Muslim Marriages in the U.A.E

Muslim marriages in the United Arab Emirates are available for residents of the country. At least one party must hold residency to register the marriage.

A marriage is considered a Muslim marriage under Sharia law when both spouses are Muslim, or when the groom is Muslim and the bride is Christian or Jewish (from the "People of the Book").

All Muslim marriages must be registered with the Courts to be legally recognized. Purely religious ceremonies conducted at a mosque or by a regular imam, without court registration, do not result in an official marriage certificate and are not recognized by most countries.

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Requirements for Muslim Marriage in the U.A.E.

Several requirements exist for parties to qualify for and register a Muslim marriage.

1. Age and Consent Requirements

First, both applicants must be at least 18 years old to marry. If either party is younger, a judge must approve the marriage. Additionally, if one spouse's age is twice that of the other, judge approval is required. The bride's written consent is mandatory for all Muslim marriages.

2. Guardian and Witness Requirements

The bride must be represented by her male guardian (Wali), who is, usually, her father. In certain cases, however, a judge can act as an alternative guardian, when the default guardian is not available, physically or legally. If the father is unavailable, the next closest male guardian serves this role, such as an elder brother or other male relative. Proxy arrangements are possible but require specific court evaluation.

There must be two (2) witnesses, preferably male witnesses, who must attend the marriage ceremony and sign the marriage contract.

3. Pre-marital Medical Screening

Each applicant must submit a pre-marital medical certificate issued by a qualified medical institution. Pre-marital medical screening is mandatory for all Muslims wishing to marry. The screening aims to prevent transmission of infectious and genetic diseases between spouses. Tests include HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, other hemoglobinopathies, German Measles (Rubella), and blood grouping.

You can obtain the screening certificate from:

- Ministry of Health and Prevention (multiple locations across all emirates)

- Dubai Health Authority

- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi

Note: Muslims who opt for a civil marriage are not required to complete this screening.

4. Dowry Limits (Mahr)

According to Federal Law No. 21 of 1997 on Fixing the Dowry in the Contract of Marriage, the advance dowry (mahr) cannot exceed AED 20,000, and the deferred dowry cannot exceed AED 30,000. For UAE nationals, the maximum dowry is AED 50,000, with AED 20,000 paid in advance. The dowry amounts are documented in the marriage contract.

5. Additional Documents

Wherever relevant, parties must present to the court previous divorce certificates or death certificate of a previous spouse. In some cases, additional approvals and no-objection certificates may be required.

6. Required Documents

To register your Muslim marriage, you must provide:

• Valid passport or Emirates ID for both parties

• Pre-marital medical screening certificates

• Identification documents for two male Muslim witnesses

• Identification for the bride's guardian

• Divorce certificate or death certificate of previous spouse (if applicable)

• No Objection letter from embassy/consulate (for interfaith marriages)

• Conversion certificate from approved Islamic center (if applicable)

Interfaith Marriage Rules

Under Sharia law, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man. If a non-Muslim man wishes to marry a Muslim woman, he must convert to Islam for the marriage to be valid and registered. The conversion must be documented with a certificate from an Islamic center approved by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

A Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman if she belongs to the "People of the Book" (Ahl al-Kitab), Christians or Jews. He cannot marry women of other faiths, such as atheists or followers of polytheistic religions, unless the woman converts to Islam first.

If the bride is Muslim and her father is not Muslim, she must provide a No Objection letter from her embassy or consulate.

How to Register Your Muslim Marriage

You can register your Muslim marriage in one of three (3) ways.

1. Religious Ceremony

The first option is, for those who wish to get married through a religious ceremony, to have their ceremony officiated by a court-authorized imam, otherwise known as the wedding officiator (Mazoon). The ceremony can be conducted at the venue selected by the parties, for example, at home or at a hired place. Prior to the ceremony, the parties must provide the imam with all of the relevant documents, including identification documents and medical certificates. The imam will conduct the ceremony, in the presence of the witnesses and bride's guardian, along with his approval. After the ceremony, the imam will register the marriage with the Courts. The result will be a marriage certificate issued by the Courts.

2. Court Officiation

The second option is to get married physically before the Courts. This is done before any public notary, all of whom fall under the umbrella of the Courts. The parties, along with their witnesses and guardian, must visit one of the notary offices, without the need of an appointment. They should have with them the relevant identification documents, as well as the medical certificate. They will also need to fill out some additional documents before the notary. Provided that all of the requirements are met, the resulting document will be a marriage certificate issued at the same time, notarized and registered with the authorities.

3. Online Application

The third option for Muslims to get married is to do so online. These days, courts in most emirates offer an online option to apply for a Muslim marriage. A number of government apps and court websites exist, through which applicants can apply for a Muslim marriage. Dubai Courts provide the eZawaj portal. In fact, most courts encourage applicants to, at the very least, start the marriage application online. As in other cases, the same marriage requirements apply for the online option, such as identification documents, medical certificate, guardian and witnesses. The Courts also hold hearings online, during which the parties, witnesses and guardian appear. Importantly, all parties must be in the country at the time of this online court appearance. Provided that all requirements have been met, a marriage certificate will be issued shortly after the online appearance.

Costs

Court fees vary by emirate and service type. In Dubai, court marriage fees are approximately AED 475. In Abu Dhabi, the regular service costs AED 300, while the express service costs AED 2,500. Fees for court-authorized marriage officers (Mazoons) vary depending on the officer and services provided.

When Do You Need a Lawyer?

Legal assistance becomes valuable in complex situations. If your guardian lives abroad or is unavailable, a lawyer can arrange proxy representation or work with the court to appoint an alternative guardian. For interfaith marriages, attorneys help with conversion certificates and embassy No Objection letters.

Foreign documents require attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certified Arabic translation. Lawyers handle this process and ensure paperwork meets court requirements. They also assist with age exceptions requiring judge approval or marriages involving previous divorces abroad.

LYLAW's multilingual team provides support throughout the marriage registration process and handles post-marriage matters like spouse visas and estate planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Muslim woman marry a non-Muslim man in the UAE?

No. Under Sharia law, a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam before the marriage. The conversion must be certified by an approved Islamic center.

What is the new law for marriage in UAE?

Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 provides civil marriage for non-Muslims. Muslim marriages continue under Sharia requirements as outlined in this article.

Can Emirati marry non-Emirati?

Yes. Emirati women marrying foreign men need parental consent and may require employer approval if working in the Armed Forces.

How do Muslims get married step by step?

Choose one of three methods: hire a court-authorized imam for a ceremony at your location, attend a court directly, or apply online through government portals like eZawaj.

How long does it take to get married in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi's regular service processes applications in 10 working days for AED 300. Express service completes in 1 working day for AED 2,500.

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