Getting married in the UAE involves more than choosing a date. The legal requirements depend on the couple’s religion, nationality, residence status, marital history and the marriage route they use.
For most couples, the first step is to identify whether the marriage will be concluded under the UAE’s Sharia-based personal status rules or through an available civil marriage route. The age requirement, medical screening, guardian rules and documents can differ significantly between these options.
UAE Marriage Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Sharia Marriage | Civil Marriage |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | Generally 18 Gregorian years; marriage below 18 requires court permission and is subject to specific controls | Generally 21 under the federal civil marriage framework and Dubai civil marriage; Abu Dhabi has a separate civil route from age 18 |
| Religion | Sharia rules apply. A Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man. A Muslim man may marry a Muslim, Christian or Jewish woman | Depends on the civil marriage route and jurisdiction |
| Guardian | Generally required where the wife is Muslim, subject to the legal exception for certain non-UAE Muslim women | Not generally required for civil marriage |
| Witnesses | Two eligible witnesses are required | Not required under the federal civil framework and Abu Dhabi civil route |
| Premarital medical screening | Required | Not generally required for civil marriage |
| Previous marriage | Divorce or death documentation may be required | Neither party may have an existing marriage; evidence of termination of a previous marriage may be required |
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1. Check Which Marriage Route Applies to You
There is no single checklist that applies to every couple getting married in the UAE. Your first decision should be which legal route applies.
The main routes are:
- Sharia marriage: generally used where the marriage is governed by UAE Muslim personal status rules.
- Civil marriage: available to eligible couples under the applicable federal or emirate-level civil marriage framework.
- Religious or ceremonial marriage for non-Muslims: certain recognised religious institutions may conduct marriages according to their applicable procedures, with further registration or document formalities where required.
Couples considering a civil route can review our civil marriage options in the UAE before preparing their documents.
2. Check the Age Requirement
The minimum age depends on the marriage route.
Sharia Marriage
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status, legal capacity for marriage is generally reached at 18 Gregorian years.
A marriage involving a person below 18 cannot normally be documented unless the court grants permission after confirming that the marriage meets the applicable legal controls and procedures.
Civil Marriage
Under the federal civil personal status framework, both parties must generally be at least 21 Gregorian years.
Dubai’s civil marriage procedure for non-Muslims also requires both parties to be at least 21.
Abu Dhabi operates under a separate local civil marriage framework. Eligible couples applying through the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court can marry from the age of 18.
This difference is important: the minimum age should always be checked against the specific court and marriage route rather than treated as one UAE-wide number.
3. Check the Religious Requirements for Sharia Marriage
For a marriage governed by the UAE Personal Status Law, the religion of the couple can affect eligibility.
A Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man under the applicable Sharia marriage rules. A Muslim man may marry a Muslim woman or a woman who is Christian or Jewish.
This means it is not correct to assume that every non-Muslim marrying a Muslim person must convert to Islam. The requirement depends on which partner is Muslim and the religion of the other party.
Guardian Requirement
Where the wife is Muslim, the marriage contract generally requires a guardian. However, the current Personal Status Law provides an exception for a non-UAE Muslim woman if the law of her nationality does not require a guardian for marriage.
If a guardian is required but unavailable, unwilling or legally unable to act, a court procedure may be necessary depending on the circumstances.
Witnesses
A Sharia marriage contract requires two eligible witnesses. The applicable rules governing the witnesses should be checked when preparing the marriage application.
4. Understand the Civil Marriage Options
Civil marriage requirements are not identical across all UAE courts.
Civil Marriage in Dubai
Dubai Courts provides a civil marriage route for eligible non-Muslim couples. The main conditions include:
- both parties must be non-Muslims;
- both must be at least 21 years old;
- at least one party must be resident in Dubai;
- the parties must establish their marital status; and
- the applicable identity and supporting documents must be submitted.
A premarital medical screening certificate and guardian are not part of the standard Dubai civil marriage requirements.
Civil Marriage in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has its own civil marriage framework. It is available to eligible UAE residents and tourists, and the minimum age is 18.
Among the main conditions, both parties must freely consent, must not already be married to someone else and must not fall within the prohibited degrees of relationship.
The Abu Dhabi civil route does not require witnesses or a premarital medical examination.
Because the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and federal civil frameworks are not identical, couples should check the specific court requirements before relying on a general UAE checklist.
5. Prepare the Marriage Documents
The documents required to get married in the UAE depend on the marriage type, emirate, nationality and previous marital status of the couple.
Common documents may include:
- valid passports;
- Emirates IDs for UAE residents, where applicable;
- residence or visa information where required by the chosen court;
- proof that a previous marriage has ended, such as a divorce judgment or death certificate;
- a premarital screening certificate for a Sharia marriage;
- identification documents for the guardian and witnesses where required;
- proof of marital status where required by the civil marriage authority; and
- any additional document required because of nationality or the issuing country.
A birth certificate or certificate of no impediment should not be treated as universally mandatory for every UAE marriage application. Whether either document is required depends on the court, nationality and marriage route.
Documents Issued Outside the UAE
If a document was issued abroad, the UAE authority receiving it may require authentication, legalisation or attestation through the applicable official channels.
Legal Arabic translation may also be required, particularly for documents submitted to a court in another language.
