تيم إليوت
Welcome to Lawgical, the UAE’s first, and still the only, regular legal podcast. My name’s Tim Elliott, and I’m with the Managing Partner of the Dubai-based legal firm, Yamalova & Plewka, here in Dubai. Ludmila Yamalova, good to see you.
لودميلا يامالوفا
Good to be here with you, Tim, as always.
تيم إليوت
This episode of Lawgical, Ludmila, focuses on civil marriage under Abu Dhabi’s civil family courts. Now, this is big news. You can now get married in a civil ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, can you not?
لودميلا يامالوفا
Indeed, you can. Although, I guess not “we,” as you and I are out of that game now, but certainly anyone else who wants to get married.
تيم إليوت
Out of that game now. We’re on the shelf.
لودميلا يامالوفا
We are. Yes, super high up on the shelf, out of reach. Until about 2022, there wasn’t really an option in the UAE to get married in a civil ceremony. There were options for non-Muslims to get married, but these were all religious marriages—be it Hindu, Christian, or others—facilitated by religious institutions.
At the end of 2021, Abu Dhabi introduced its own law and opened a new family court under the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), offering the first civil marriages—not just in the UAE but in the region. The law, Abu Dhabi Law #14 of 2021, was initially called “Concerning Personal Status for Foreigners.” It was later renamed Civil Marriages and Its Effects.
Under this law, anyone wishing to get married in a civil ceremony can do so through the Abu Dhabi Family Court, specifically via the ADJD website. Importantly, while this service is based in Abu Dhabi, it’s available to anyone residing in the UAE. You don’t need any direct connection to Abu Dhabi, and it’s even accessible to tourists—you don’t have to be a UAE resident to marry through the ADJD.
To clarify, the overseeing court is the ADJD, under which the Abu Dhabi Family Court specifically handles civil marriages.
تيم إليوت
Okay. This is now enshrined under UAE law—Federal Decree #41 of 2022. A couple of interesting points here: unlike marriages under Sharia law, civil marriages in the UAE don’t require guardian approval or medical tests. Is that correct?
لودميلا يامالوفا
Exactly. It’s a straightforward process. The main documents required are your identification—passport and/or Emirates ID. If either party has been previously married, they must provide proof that the prior marriage has been dissolved, such as a divorce decree or death certificate.
Additionally, there’s the option to submit a prenuptial agreement, but it’s not mandatory. These are the only documents required. Previously, marriages under Sharia law necessitated guardian approval and medical tests, which created hurdles, especially for expats. Now, none of that is required. You simply need your passport, Emirates ID, and to show up on the day of the ceremony to sign the marriage documents.
تيم إليوت
And it’s all online, right? You apply online as well?
لودميلا يامالوفا
Exactly. It’s very modern—fully digital, very 21st century. This shift has made it much easier for people to formalize their relationships without the need to travel outside the country or deal with lengthy processes.
Previously, if someone wanted a non-religious marriage, they had to travel to places like Sri Lanka, Seychelles, or Mauritius. After the ceremony, documents had to be notarized, attested, legalized, and apostilled—a process that could take over a month. Plus, there was the added cost and effort of planning the trip and accommodating guests.
Now, all of this is avoided. Since the marriage takes place in the UAE, the resulting documents are already recognized locally and don’t require additional attestations. The entire application process is online through the ADJD website.
To apply, you log in with your UAE Pass, which simplifies access—there’s no need to set up a separate court portal. After logging in, you’ll find a dedicated service for civil marriage applications. You upload documents like your Emirates ID, passport, and, optionally, a prenuptial agreement or divorce decree, if applicable. Once submitted, you pay a fee and wait for confirmation.
تيم إليوت
What’s the fee?
لودميلا يامالوفا
It’s very accessible. The regular application fee is AED 300, which is about USD 80. There’s also an express option for AED 2,500 for those who need expedited processing.
تيم إليوت
Interesting. If expats living here marry in the UAE, it eliminates many legal complications compared to marrying abroad. It also avoids the hassle of traveling to places like the Seychelles for the ceremony. I also noticed that guests are allowed at the ceremony, provided their names are registered. This could potentially create a new wedding industry here, don’t you think?
لودميلا يامالوفا
Absolutely. The law’s accessibility to tourists as well as residents makes this a prime opportunity for the tourism and hospitality sectors. Imagine couples flying in from anywhere in the world to not only get married but to celebrate in iconic UAE locations.
Once you present yourselves at the ADJD for the ceremony, you can also invite guests. They simply need to show their identification documents. While civil ceremonies are traditionally simple, in Abu Dhabi, couples can easily transition from the courthouse to luxury resorts or venues for a grander celebration.
As you mentioned, the UAE is home to incredible destinations like Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi or the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. This opens the door to a thriving wedding industry.
تيم إليوت
If I managed a seven-star hotel here in Dubai with a helipad, I’d be designing wedding packages right now.
لودميلا يامالوفا
Exactly. While I haven’t specifically researched this area, it’s likely already happening. And if not, I’m sure this podcast will inspire it.
تيم إليوت
That wraps up another edition of Lawgical. Civil marriages under Abu Dhabi’s civil family courts—truly a game-changer. As always, thanks to our legal expert, Managing Partner at Yamalova & Plewka, Ludmila Yamalova.
لودميلا يامالوفا
شكراً لك، تيم.
تيم إليوت
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