Getting married in the UAE can be a wonderful and memorable experience, but it also requires some planning and preparation. Whether you are a resident or a tourist, you need to follow certain rules and regulations to make your marriage legal and valid. Here is a checklist of everything you need to know and do before you tie the knot in the UAE.
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Check your eligibility
The first thing you need to do is to check if you are eligible to get married in the UAE. There are different requirements depending on your nationality, religion, and marital status. Here are some general conditions that apply to most cases:
- You and your partner must be of legal age to marry, which is 18 years old in the UAE. If you are under 18, you need to get a special consent from a judge.
- You and your partner must be single, widowed, or divorced. If you are divorced, you need to provide proof of your divorce decree.
- You and your partner must not be related by blood or marriage. The UAE law prohibits marriage between certain family members, such as grandparents and grandchildren, parents and children, and siblings.
- You and your partner must have a valid visa or Emirates ID if you are residents, or a valid passport if you are tourists or visitors.
- You and your partner must have a pre-marital screening certificate issued by a public healthcare facility in the UAE. This is a mandatory test that checks for certain infectious and genetic diseases.
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Choose your type of marriage
The next thing you need to do is to choose the type of marriage that suits your preferences and beliefs. There are two main types of marriage in the UAE: Islamic and civil.
- Islamic marriage
- This is the most common type of marriage in the UAE, and it is based on the Sharia law. To have an Islamic marriage, you and your partner must be Muslims, or at least one of you must be a Muslim and the other must convert to Islam.
- You also need to have the approval of the bride’s father or guardian, and two male witnesses. You can apply for an Islamic marriage contract online or in person at the Dubai Courts or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, depending on your emirate of residence.
- You need to pay a fee and submit the required documents, such as your passports, Emirates IDs, pre-marital screening certificates, and proof of marital status.
- You will then receive a date and time for your marriage ceremony, which will take place at the court or at a mosque of your choice.
- Civil marriage
This is a relatively new option for non-Muslims who want to get married in the UAE. It is based on secular rules and regulations, and it allows interfaith marriages as well.
In order to obtain a civil marriage contract in the UAE, the following conditions and procedures apply:
- Both parties must be non-Muslims or citizens of a non-Muslim country.
- Both parties must sign a declaration form, affirming that they are not currently married to anyone else.
- The application for a civil marriage contract can be done online or in person at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
- Both parties must have the free consent and the legal capacity to enter into a marriage contract. The minimum age for both parties is 18 years.
- A pre-marital screening certificate and a guardian’s permission are not required for a civil marriage.
- A fee must be paid and the necessary documents must be submitted, such as the passports, proof of marital status, and marriage agreement (if any) of both parties.
- The court will then assign a date and time for the marriage ceremony, which will take place at the court premises.
Read more about – Civil Marriage in the UAE: Eligibility, Requirements, Cost and Procedures
- Prepare All Documents
One of the essential steps for getting married in the UAE is to prepare all the documents that you need to submit for your marriage application. The required documents may vary depending on the type of marriage and your nationality, but the general ones are:
- Your birth certificate
- Your passport
- Your proof of residence
- Your Emirates ID (if applicable)
- Your certificate of marital status
- certificate of no impediment to marriage (if applicable),
- A certificate of divorce or death of spouse (if applicable).
- Your pre-marital screening certificate (if applicable)
- Your parental consent or advice (if applicable)
All the documents must be original and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, or by the consulate representing your country in the UAE and the UAE Foreign Ministry. They must also be translated into Arabic by a certified translator if they are in another language.
- Register your marriage
The final step you need to do is to register your marriage with the authorities and obtain your marriage certificate. This is important to make your marriage legal and valid, and to avoid any future complications or disputes. Here are some tips on how to register your marriage in the UAE:
- If you had an Islamic marriage, you will receive your marriage certificate on the same day of your marriage ceremony, after signing the contract and paying the fee. You can also request a copy of your marriage certificate online or in person at the court where you got married.
- If you had a civil marriage, you will receive your marriage certificate within 24 hours of your marriage ceremony (depending upon the service you choose), after signing the contract and paying the fee. You can also request a copy of your marriage certificate online or in person at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
- If you had a marriage outside the UAE, you need to legalize your marriage certificate by getting it attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, or by the consulate representing your country in the UAE, and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- You also need to translate your marriage certificate into Arabic by a certified translator, and get it stamped by the UAE Ministry of Justice.
- If you want to use your marriage certificate in another country, you need to get it attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by the embassy or consulate of the country where you want to use it. You may also need to translate your marriage certificate into the official language of that country by a certified translator.
You should read: Is it illegal to Get Pregnant Before Marriage in UAE?
How a Dubai Court Marriage Can Help You Get Married in the UAE
A marriage lawyer at Dubai court marriage can help you with the legal process of getting married in the UAE, from obtaining the required documents, to registering your marriage, to updating your personal status. A marriage lawyer can also advise you on the laws and regulations that apply to your specific case, whether you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim, a national or a foreigner. A marriage lawyer can also help you legalize your marriage certificate if you got married outside the UAE, or if you want to use it in another country.
If you have any questions or concerns about getting married in the UAE, or if you want to hire a marriage lawyer to assist you with the legal process, please feel free to contact us at Dubai Court Marriage. We are happy to help you with your marriage needs.