The exact route depends on the issuing country and the authority where the marriage application is filed. Couples should therefore check the document requirements before completing attestation unnecessarily.
6. Complete the Premarital Medical Test Where Required
Premarital medical screening is mandatory for Sharia marriages. A valid medical certificate for both parties is required before the marriage contract can be registered.
The screening covers specified infectious and inherited conditions. Since January 2025, comprehensive genetic testing has also become mandatory as part of premarital screening for Emirati couples planning to marry.
Premarital medical screening is not generally required for civil marriage.
For locations, documents and the testing process, see our guide to the premarital medical test in Dubai.
7. Check Whether Residency Is Required
Residency rules also depend on the route.
For example, Dubai’s civil marriage service requires at least one of the parties to be a Dubai resident. Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, by contrast, accepts civil marriage applications from tourists as well as UAE residents.
8. Submit the Marriage Application
Once eligibility and documents are confirmed, the marriage application is submitted through the court or authority handling the chosen route.
The procedure may involve:
- submitting the application electronically;
- uploading identity and supporting documents;
- review by the competent authority;
- payment of the applicable fee;
- completion of any required medical screening;
- attendance by the couple and any required guardian or witnesses; and
- signing and issuance of the marriage contract.
The exact procedure and processing time differ between courts and services, so couples should avoid relying on a single UAE-wide completion time.
9. Obtain Your Marriage Certificate
After the marriage is formally concluded and registered, the competent court or authority issues the marriage contract or certificate.
For a marriage concluded in the UAE, that document provides official evidence of the marriage. Additional attestation is not necessarily required simply for the marriage to be recognised within the UAE, although further formalities may be required for a particular administrative or overseas use.
If the certificate needs to be used for immigration, family sponsorship, an embassy application or another country, check the requirements of the authority that will receive it.
Our marriage certificate attestation page explains the document formalities that may apply when a certificate needs to be used for an official purpose.
10. If You Were Married Outside the UAE
A marriage certificate issued outside the UAE may require authentication, attestation, legalisation and/or legal translation before a UAE authority will accept it.
The sequence is not identical for every country. It can depend on where the certificate was issued, the authorities that authenticated it there, UAE diplomatic requirements and the purpose for which the document will be used.
Do not assume that a foreign marriage certificate automatically needs exactly the same stamps in every case. The correct attestation route should be checked according to the issuing country.
Can You Get Married in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
Yes, but the available procedure and jurisdiction requirements differ by emirate and marriage route.
Dubai has civil marriage procedures for eligible non-Muslim residents as well as Sharia marriage procedures. Abu Dhabi operates its own Civil Family Court with a civil route that is also open to eligible tourists. Sharjah couples should check the applicable court and federal requirements according to their religion, residency and chosen marriage route.
This article covers the broad UAE checklist. Emirate-specific requirements should be checked separately before an application is filed.
How Dubai Court Marriage Can Help
Marriage requirements can change significantly depending on whether the couple is Muslim or non-Muslim, resident or visitor, previously married, or using documents issued abroad.
Our team can review your circumstances, identify the appropriate marriage route and help you prepare the documents required for the applicable court process.
Check your civil marriage options in the UAE.
Dubai Court Marriage
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FAQs
What are the basic requirements to get married in the UAE?
The requirements depend on the marriage route. Couples generally need to meet the applicable age and eligibility rules, provide valid identification, prove the end of any previous marriage where relevant, and complete any route-specific medical, guardian or document requirements.
What is the legal age for marriage in the UAE?
For Sharia marriage, legal capacity is generally reached at 18 Gregorian years, although marriage under 18 may be permitted by a court under specific controls. Federal and Dubai civil marriage generally require both parties to be 21, while Abu Dhabi’s separate civil marriage route accepts eligible couples from age 18.
Is a medical test required before marriage in the UAE?
Premarital medical screening is mandatory for Sharia marriages. It is not generally required for civil marriage. Emirati couples are also subject to mandatory premarital genetic testing introduced nationwide from January 2025.
Can tourists get married in the UAE?
Yes, under certain routes. Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court accepts eligible tourist couples. Other procedures have their own residency or jurisdiction requirements; for example, Dubai civil marriage requires at least one party to be a Dubai resident.
Can a Muslim marry a non-Muslim in the UAE?
A Muslim man may marry a Muslim, Christian or Jewish woman under the applicable Sharia rules. A Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man under those rules.
Does the bride always need a guardian for marriage in the UAE?
For a Sharia marriage, a guardian is generally required where the wife is Muslim. An exception applies to a non-UAE Muslim woman if the law of her nationality does not require a guardian. Civil marriage generally does not require a guardian.
What documents are needed for marriage in Dubai?
The documents depend on the marriage route. Common documents include passports, Emirates IDs where applicable, proof of marital status, divorce or death documents for a previous marriage, and a medical certificate for Sharia marriage.
Do foreign documents need to be attested before marriage in the UAE?
They may. Documents issued abroad can require authentication or attestation and legal Arabic translation depending on the issuing country, court and document type. The requirements should be checked for the specific marriage application.
Is a UAE marriage certificate automatically accepted in another country?
Not necessarily. Recognition depends on the destination country’s law and document requirements. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation and further embassy or consular formalities may be required for overseas use.
