Requirements for Civil Marriage in Abu Dhabi Court

Couples in the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi, can legalize or formalize their relationship by undergoing a court marriage in the Abu Dhabi Court. A court marriage allows a couple to establish a civil partnership as their legal designation. The two individuals marrying in the Abu Dhabi Court must meet certain conditions, including not being blood relatives. Through a court marriage at the Abu Dhabi Court, a couple receives special legal rights as well as a new set of responsibilities.

Registering a court marriage can be much simpler, especially when compared to traditional marriages in churches or temples. A couple must sign the marriage contract in front of the marriage officer and two male witnesses from the court.

Civil marriage is allowed for all nationalities, irrespective of their religion, except for UAE nationals.

Read more: Why you need witnesses for Court Marriage in UAE?

What are the requirements to Marry in Abu Dhabi Court

Family book (copy and original, applicable to UAE Nationals)
Passport (copy and original, applicable to expatriates or non-UAE Nationals)
Original medical examination certificate (must be issued by an approved medical board, applicable to both contracting parties) required only if one of them is an Emirate national
Visa, Passport, and Emirates IDs for two male witnesses (copy and original)
Visa, Passport, and Emirates IDs for the engaged couple (copy and original)
Visa, Passport, and Emirates ID for the attorney or guardian of the bride or groom (copy and original)

Read more: Why you need a guardian to get married in the UAE?

What are the Conditions that couple has to meet to get married in Abu Dhabi Court

Here are the following conditions for different scenarios:

Legal prerequisites for civil marriage for non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi include:

The legal age for both parties must be at least 18 years.
Both parties must give their free and voluntary consent.
Both parties are required to sign a declaration form affirming that they are not currently married to anyone else.

It’s noteworthy that Applicants for civil marriage are not required to obtain their father’s or guardian’s approval or a premarital screening certificate.

Conditions for Marrying an Expat Man and Emirati Woman:

The legal guardian of the bride must be present, with no exceptions from the court.
UAE national brides seeking court marriage in Abu Dhabi must not have obtained their citizenship through dependency.
The expatriate man or non-UAE national husband must have a nationality, must not be considered stateless, and must obtain a certificate of good conduct issued by the UAE.
The proposing man must be a legal resident of the UAE.
An expatriate groom marrying a UAE national bride must be able to present a criminal record certificate.

Requirements if No Guardian is Available for Court Marriage in Abu Dhabi:

If the woman is older than 21 years old, the judge can act as the guardian, except for Emirati women.
The woman must be able to present evidence (legal succession notice or certificate of succession) if the groom is Emirati.

Conditions for Female Minors:

Marriages involving female minors under eighteen lunar years must not be completed without written consent from a competent judge and the UAE Minors Marriage Committee.

You should know – Requirements for civil marriage in Abu Dhabi UAE

Requirements for UAE Army, Police, Ministry/Dept. of Foreign Affairs Employees:

An employee of any authority wishing to marry any national must obtain special permission (NOC) from the same authority.

Requirements for GCC National Marrying a Non-GCC National:

A GCC national (either man or woman) marrying a non-GCC national must submit a document proving consent from the relevant country, attested by the UAE Ministry/Dept. of Foreign Affairs (except for Omani nationals).

Requirements for Yemeni Woman Marrying a Man Not from Yemen:

A Yemeni woman marrying a man of a different nationality must provide a document proving consent from her country, which must undergo MOFA attestation.

Condition for a UAE National with a Passport Issued by the Emirate of Ajman:

If a UAE national wants to marry a bride from a non-GCC country and holds a passport issued by the Emirate of Ajman, consent from the Ajman Sharia Court must be provided to the Abu Dhabi Court before the marriage can proceed.

Requirements for Nationals of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia:

A national of Bahrain or Saudi Arabia wishing to marry in Abu Dhabi with a bride or groom of a different nationality must provide a document showing consent from the bride or groom’s country, attested by the UAE Ministry/Dept. of Foreign Affairs.

Find more: How to Marry in Sharjah?

What are the Cases wherein consent from a judge is required for Abu Dhabi Court Marriage:

Consent from a judge is required in the following cases:

- Marriage between non-Muslim individuals.
- A fiancée without a guardian.
- If the fiancé’s age is twice that of the fiancée or more.

You may want to know: Get Married in Ras Al Khaimah: What are the requirements?

Marriage Lawyers in Abu Dhabi

In order for you to get married to your partner in Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, you need to file for court marriage. There are a lot of issues that can arise when making an appointment, especially when requirements can vary depending on the circumstances of each contracting party to a marriage.

At Dubai Court Marriage, our marriage lawyers in UAE will handle the entire process of your court marriage, helping ensure effective communication between you, the court, and the higher authorities. For more information, call us!

Hazim Darwish

Hazim Darwish Practicing law for almost a decade, he has in-depth knowledge on UAE legislation with particular expertise on family law, and regulatory compliance for business organizations. Hazim Darwish also provides counsel on legal rights and obligations in the UAE to clients, including individuals and businesses subject to investigation or prosecution under Criminal Law by major regulators.