Getting Married in Dubai as an Expat: Eligibility, Process & More

Can Expats Marry in Dubai?
Requirements for Marriage in Dubai
Expat Marriage Officiators
FAQs

Dubai’s reputation as a safe, family-friendly city with a welcoming atmosphere is a major attraction for expats. Many people across the globe see it as an ideal place to build a life, which is why so many expats get married in Dubai. Also, the pleasant weather, abundant housing options, excellent schools and freedom to practice one’s religion and culture all contribute to the city’s appeal.

Are you an expat here and planning to commit to the love of your life? You’ve reached the right place! Our guide will outline if and how expats can get married in Dubai.

CAN FOREIGNERS GET MARRIED IN DUBAI?

Getting married in Dubai as a foreigner is possible. However, it is important to note that:

The marriage must be legally registered with the courts or relevant embassies.
Non-Muslim expats can tie the knot in Dubai as per the rules of their respective countries.

requirements for marriage registration in dubai — *Expat marriage requirements in Dubai vary according to the couple’s religion and country of origin*

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING MARRIED IN DUBAI FOR EXPATS

Pre-marital
Muslim Expats
Non-muslim Expats
Court Marriage

Expats getting married in Dubai need to fulfil pre-defined requirements and procedures. These requirements and procedures may vary based on the couple:

Nationality(ies)
Residency status
Religion
Citizenship

Let’s look at the requirements for Dubai expat marriages in each case.

GENERAL PRE-MARITAL REQUIREMENTS IN DUBAI

Regardless of who you are and your country of origin, these are the pre-conditions and documents required to get married in Dubai:

The bride’s approval.
The couple’s Emirates IDs.
Valid Passports.
Visa status of both parties.
In the marriage contract, at least one person (groom, bride or the bride’s guardian) must have a valid UAE residence visa. Learn more about the UAE visa status enquiry for your visa validity.
A positive pre-marital health screening certificate issued by DHA primary healthcare centres must be procured for both the bride and the groom.

This pre-marital screening is mandatory for getting married in Dubai and costs AED 260. The PHC–pre-marital test is conducted to limit the risk of spreading infectious and inherited diseases.

The consultation may last about 12 minutes. A marriage application may be denied if the medical screening certificate is negative.

MARITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MUSLIM EXPATS IN THE UAE

Muslim expats who want to go for marriage registration in Dubai must meet the following requirements:

civil marriage in dubai for foreigners — *Muslim expats in Dubai can get married according to the laws of the Sharia*

The groom and bride must be at least 18 years old. In case one or both of them do not meet the legal age for marriage in the UAE, special approval from the judge is required.
A spouse must not be twice the age of the other. If they are, a judge’s approval must be sought.
The couple must be in attendance.
The bride’s father or his designated proxy must be in attendance.
Two Muslim male witnesses must be present.
A Muslim woman getting married in Dubai needs her legal guardian’s consent.
If the bride’s father isn’t alive, her next closest male guardian (brother or uncle) must be present.
Widowed or divorced people must have proof of their marital status.
If a Muslim bride has a non-Muslim father, she must obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from her consulate or embassy in the UAE.

The marriage contract must be registered in a UAE Sharia court for the wedlock to be legally valid.

REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-MUSLIM EXPATS GETTING MARRIED IN DUBAI

Non-Muslim expats in Dubai can marry and register the wedding at their home countries’ embassies or consulates. Christian expats can choose to get married at one of the churches in Dubai and get their marriage registered at the embassy or consulate.

Marriage in Dubai for expats is possible if they meet the following criteria:

The bride and groom must be at least 18 years of age.
Have two witnesses for the ceremony.

marriage in dubai for expats requirements — *Marriage formalities for non-Muslim expats in Dubai are regulated by their respective embassies*

In addition to this, the embassy or church may have other requirements for getting married in Dubai. These depend on and may vary from one church to another. In most cases, however, the embassy and/or church may require additional documents like:

Copies of the couples’ passports.
Couple’s birth certificates.
Valid ID of the witnesses.
Proof of divorce or death of a previous spouse (where applicable).

Some embassies in the UAE may ask couples to file additional documents, such as an application for “intention to marry.” Another example is the Philippines embassy, which requires a CENOMAR in the UAE for the bride and groom to legalise their marriage.

So, before you proceed to plan an expat wedding in Dubai, make sure you consult your respective embassies to be clear on the process and requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR COURT MARRIAGE IN DUBAI FOR FOREIGNERS

Court marriage in Dubai for foreigners is a convenient way to tie the knot in this cosmopolitan city. For instance, if the man is Muslim and the woman is non-Muslim, the couple can still opt for court marriage in the UAE. However, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam.

If both the man and woman are non-Muslims, they can apply for marriage at their respective countries’ embassies in the UAE.

