Navigating the marriage process in the UAE can seem daunting, especially with the variety of procedures based on religion, nationality, and the Emirate you chose to marry in. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the different marriage procedures available in the UAE, with a focus on civil marriages, the process for expats, and the legal requirements in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Whether you are a non-Muslim expat, a resident of the UAE, or a tourist, this guide will help you understand the necessary steps and legal considerations for a successful marriage in the UAE.
Civil Marriages in the UAE
Eligibility and Requirements
Federal Law N0 (41) of 2022 on Civil Personal Status regulates procedures in respect of marriage amongst other Family Law matters. Article 5 stipulates that a civil marriage shall be conditional upon the following:
- Both parties must be at least 21 years of age.
- The parties must not be related.
- For Dubai, at least one of the parties must be resident there.
- The parties must each declare their consent to the marriage and provide proof that they are single.
- The parties must sign a disclosure form.
Further, the introduction of Divorce Law No. 14 of 2021 in Abu Dhabi allows civil marriages for non-Muslim expats and tourists, as long as neither party is Muslim. The marriage will be conditional upon the following :
- Both parties must not be a UAE National who is a Muslim.
- Both parties must be at least 18 years of age.
- The parties must not be related by first or second degree.
- The parties must not be married to anybody else.
- Both parties must consent to the marriage taking place.
Applicants from Countries governed by Sharia Law may need to provide an official document proving their religion.
Application Process
In Dubai, fast-Track Civil Marriages can now take place as the process is now streamlined, allowing for same-day marriage procedures if all requirements are met.
The process begins at an authorized Al Adheed Centre, where staff can assist with completing the necessary forms and verifying consent. The required documents include passport details; proof of current marital status; and any previous marriage or death certificates if applicable. Documents issued from outside the UAE, must be duly legalised in the Foreign Office in the Country concerned, the UAE embassy in that Country, and Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
Both parties must sign a joint declaration confirming their marital status and consent to the marriage.
The documents are then sent to a Judge for verification and approval. Once approved, the marriage contract is documented, and the parties receive the certificate via text message and email. The fee for the marriage certificate in Dubai is AED 220.
In Abu Dhabi, Resolution No. (8) of 2022 concerning the Marriage Procedures in the Emirate allows applications for civil marriages to be made online through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) portal or at any of the authorized typing centers.
Anyone except a UAE national who is Muslim can get married at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court including tourists.
The required documents include, a completed and signed marriage application form; a copy of both parties’ passports or Emirates IDs (if UAE resident); if either of the parties were previously married or widowed, proof that this marriage is dissolved or death certificate of expired spouse. Pre-nuptial Agreements are also optional to file but will be in a standard format and cost AED 950.
The Fee for the regular service is AED 300 with applications being dealt with within 10 working days. There is also an express service which costs AED 2,500 and the application will be fast tracked to be processed within a day. You will then be able to choose a specific time and date subject to the Court’s availability.
On the day of the civil ceremony in the office of the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, both parties must be present with their Emirates IDs or passports. Guests are allowed but must adhere to the Court’s dress code and identification requirements. The ceremony itself is brief, usually lasting less than 15 minutes.
UAE Marriage Certificates
Marriage certificates are usually issued either on the same day or within the next few days and are valid in the UAE. If to be used abroad, additional attestation and authentication steps may be required.
Marriage Procedures for Expats in the UAE
Other Emirates may have different procedures and requirements therefore choosing the right Emirate to marry in is essential. However, expats often choose Abu Dhabi for its straightforward and quick marriage process, which can be initiated through the ADJD portal, as above.
Religious Marriages in the UAE
For Non-Muslim Couples
To have a religious marriage in the UAE, you must have valid residence visas. You should be aware that the marriage laws that are applicable in your home country will be applicable in the UAE. Some Countries require their citizens to apply for marriage at their Embassy or Consulate in the UAE at least two months before the scheduled date of the wedding. It is therefore vital that before booking your wedding, you make enquires with your Embassy or Consulate with regards to their requirements. Various Embassies/ Consulates in Dubai also conduct marriage ceremonies i.e. Indian Consulate, Philippines Consulate, French Consulate, Czech Republic Consulate to mention a few however, marriages at the Embassy/ Consulate usually only take place when the bride and groom are of the same nationality.
For Christian or Catholic Marriages
When choosing a church (and Minister/Priest), you should ensure that they are registered and recognised by the Dubai Courts to perform the marriage. You should also check with the Minister / Priest if they are happy to marry you, as some only marry members of their own congregation. The church may require a certificate of single status from one or both of you. You should discuss with the church whether this is required. If it is, we can assist in drafting this for you along with arranging witnessing of the document.
The main church used for Christian weddings in Dubai is the Christ Church Jebel Ali and main church used for Catholic weddings in Dubai is St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Mehta. Specific information should be sought from the Church but generally, the bride and groom must be over the age of 18, neither must be Muslim and one of them may need to have been baptized.
