Foreigners and expatriates can legally get married in Dubai, but the correct procedure depends mainly on the couple’s religion, residence status and the type of marriage they intend to complete.
Muslim couples generally follow the Islamic marriage process, while eligible non-Muslim residents can use Dubai’s civil marriage service. Some non-Muslim couples may also marry through an embassy, consulate or recognised place of worship where the applicable nationality and religious rules allow it.
Before preparing documents, couples should first identify which marriage route applies to them because the residency, age, witness, medical examination and document requirements are not the same for every type of marriage.
If you are comparing the available routes for a Dubai court marriage, the first step is to establish your religion, residency position and whether you intend to use the civil, Islamic or another recognised marriage process.
Can Foreigners Get Married in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners can marry in Dubai where they meet the requirements of the marriage route that applies to them.
The main routes include:
- Islamic marriage through the applicable UAE judicial framework;
- civil marriage for eligible non-Muslim residents of Dubai; and
- in some cases, marriage through an embassy, consulate or recognised place of worship.
Nationality alone does not determine the procedure. Religion, residency, previous marital status and the authority registering the marriage can all affect what documents and formalities are required.
Dubai Court Marriage
Consult with us: With over 20+ years of experience
What Does Court Marriage Mean in Dubai?
“Court marriage” is commonly used as a general term for a marriage completed or registered through the judicial system, but it is not one single marriage category.
Dubai Courts currently provides both a legal marriage route, which covers marriages conducted under the applicable Personal Status framework, and a civil marriage route for eligible non-Muslims.
This distinction matters because the two routes have different eligibility conditions and document requirements.
Marriage Requirements Depend on the Type of Marriage
There is no single checklist that applies to every foreign couple getting married in Dubai.
For an Islamic marriage, the process can involve identification documents, a premarital medical examination, witnesses and guardian requirements where applicable.
For a Dubai civil marriage, the published requirements are different. Both parties must be non-Muslim, at least one party must be a resident of Dubai, both parties must be at least 21 years old and proof of marital status is required.
Foreign-issued documents can also require authentication and certified Arabic translation before they are accepted by the court.
How Muslim Expats Get Married in Dubai
Muslim marriages in the UAE are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status, which came into force in April 2025.
The Islamic marriage framework applies where:
- both parties are Muslim; or
- the groom is Muslim and the bride is Christian or Jewish.
The current Personal Status Law requires the consent of the wife and testimony of two witnesses. Guardian rules apply to a Muslim bride, subject to the exceptions provided by law, including certain circumstances involving a non-citizen Muslim woman whose national law does not require a guardian.
For a marriage processed through Dubai Courts, the parties should also check the current service requirements concerning:
- valid identification;
- residency or entry status;
- premarital medical examination;
- the bride’s guardian where applicable;
- two eligible witnesses; and
- documents proving divorce or widowhood where either party was previously married.
Where documents were issued outside the UAE, additional authentication and certified Arabic translation may be required before the marriage application is completed.
Civil Marriage for Non-Muslim Foreigners in Dubai
Dubai provides a civil marriage route for eligible non-Muslim residents under the federal Civil Personal Status framework.
According to the Dubai Courts Marriage Contract service, the current civil marriage conditions include:
- both parties must be non-Muslim;
- at least one party must be a resident of Dubai;
- both parties must be at least 21 years old;
- the parties or their legally authorised representatives must appear as required;
- original identification must be provided; and
- proof of marital status must be submitted.
Dubai Courts currently requires an attested marital status certificate for the parties to a civil marriage. Documents must be submitted in the prescribed format, and documents in another language require a certified Arabic translation.
Documents issued outside the UAE also need to follow the applicable authentication chain before submission.
Couples considering this route can review the requirements for civil marriage in Dubai before preparing the application.
Is a Premarital Medical Test Required?
The answer depends on the marriage route.
For a legal or Islamic marriage through Dubai Courts, the current service requires a premarital medical examination certificate issued by an authorised medical centre.
Dubai Courts does not list that same premarital medical certificate among the published document requirements for its civil marriage service for non-Muslims.
Couples should therefore avoid applying the Islamic marriage medical requirement automatically to a civil marriage application.
Do You Need Witnesses to Get Married in Dubai?
Witness requirements also depend on the route.
For an Islamic marriage, the current Personal Status Law requires two witnesses. Where the husband is Muslim, the witnesses must meet the conditions prescribed by the law.
Dubai Courts does not publish the same two-witness requirement among the conditions for its non-Muslim civil marriage service.
This is another reason why couples should establish the correct marriage route before preparing their documents.
Can Non-Muslims Still Marry Through an Embassy or Place of Worship?
Yes, in some cases.
Non-Muslim expatriates may be able to complete marriage formalities through the embassy or consulate of their country or at a recognised place of worship such as a church or temple, depending on nationality and religion.
Each embassy, consulate or religious institution can have its own requirements concerning residence, notice of intention to marry, witnesses, certificates of no impediment or other supporting documents.
Couples using this route should therefore check directly with the relevant institution rather than assuming that Dubai Courts’ civil marriage requirements apply to an embassy or religious marriage.
