Skip to main content

Fevrier 2023 latest Dubai Family Law Reforms About Marriage and Divorce

From February 1st, 2023, non-Muslim expatriates in the UAE will see reforms to their family laws. The Federal Personal Status Law will come into effect and introduce the Abu Dhabi civil family court system across the emirates. The changes will modernize the legal system and cover topics such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. […]

Table of Contents

From February 1st, 2023, non-Muslim expatriates in the UAE will see reforms to their family laws. The Federal Personal Status Law will come into effect and introduce the Abu Dhabi civil family court system across the emirates.

The changes will modernize the legal system and cover topics such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Read on to understand these new reforms.

Civil Marriage in Dubai

Non-Muslim couples will be able to marry in a non-Sharia legal process with the new law regulating the marriage conditions and procedures for documenting the marriage before a judge.

Parties must be at least 21 years old and fill out a declaration form in front of a judge. This change has been available in Abu Dhabi since February 2022 and will now be available across the UAE.

Divorce in the UAE

The new law will simplify the divorce process, allowing either spouse to request a divorce in court without proving fault or justification. Divorces can be granted after one hearing, without the need for family guidance counselling or mediation sessions.

In cases where children are involved, joint and equal custody will be granted until the children are 18 years old. The court will handle disputes and consider the child’s best interest.

Financial alimony will be based on factors such as the length of the marriage, the wife’s age, and both spouses’ financial status. Women’s testimonies will have equal weight to that of men.

Inheritance for non Muslim in the UAE

Non-Muslims will be able to register a will at the same time as their marriage certificate, allowing them to give their property as they wish. In the absence of a will, 50 percent of a person’s estate will go to the spouse and the remaining 50 percent will be divided equally among any children. If there are no children, 50% will go to surviving parents or siblings.

Conclusion

These reforms are part of a larger effort to modernize the UAE’s legal system. Not only will it make it easy for non-Muslims to get married in the states easily, but it’ll also allow them to conveniently start a new family.

If you need help getting married in the UAE, consider contacting us right away. We’ll help you out by providing everything you need, including the wedding experience that you’ve always dreamt of.

Interesting readings for you

July 31, 2024
Marriage is a deeply cherished tradition across the globe reflecting rich cultural values and significant familial bonds.  However, without marria…
December 12, 2024
The UAE has recently introduced legal reforms regarding unmarried pregnancy. Previously, unmarried pregnancy was criminalized, leading to legal and…
December 27, 2024
Are you a Muslim couple planning to marry in the UAE? Curious about the process of court marriage for Muslims in UAE?
Get married in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & UAE with Easy Wedding!
Getting married is a big decision for any relationship. Getting married while living abroad is a whole new level, especially if your partner is from another country or has a different religion. There are quite a few factors that play a role in wedding planning when you live in the UAE or any other GCC […]
Easy wedding online and other simple marriage pathways
Wedding planning can be quite demanding, so couples are usually happy to learn about simple alternatives like the online wedding. Marriage destination is one of the main decisions that couples have to consider. But, what if the couple can simply have their marriage within the comfort of their homes or any other immediate shelter? An […]
You Can Now visit Georgia from Oman to Get Married
The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we used to spend our daily lives. It restricted us from travel but several countries have reopened their land and air frontiers for other nations after they have been vaccinated. The list is also added by Georgia (a non-US nation). Residents and citizens can now visit Georgia […]
5/5 (14)