On that note, here is the list of Dubai court marriage requirements:

Original birth certificates
Original passport
Proof of residence in the UAE ( self or guardianship)
Valid Emirates ID
A healthy fitness certificate for marriage
A certificate of proof of marital status for both parties (single, married, divorced). The certificate must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant and the UAE Consulate if the certificate was issued from outside the country.
A local proof of marital status certificate can also be issued by the consulate of the applicant and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

WHO OFFICIATES THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY FOR FOREIGNERS IN DUBAI?

All nationals and expatriate residents can get married in the UAE, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

ISLAMIC MARRIAGES IN DUBAI

In Dubai and other parts of the UAE, Muslim marriages for expats and locals are conducted in accordance with the Sharia provisions that are applicable regardless of the couple’s nationality. Islamic marriages in Dubai take place when:

The bride and groom are both Muslims.
The groom is Muslim, and the bride belongs to Ahl Al-Kitaab (People of the Book).

Islamic marriages in Dubai are conducted by Sharia courts or via authorised marriage officers (Mazoons) appointed by the Ministry of Justice.

The ministry also has a comprehensive eMarriage service for couples who wish to get married in the UAE. The system allows you to book an appointment with an authorised officer, pay the fees and reserve your intended marriage date online. Since the system is linked to your Emirates ID, there is no need for identification documents or paperwork.

marriage in uae for foreigners — *Muslim couples can register their marriage applications to the court via the online eMarriage services*

Muslim expats getting married in Dubai must keep in mind that:

The UAE law does not allow a Muslim woman to marry a man of another faith unless the man converts to Islam and presents proof thereof.
Muslim men can marry non-Muslim women in Dubai.

NON-MUSLIM EXPAT MARRIAGES IN DUBAI

For expat marriages in Dubai where both spouses are non-Muslims, the nuptial formalities take place at:

The consulate or embassy of the couple’s country of origin is the UAE.
A church or temple as per the couple’s religion.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A FILIPINO TO MARRY AN INDIAN OR A NEPALI?

If the expat couple getting married in Dubai belong to two different countries, for the marriage to be legal, it should be registered with both countries’ embassies in the UAE.

Things will vary slightly if the couple is Muslim or the man or woman is Muslim.

CAN A FILIPINO AND PAKISTANI MARRY IN DUBAI?

In this case, if the man and woman are Muslims, they can opt for court marriage in Dubai and have the process officiated according to Shariah laws in the UAE.

Please note: A CENOMAR is required for all Filipino marriages in Dubai.

24-HOUR MARRIAGE SERVICE

Non-Muslim couples can also opt for the 24-hour marriage service. They can get their marriage certificate within 24 hours if they meet the criteria listed below:

Both applicants are non-Muslim.
One applicant must be a Dubai resident.
Both should be at least 21 years old.
An embassy-attested marital status must confirm that both applicants are single.
Applicants must be present on the day or send in a representative with a power of attorney.
Original identification and PDF format electronic documentation.
Original passport, Emirates ID and a copy of their Dubai residency permit.
All documents must be legally translated into Arabic by an agency recognised by the UAE Ministry of Justice and fully certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Applicants must visit the Dubai Courts service centre for this service; the cost is AED 482.

FAQS ABOUT MARRIAGE IN UAE FOR FOREIGNERS

CAN YOU GET MARRIED IN DUBAI ON A VISIT VISA?

No, you need a valid Emirates ID to register and legalise your marriage in the UAE. Hence, getting married in Dubai on a visitor visa is impossible.

HOW TO GET MARRIED IN DUBAI COURT?

To get married in Dubai court, here’s what you need to do:

Apply for the marriage contract on the Dubai Courts website.
Pay the certificate fee.
Appear in court with your documents and witnesses for officiation.

Please note:

The Dubai court marriage is only for Muslim couples.
Any documentation from the home country(ies) must be approved by the UAE Foreign Ministry.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET MARRIED IN DUBAI?

The fee to obtain a marriage certificate from the Dubai Shariah Court is AED 220. It excludes the fee of the marriage official. The cost to get married in Dubai for non-Muslims may vary from one embassy/consulate to another.

CAN CHRISTIAN EXPATS GET MARRIED IN A CHURCH IN DUBAI?

Yes, they can. However, after getting married in a Dubai church, they must register their marriage in their respective embassy/consulate to legalise it.

To make your church wedding perfect, get the dress of your dreams from one of the bridal shops in Dubai.

IS CIVIL MARRIAGE ACCEPTED IN DUBAI?

A civil marriage in Dubai for foreigners offers a convenient and legally recognised way for expatriates to form a union. Dubai launched a civil marriage service for non-Muslim residents of the city. This service enables couples to obtain a civil wedding licence in just 24 hours. Remember obtaining a CENOMAR in UAE is essential for Filipino expats who wish to marry.

And that concludes our guide to getting married in Dubai. If you need a professional to handle the day-to-day aspects of planning a beautiful reception, you can consult one of these wedding planners in Dubai.

In case you’re wondering where to hold the reception, there are many hotel wedding venues in Dubai that you can consider.

If you don’t want to book a hotel, you can explore other unique wedding venues in Dubai to host your event.