Can Tourists Get Married in Dubai?
Tourist and visit-visa cases need to be considered separately from resident marriage applications.
For Dubai’s current civil marriage service, at least one party must be a resident of Dubai. Two non-Muslim tourists who are both non-residents therefore do not satisfy the published residency condition for the Dubai civil marriage route.
Dubai Courts also currently states that, for its legal marriage service, one of the parties must be a citizen or resident of Dubai.
This does not mean that tourists have no marriage options in the UAE. The correct route may depend on religion, nationality and the couple’s residence status.
For example, Abu Dhabi has a separate civil marriage framework that expressly accepts applications from tourists and non-residents. Couples who do not meet Dubai’s residency condition can review the Abu Dhabi civil marriage route separately.
There is no general UAE document called a “marriage visa” that a tourist must obtain simply in order to marry. The relevant entry or residency status depends on the marriage procedure being used.
What Documents Are Needed to Get Married in Dubai?
The required documents should be checked against the specific marriage route, but they can include:
- valid passports;
- Emirates IDs where applicable;
- UAE residence or entry documents where required;
- proof of current marital status;
- a final divorce certificate if previously divorced;
- a death certificate of a former spouse if widowed;
- a premarital medical certificate for the applicable Islamic/legal marriage route;
- guardian or witness identification where required; and
- any Power of Attorney used by an authorised representative.
The exact list can differ depending on religion, residency, previous marital status and how the marriage is being registered.
What If the Documents Were Issued Outside the UAE?
Foreign-issued documents may require authentication before Dubai Courts will accept them.
For the current Dubai marriage service, documents issued outside the UAE must follow the required certification process through the competent authorities. Documents that are not in Arabic also require a legal Arabic translation certified in accordance with the court’s requirements.
This can be particularly important for:
- single-status certificates;
- divorce judgments or certificates;
- death certificates of former spouses;
- Powers of Attorney; and
- other foreign personal-status documents.
Notarisation, attestation, translation and legalisation are separate processes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
What Happens After the Marriage Is Registered?
Once the applicable marriage procedure has been completed, the couple receives the marriage certificate issued or approved through the relevant authority.
What happens next depends on how and where the certificate will be used. A certificate may later need attestation, legal translation, embassy processing or another authentication step for purposes such as family sponsorship, a spouse visa or use outside the UAE.
Couples who need the certificate prepared for official use can review the marriage certificate attestation requirements separately.
Which Marriage Route Should a Foreigner Use in Dubai?
The simplest way to identify the starting point is to look at religion and residence status:
- Both parties Muslim: the Islamic marriage route generally applies.
- Muslim groom and Christian or Jewish bride: the Islamic marriage framework can apply.
- Both parties non-Muslim and at least one is a Dubai resident: Dubai civil marriage may be available where the other conditions are met.
- Non-Muslims wishing to marry under nationality or religious procedures: an embassy, consulate or recognised place of worship may be an option.
- Two non-resident tourists: Dubai’s published civil marriage residency requirement is not met, so another lawful route, including the separate Abu Dhabi civil marriage procedure where eligible, should be considered.
The route should be confirmed before arranging translations, attestations, medical examinations or travel because those requirements can differ significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners get married in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners can marry in Dubai where they meet the requirements of the applicable marriage route. The correct procedure depends on matters such as religion, residency and whether the couple uses an Islamic, civil, embassy or recognised religious marriage process.
Can two tourists get married in Dubai?
Two non-resident tourists do not meet the current Dubai civil marriage condition requiring at least one party to be a Dubai resident. Other marriage routes may be available depending on religion and nationality, and eligible tourists can separately consider the Abu Dhabi civil marriage procedure.
Can non-Muslims have a civil marriage in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Courts provides a civil marriage service for eligible non-Muslims. Both parties must be non-Muslim, at least one must be a Dubai resident and both must be at least 21 years old.
Does one person need a Dubai residence visa for civil marriage?
Yes. Dubai Courts currently requires at least one party to the civil marriage to be a resident of Dubai.
Is a premarital medical test required for civil marriage in Dubai?
Dubai Courts does not currently list the premarital medical certificate required for its legal or Islamic marriage service among the published requirements for non-Muslim civil marriage.
Do foreign marriage documents need Arabic translation and attestation?
Foreign-issued documents may require the applicable authentication process before submission, and documents in another language must be provided with a certified legal Arabic translation where required by Dubai Courts.
Dubai Court Marriage
Consult with us: With over 20+ years of experience
Check the Marriage Route Before Preparing the Documents
Foreigners can legally marry in Dubai, but the procedure is not the same for every couple. A Muslim marriage, Dubai civil marriage and embassy or religious marriage each follow different eligibility and documentation rules.
Confirming the correct route first can prevent unnecessary medical tests, translations, attestations or document applications. This is especially important where one partner is on a visit visa, either person was previously married or documents were issued outside the UAE.
If you are unsure which procedure applies to your circumstances, contact our team before preparing the marriage application.