The Church will ask you to provide various documents which include, full birth certificates; passports including visa page if resident in the UAE; certificate of baptism or pastor’s letter; a single status certificate to prove status for marriage; intent of marriage applications; if divorced then a divorce certificate; if widowed then a death certificate of late spouse; 2 witnesses over the age of 18 and the passports of the witnesses. You should also make enquiries as to the fees for the ceremony.
If your application is approved, following the ceremony, you will be provided with a marriage certificate in English, stamped by the Notary Public Office at the Dubai Courts*. The documents will then need to be attested at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This will then need to be translated into Arabic (this must be done by a Court approved translator). Once you have the translation, you will need to have the original and the translation stamped by the Ministry of Justice. You should check with your Embassy or Consulate if the documents require authentication. This process may be required to ensure that your marriage is recognized in your home country.
*The Church may be able to arrange for the registration of the marriage at the Dubai Court so that the marriage will be valid.
For Hindu Marriages
Hindu marriages are conducted at a Hindu temple in conjunction with the Indian Consulate and are recognised by the UAE. It is a requirement that the bride and groom are Hindu and that both reside in the UAE. You should make enquires with the Indian Consulate with regard to the required documents. Once the ceremony takes place, you will receive a marriage certificate which needs to be translated into Arabic (this must be done by a Court approved translator). The marriage certificate and translations will then need to be certified by the Notary Public Office at the Dubai Courts.
Islamic Marriages
These are conducted according to the Sharia provisions, which apply where both the groom and the bride are Muslims or where the groom is Muslim, and the bride is from ‘Ahl Al-Kitab’; such as Christian. Although the law permits a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman, it does not allow a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man without proof of his conversion to Islam. You should also be aware that Muslim women should have a guardian (usually her father) and two male witnesses. They cannot be alone and represent themselves. If the father of the bride has passed away, his death certificate should be presented, and the closest male guardian of the bride will then be required to attend. In a circumstance where the father of the bride is alive but cannot be present on the day of marriage, a proxy guardian can be delegated by him. This proxy must be Muslim and have a certified Power of Attorney from the father. In circumstances where the bride has no male guardian whatsoever, the Judge may stand as her guardian, the Ministry of Justice has launched a marriage service online to allow couples who wish to get married at Court to book an appointment with a marriage officer through an online updated database linked to your Emirates ID.
The legal requirements for Islamic marriages are:
- The marriage contract should be registered in a Sharia Court in the UAE.
- The bride and groom must be at least 18 years old – If either is under 18 years old, the Judge’s approval is required.
- A spouse’s age should not be twice the other – if it is, the judge’s approval is required.
- A premarital screening certificate is required. The aim of the screening is to safeguard the health of the couple by ensuring that no potential infections will be transmitted between them. An application for the screening can be made online.
- Attendance of both the bride and groom is required.
- Attendance of the bride’s father or his proxy and two male Muslim witnesses are required.
- For a bride to get married, she requires the consent of her guardian – in case of father’s demise, the presence of the next closest male guardian i.e. closest kin such as elder brother is required.
- Divorced and widowed women must produce a proof of their status.
- If the bride is Muslim and her father is not, she requires a ‘No Objection’ letter from her embassy or consulate.
- If the bride or groom has converted to Islam, the conversion to Islam Certificate is required.
Prior to marrying in the UAE, it is essential that you have the correct information and documents.
Do you need to register your marriage in UAE?
The answer depends on where you got married: Any marriage that takes place in the UAE must be registered at the relevant UAE Court. If the marriage in UAE is not registered, it will not be recognised in UAE or in any other country. If you marry through the Court system, the marriage will automatically be registered. If you marry in a Church or Temple, usually they will ensure that the marriage has been registered with the Court however you should not take this for granted and it is always best practice to check with the Church or Temple that they have registered the marriage at Court or whether you are required to do this.
For marriages that take place outside the UAE, as long as the marriage is valid in the Country you marry in and you obtain the official marriage certificate, it will be recognised by the UAE however there are a number of steps that you would need to comply with :
In the Country of the marriage:
- You will need to have the marriage certificate attested by the Foreign Office.
- You will need to have the marriage certificate attested by the UAE Embassy.
Upon coming to UAE
- You will need to have the marriage certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is mandatory to follow the above steps as you will need your marriage certificate through various stages during your time in UAE ie: for Visa purposes especially if you are sponsoring your spouse; for registering the birth of any child born in UAE; for filing a divorce in UAE.
If certified copies of your marriage certificate or other documents are required, our Legal Consultants/ Solicitors are able to verify and certify the documents.
The above is a general overview and for further information or advice in relation to marriage or any family matters, please contact our Dubai Family Lawyers Department.
Head of Family Law / Senior Consultant