A soldier started a fire at his ex-wife's home before threatening her with a knife, a court heard.
The Emirati man, 26, had arranged to visit his former partner's apartment to pick up belongings when a row broke out.
The woman, 44, said the accused started an argument with her "out of nothing" and then set fire to a bin in the property when she asked him to leave.
The man had contacted her in order to collect his bank card and other items.
“I told him that I had prepared all his belongings including the ATM card in boxes and that he could pick them up any time,” said the woman.
The accused visited her home in Mirdif, Dubai, on May 18.
“He asked for his card and I told him it was among his belongings and he could take them and leave, but he started arguing with me over nothing,” she said.
“He started a fire in the trash bin then picked up a knife from the kitchen and pointed it at my face.”
The court heard the accused warned the woman not to call police while brandishing the blade.
Building security guards attended the apartment after being alerted to the fire alarm being activated, prompting the man to flee the scene.
During police questioning, he admitted threatening his ex-wife and damaging her property, but denied the charges at Dubai Criminal Court on Wednesday.
The case was adjourned until July 31, when a verdict is expected to be passed.