Dubai is blessed with a host of captivating settings that attract tourists and investors. Many would also want to take advantage of these enticing factors to seal their marriages in Dubai. However, anyone who intends to get married in Dubai must have a proper understanding of the marriage laws that prevail in this city.

Sharia law is the guiding principle for marriage in Dubai. As such, the marriage procedures will mostly favor Islamic couples. In the course of this article, we will examine the requirements for marriage in Dubai.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE IN DUBAI

One of the important requirements for getting married in Dubai will be obtaining the consent of the bride. Secondly, at least one of the couple needs to be resident in the UAE, therefore, they must submit residence permits or any other legal documentation that proves this.

When the marriage process begins, the couple will present some documents before the presiding court. The main documents required for marriage in Dubai, these include:

• Passports
• Birth certificates of the couple
• Medical examination results obtained from the Health Ministry of the UAE
• Death certificate of a former couple (in case any of the prospective couple had lost a marriage mate)
• Divorce certificates (if any)

In addition to the requirements above, certification and authentication of the official papers is also necessary. Certification occurs after the papers have been translated from English or any other language to Arabic. This is often done at a public notary.

Next, the certificates will be authenticated at the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the couple also want the certificates to be recognized in their home country, they will have to submit these to their respective embassies.

WHO CAN GET MARRIED AT THE DUBAI COURT

Dubai does not allow marriage for just anyone. As stated earlier, the couple first need to be bonafide residents in Dubai. Next, they ought to be adherents of the Islamic religion. This is so because the marriage is often conducted according to the Sharia law. 

The above notwithstanding, non-Muslim couples can also get married in Dubai but for that to happen, they must meet the listed requirements above and be up to the legal age of 18. However, instead of the Sharia court, they will have to use their embassies or religious institutions. They could also choose to have a civil marriage in Abu Dhabi.

A Muslim man may marry a fellow muslim woman  with her consent. A muslim man can also marry a woman from another religion but the reverse is not the case. 

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR COUPLES WHO CANNOT HAVE A DUBAI COURT MARRIAGE?

Dubai is indeed a pleasant country that entices many expats. While a wedding ceremony in this emirate sounds good, non-Muslim expats might have to consider other possibilities because of the law’s rigorous expectations. The marriage protocols can take up to two months to be concluded.

Destination wedding places like Georgia and Seychelles are good choices for expats who wish to get married in a conducive atmosphere. With just the following a marriage in Georgia or Seychelles can be concluded:

• Passports
• Birth certificates
• Translation and authentication of the passports
• The presence of witnesses

As can be seen above, the legal requirements are not much and due to the fewer documents required, the process can be concluded on time. 

Are you fascinated by the idea of a Georgian or Seychelles wedding? You can learn more about the paperwork and official processes by booking a consultation with our wedding agency.