How to Get Married in the UAE as a Foreigner or Expat

Arabian Wedding Traditions

Arabian weddings start with Al Khoutha, a marriage proposal ceremony, symbolising the union of two families as the groom's father formally requests the bride’s hand. This step towards matrimony is marked by traditional rituals, including the signing of the marriage contract, Al Akhd, and 40 days of preparation and beautification for the bride. During this time, she is pampered and prepared to look her most beautiful, with her body adorned with oils and her hair with flower extracts.

An essential pre-wedding event is the Henna night, a vibrant and joyous occasion for the bride’s female friends and relatives to gather, dance, and feast, while the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with intricate henna designs. This ceremony is not just about beautification but also a rite of passage, welcoming her into married life with blessings and gifts, often including jewellery, dresses, and perfumes, which hold significant value in Emirati culture.

The wedding itself is a lavish affair, characterised by separate celebrations for men and women, allowing for a comfortable and uninhibited enjoyment of traditions such as dancing and showcasing elaborate dresses and jewellery. The groom’s presentation of gifts or Al Zahba to the bride, including silk, jewellery, and perfumes, is a testament to the opulence of these celebrations. The bride’s dress, often extravagant and adorned, symbolises her status as the central figure of the celebration.

The actual marriage ceremony, the nikah, is a solemn and sacred event, officiating the union in the presence of family and religious figures. This is followed by grand receptions, where the separation of genders allows women to celebrate freely without the constraints of hijab, and men to partake in traditional dances and music. The significance of the feast cannot be overstated, with an abundance of traditional Emirati dishes signifying hospitality and generosity.

Every aspect of Emirati weddings, from the pre-wedding rituals to the grandeur of the reception, reflects a deep-rooted respect for tradition, a celebration of familial bonds, and a commitment to starting married life with magnificence and communal support. Despite varying scales of extravagance, the essence of Arabian weddings lies in their ability to blend age-old customs with the personal tastes and financial means of the families involved, creating unforgettable celebrations of love and unity.

Types of Marriages in The UAE

Traditional Emirati Weddings: Traditional Emirati wedding ceremonies are grand and elaborate, and usually gender-segregated, with celebrations for men and women held separately. A typical Emirati wedding involves several stages, including the engagement, the signing of the marriage contract (Nikkah), and the wedding reception. The Nikkah is an important component and is recognised legally and religiously. (The law allows a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman but does not allow a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man without proof of his conversion to Islam.)

Polygamy is allowed. A Muslim male may have four wives, provided he offers equal sustenance and equal treatment to all.

Expatriate Weddings: With a significant expatriate population, the UAE hosts a variety of weddings, including Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and other religious ceremonies. Non-Muslim expatriates can marry in the UAE under the laws of their specific religion or nationality. For instance, Christian expatriates can marry in a church and conduct their religious rites, which can then be registered with the relevant civil authorities to be recognised legally.

Civil Marriages: Historically, marriage laws in the UAE were predominantly influenced by Islamic law, which applies to Muslim residents. However, as they recognised how multicultural their demography was getting, the UAE implemented laws that also cater to the non-Muslim population.

In early 2021, the UAE announced a reform in its legal system, which included the introduction of civil marriage for non-Muslims in an effort to modernise the legal structures and enhance the country's appeal as a multicultural and tolerant place to live and work. The civil marriage law allows non-Muslims to marry without undergoing religious ceremonies, which is useful for interfaith couples or those who prefer a non-religious legal recognition of their union.

The Legal Requirements for Marriage in The UAE 

The first thing you need to do is understand what the legal requirements for getting married in The UAE are. Here are the criteria you need to meet before getting married in The UAE: 

General Pre-Marital Requirements

• The bride must approve and consent to the marriage.
• At least one party to the marriage contract (husband, wife or wife’s guardian) should have a UAE residence visa in Dubai. In other emirates, both the bride and the groom must be UAE residents.
• You must have a positive pre-marital screening certificate from the relevant public healthcare facilities in the UAE. Pre-marital screening is mandatory to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
   
• You both must not be Muslim UAE Nationals.
• You both must consent to the marriage.
• You both must be at least 18 years old.
• You both must not be related by first or second degree.
• You both must be single.

For Civil Marriage in Dubai in 24 Hours

• You both must be non-Muslims.
• At least one of you must be a resident of Dubai.
• You both must be at least 21 years old.
• You or your legally authorised representatives must appear in person.
• You must provide original IDs.
• You must provide proof of being single.

Islamic Marriage Requirements

• You both can be Muslims or the groom can be Muslim and the bride must be from 'Ahl Al-Kitaab'; such as Christian.
• The marriage contract must be registered in a Sharia court in the UAE.
• You must be 18 Hijri years old or have a judge's approval.
• Neither you nor your spouse can be twice as old as the other; otherwise you need a judge's approval.
• You must have a premarital screening certificate.
• You both must attend the ceremony.
• The bride's father or his representative and two male Muslim witnesses must attend the ceremony.
• The bride must have the consent of her guardian such as her father. In case her father passes away, the next closest male guardian, such as her elder brother can stand in as her guardian.
• If you are a divorced or widowed woman, you must have proof like divorce or death certificates.
• If the bride is Muslim and her father is not, she needs a 'No Objection' letter from her embassy or consulate.
• An advance dowry of not more than AED 20,000 and the deferred dowry of not more than AED 30,000.
• Marital screening test must be done through one of the medical centres of the:
  • Emirates Health Services
  • Disease Prevention  and Screening Centers (DPSCs) - Abu Dhabi
  • Dubai Health Authority

Special Cases 

For all UAE Nationals

• The Maximum dowry is AED 50, 000 and AED 20,000 must be paid in advance.
• Males who are members of Armed Forces or employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Police and wish to marry foreigners need to get special permission from their employers.
• Nationals of Ajman must get the approval of the Sharia Court of Ajman, if they intend to marry a woman other than from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• An Emirati woman (one whose nationality was not gained by dependency) wishing to marry a foreign man:
  • Should get consent from her parents/guardian
  • Should get a permit from her employer if she is working in the Armed Forces.
  • Should not be marrying a stateless man.
  • Must be marrying a legitimate resident of the UAE
  • Must be marrying a man who has obtained a certificate of good conduct from the UAE.

