How to Get Married in Abu Dhabi?

The United Arab Emirates has a diverse population. The influx of expatriates shows how welcoming the UAE is. Whether you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim expatriate living in UAE, legal matters are resolved in all seven emirates quite quickly, supported by UAE law. Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates, and it has interesting infrastructure, modern construction, a moderate living, diverse culture and a modern lifestyle.

The residents in UAE, they all come from distinctive cultural values and difference backgrounds, that have enhanced UAE economy. However, family matters are fixed according to different laws prevailing in UAE. A case of the Muslim family will be resolved through Sharia law which is for Muslim people, based on Islamic principles. The non-Muslim families can resolve their family matter through civil and international laws. Consequently, a legal expert will be required to settle everything on the legal grounds, as per UAE civil law for non-Muslims.

If you plan to get married in Emirate of Abu Dhabi, you must follow the requirements per your religious values. There are certain steps and documentation to do before tying the knot. The first step is ensuring the eligibility criteria for getting married. The legal age for getting married is 18 and above, regardless of your religious values. Secondly, non-Muslims can marry one man or woman at a time, whereas Muslim men can marry four women at a time.

But a Muslim woman can marry only one Muslim man at a time. The next is to ensure medical fitness. The couple must take a pre-marital medical test to rule out any hereditary disease. However, in a Muslim marriage, dowry is given by the man to the woman. Usually, it is a financial security and right for the wife after marriage.

The consent of the man and woman is mandatory as per law. However, witnesses and the bride’s guardian must agree with the marriage arrangement. In a Muslim marriage, two men are needed as witnesses to validate the marriage contract. If you are divorced, showing your divorce papers before you remarry is essential. Consent is important in both Muslim and non-Muslim marriages.

It is very simple to register a Muslim marriage. The couple must visit the Abu Dhabi Sharia Court and submit relevant documents such as passports, Emirates IDs, and residency visas. They should also provide a medical certificate, ensuring neither spouse has a hereditary disease. After evaluating the documents, the couple has to sign a marriage contract in the presence of the judge and witnesses.

To validate their marriage in the UAE, non-Muslims must follow civil marriage laws. This shows the emirate’s progressive approach towards family law. To get married in the UAE, non-Muslims must be 18 years or older. Secondly, they should provide evidence of their marital status, whether divorced or single. With this document, the marriage can be validated. However, non-Muslims are prohibited from marrying their cousins, especially first-degree relatives.

A non-Muslim couple will have to visit a non-Muslim family court where they can register for the wedding. They have another option for marriage registration. If the couple does not want to go to court, they can register their wedding through a digital platform. Whether visiting the court or registering the marriage online, they must submit relevant documents such as passports, residency visas, Emirates IDs and declaration of marital status.

As they fulfil the requirements of submitting documents, they can sign the marriage contract with a civil judge and collect the marriage certificate. The non-Muslims do not need a witness to validate their marriage in Abu Dhabi, nor do they need a guardian’s Emirates ID like the Muslim marriage.

In the UAE, it has been mandatory for couples who wish to get married to take pre-marital medical tests. The medical tests ensure no health concerns between the couple can affect their generation ahead. The government hospitals in Abu Dhabi conducts the medical tests. Usually, these tests are taken to confirm no genetic disorders, zero infectious diseases such as HIV, and blood compatibility.

The witnesses are crucial in a Muslim marriage, but their presence is not essential in a non-Muslim marriage. Both marriages still needed the presence of a civil judge.

If you are planning a destination wedding in the UAE, you will have to submit particular documents for a smooth ceremony in Abu Dhabi. The couple must provide valid passports, travel visas, and a declaration of their marital status from the embassy.

In recent years, Abu Dhabi has attracted many couples from across the globe to have destination weddings, which has also enhanced the UAE’s tourism industry.

The civil marriage law has been introduced for non-Muslim marriages in Abu Dhabi. It is a big step in the legal system of the UAE, where non-Muslims are catered at large. As for financial support, Muslim men have fixed a dowry for their wives that they can demand or be given at any time during the marriage and even after the divorce. Nevertheless, this concept is known as alimony in a non-Muslim marriage, where everything is equally divided between the couple after getting a divorce.

The accessibility to digital platforms for registering a marriage has been working efficiently for non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi. With the digital accessibility of family laws, Abu Dhabi has proved to be another welcoming emirate, embracing change with time.

The court fees for Muslims to register a marriage is AED 100 to AED 500, whereas non-Muslims can register their marriage between AED 300 and AED 1,000. Whenever you plan to marry in the UAE, consult a legal expert or marriage consultant. They will help you with the marriage registration process. Marriages in Abu Dhabi are considered the best, especially when non-residents come to the country for a destination wedding.

Note: If the marriage is found outdated or old then we will not take any responsibility. Kindly consult our lawyers in ABU DHABI.