does happen. Especially when children grow up with the father and not with the mother, after the divorce or separation of the parents. In such cases, the fathers often hand over the care of the minor children to a female relative or someone suitable for the education and bringing up of the children. The background to this practice is that, from a purely legal point of view, the children always belong to the father's family.
In Dubai, following a divorce, the mother will become the ‘custodian’ of young children, and the father will be titled as the ‘guardian’.
If the custodian is the mother, she must:
1. ) not re-marry unless the court decides it is in the best interests of the child; and
2.) share the same religion as the child;
If the custodian is the father, he must:
1.) have a suitable woman living within his home to care for the child (such as a female relative)
2.) share the same religion as the child
The court is also able to move custody to the father or other relative if it is determined that the mother does not meet the criteria for a custodian as set out above.
Unless the court orders otherwise, it is expected that custody will move from the mother to the father once the children reach the age of 11 for a boy and 13 for a girl. If the transfer of custody is disputed, the court will consider the facts in each case and make a decision.