For GCC Nationals and Citizens of Other Islamic Countries

Citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain intending to marry a foreigner must get the approval of their respective countries. A Yemeni woman intending to marry a foreign national must get consent from her country.

Documentation Requirements

For Civil Marriage:

• A completed and signed marriage application form.
• A copy of both your international passports or Emirates ID.
• Proof of singlehood (divorce or death certificates).
• Pre-nuptial agreement (optional).

All of the above documents that are not in Arabic need to be translated by a certified translator or a certified translation service in The UAE. Translayte is a language service provider that provides you with highly skilled Arabic certified translators who work to accurately convey the message of your documents. You can get Arabic translations to or from a large variety of languages like English to Arabic translations, Hindi to Arabic translations, Italian to Arabic translations, and vice versa. Moreover, your foreign documents must be legalised or bear a MOFA attestation stamp from the country of issuance to be valid in The UAE. 

How to Get Married in The UAE

So, we’ve looked at all we need to put in place before marrying in The UAE. Now, let’s simplify the entire process for you into a few steps. 

Get a Residence Visa

In Dubai, and broadly across the UAE, at least one of you must hold a valid residency visa. Foreigners on a tourist or visit visa generally cannot legally marry in the UAE unless one of them is a resident. If you are both on tourist or visit visas and looking to have a destination wedding in the UAE, one of you must get a residency visa. 

Submit a Marriage Application

The next step to getting married in The UAE is to put in a marriage application.

If you are applying for a civil marriage, you can do this through the ADJD website or through one of the ADJD typing centres’ based in Abu Dhabi. You can apply for the regular service for AED 300 and your application will be dealt with in 10 working days. You will then be given a date and time for your wedding ceremony based on the next availability of the court. 

You can also apply for the express service if you are in a hurry for AED 2,500 and your application will be processed in 1 working day. You can then choose the specific time and date for the marriage ceremony in line with the Court’s opening hours. 

Plan Your Ceremony

After you have finished with all the major paperwork and payments, you can now get into the real fun. Let’s give you a few tips on how to plan the ceremony. 

1. Set a Budget: Choose your type of ceremony and determine your budget. Determining your budget will guide many of your decisions, from the venue to the number of guests and the style of the event. Make sure to account for any potential costs like the venue, attire, officiant fees, decorations, and any additional services you might want.

2. Select a Venue: The venue sets the tone for your wedding. When choosing a venue, consider its location, capacity, availability, cost, and the logistics of getting married there (some venues have their own rules about catering, decoration, and music).

3. Choose a Date and Time: When selecting your wedding date, consider factors like the weather, special dates for you and your partner, and the availability of your desired venue and key vendors. Saturdays are a popular choice for weddings, but a weekday wedding might offer more flexibility and cost savings.

4. Hire Vendors: Depending on the complexity of your ceremony, you may need to hire various vendors, such as:

• Wedding Planner: This is especially helpful if you're organising a destination wedding or need help with local customs and logistics.
   
• A Photographer/Videographer: Book early, as the best ones often have their schedules filled months in advance.
   
• Hair and Makeup Artists: To ensure you look your best, consider hiring professionals who can provide hair and makeup services on your wedding day.
   
• Music: Whether you want live music, a DJ, or a simple playlist, plan how music will be integrated into your ceremony.
   
• A Florist: For bouquets, boutonnieres, and any venue decorations.
   
• A Caterer: If your venue doesn’t provide food, you’ll need to hire a caterer.

5. Plan the Ceremony Details: Decide if you want to write your vows or stick with the traditional ones. Select your wedding party, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring-bearers, and flower girls. Don’t forget to decide on how you want the ceremony to unfold, from start to finish.

6. Have a Dress Rehearsal: A rehearsal is typically held the day before the wedding, especially for complex ceremonies or large wedding parties. This helps ensure everyone knows their roles and the event runs smoothly.
 

7. Personalise Your Ceremony: Incorporate elements that reflect your personalities and relationships. This could include unique music choices, a special reading, or a ritual that has personal significance.

Enjoy Your Wedding Ceremony

If you are getting married at the court, you will get a confirmation of your marriage ceremony date and time by email. On the day, you should enter the ADJD main court building through Gate 5 and present the proof of the ceremony confirmation to the security at the entrance. You should then go into the Abu Dhabi Civil Marriage Section where you will then be asked to provide a physical copy of your ID documents (either Emirates ID or Passport). After that, you will need to confirm the details on the marriage certificate draft and then you will be taken to the ceremony room.

A marriage notary will be present during the ceremony and the vows will be read to you in a pre-recorded voiceover, available in 7 different languages. If you need a language other than English, you inform the Court in advance of the ceremony so they can make the necessary arrangements. 

You are allowed to bring as many guests as you like but you will have no need for witnesses since the notary public officer acts as a witness to the ceremony. You can also bring a photographer and videographer and you can choose to exchange rings and your own vows. At the end of the ceremony, you will sign the marriage certificate and it will be issued to you.

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