A civil route to marriage in the UAE
Passed in 2021, Abu Dhabi’s Law No. 14 on civil marriage introduced a non-religious way for non-Muslims to marry and set up a Civil Family Court, which sits within the emirate’s Judicial Department (ADJD). One of its stated goals is to safeguard husbands, wives and their children. You do not need to live in Abu Dhabi, as couples based in Dubai or any other emirate use the same system and the certificate is valid throughout the UAE. A separate national law on civil personal status, Federal Decree-Law 41 of 2022, has its own conditions, including a higher minimum age of 21, and Dubai Courts runs a more limited civil option, so confirm which authority suits you before applying.
Who is eligible
The ADJD service is open to residents with an Emirates ID, to visitors and to couples where one partner lives in the UAE and the other does not, provided both are in the country for the marriage. It is intended for non-Muslims, and Muslim couples normally follow the Sharia marriage route instead. Each of the following conditions has to be met.
- Both partners are 18 or older
- Both freely consent to the marriage and have full mental capacity
- The partners are not closely related within the degrees the law prohibits
- Neither partner is currently married to someone else
- Neither partner is an Emirati national, subject to limited exceptions set by the court
Documents to prepare
Most delays are caused by missing paperwork or copies the court cannot read, so gather clear, valid documents before you open the application. Requirements can be updated, so check the list on the ADJD portal when you apply.
- Passport copies for both partners
- Emirates ID copies, front and back, and residence visa copies for UAE residents
- An e-visa or passport entry stamp for anyone who is not a resident
- A divorce certificate or court judgment where a previous marriage ended in divorce
- A copy of the late spouse’s death certificate for a widowed partner
- The completed application form, a declaration that you are unmarried, and your phone number, email and home address
Applying online, step by step
The whole application is handled on the Civil Family Court’s online portal, which has separate routes for residents and for tourists or non-residents. Take care when typing names, nationalities and marital history, because a small mistake can hold up approval.
- Sign in with UAE PASS if you are a resident, or create a guest account if you are visiting
- Enter both partners’ personal details and upload your documents
- Choose standard or express service and pay the court fee by card
- Wait for the court to review and approve the file
- Confirm your ceremony date and attend the ceremony
Standard or express service
With the standard service, the court reviews your file and then assigns a ceremony date based on its availability, which can mean waiting a couple of weeks or more. The express service carries a much higher court fee but gives you priority and lets you pick the date and time within court hours, so it can be completed within a few working days of approval. As fees and processing times are revised from time to time, check the current figures with ADJD before deciding.
The ceremony, online or in person
Where both partners hold UAE residency, you can marry by video call, while couples with a non-resident partner must attend in person at the court’s main building in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony is brief, usually around fifteen minutes, and you may exchange rings, say your own vows and bring family and friends, although none of this is required. You do not need witnesses, a male guardian or a premarital medical test for this route, and the marriage certificate is issued in Arabic and English, immediately after the ceremony for express applicants.
Prenups and using your certificate abroad
You may add an optional prenuptial agreement when you register, using a standard ADJD template, to set out matters such as assets, debts and financial duties; a separate fee applies. Within the UAE, the certificate can be used as issued, for example when sponsoring your spouse’s visa, but other countries usually expect extra steps.
- Have the UAE foreign ministry attest the certificate
- Have it legalized at the destination country’s embassy or consulate
- Arrange a certified translation if that country requires one
- Confirm how that country recognizes and registers foreign marriages, as attestation alone does not guarantee recognition
How we can help
We can review your documents before you submit them so that your application is complete. We can also help with notarization, translation and attestation, including attesting your marriage certificate for use outside the UAE.