If you’re a UAE national, expatriate, or tourist in Dubai, you can marry in the emirate. However, you will have to check the additional requirements and conditions you must meet. If you’re living in the UAE, the marriage has to be registered with the Sharia Courts and entered into their database.
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Requirements for Court Marriage in Dubai
If you’re planning on getting married in the beautiful emirate of Dubai, you need to comply with Dubai court marriage requirements. They are as follows:
For each contracting party:
- Birth certificate, original and photocopy certified and apostilled/attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Certification of no marriage, original and apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the certificate must bear correct and complete full name of the certificate holder: last name, middle name, and first name; and place and date of birth of the contracting party)
- Recent colored photo, two pieces preferably 2×2” size
- Passport, original and copy (data page only)
- Two male witnesses to the ceremony (their presence, signatures, and identification documents)
- Presence of the father of the bride
- Timely attendance during the court marriage in Dubai to avoid inconvenience
- Marriage application form
- UAE premarital medical certificate (blood test has to be undertaken with the Ministry of Health-affiliated medical centers) – a health screening is mandatory if you will get married in Dubai. The test is intended to rule out hereditary or communicable diseases. The fee is AED 260, subject to change without prior notice. The marriage application will be rejected if the medical certificate is negative.
- Approval or willingness of each contracting party, most especially the bride
- Either contracting party has a valid residency visa in UAE (the guardian can be the one that has a valid residency visa in UAE)
- Valid status as a contracting party to a marriage
Take note: the certificate of no marriage is the same as the legal capacity in contracting marriage. Dubai Courts can solemnize marriages between different nationalities and religions, subject to conditions. To acquire a certificate of no marriage or legal capacity for contracting marriage, the following documents are required:
- Application for issuance of legal capacity for contracting marriage, duly signed and accomplished (type-written or printed legibly)
- Copies of both contracting parties’ passports and other identification papers
- Certification of single status
- Birth certificate (must be issued by a local authority), duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For 18- to 21-year-old contracting parties:
- Parental consent (affidavit) notarized and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aside from the requirements mentioned above
For 21- to 25-year-old contracting parties:
- Parental advice (affidavit) notarized and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apart from the requirements mentioned earlier
For widowers/widows:
- Death certificate of the deceased spouse
- Marriage contract, original and photocopy
- Advisory on marriage with label, “for marriage purposes,” attested by the Ministry of foreign Affairs apart from the requirements stated above
Annulled contracting parties:
- Amended marriage contract issued by local authorities, original and photocopy
- Court order and certificate of decision finality
- Advisory on marriage (w/ “for marriage purposes” label), attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aside from the general requirements mentioned earlier
Report of Marriage General Requirements
Following the Dubai court marriage ceremony, the marriage contract has to be registered. The general requirements are as follows:
- Accomplished form for report of marriage (originally signed, if handwritten, print legibly or have it type-written except for the signatures)
- Passport of each contracting party to the marriage, original and copies of data page only
- Marriage certificate that was issued by Dubai Courts, original and copies
- Certificate of Islam conversion, applicable for Muslim converts
- English translation of certificate of Islam conversion, if applicable
- Affidavit of delayed marriage registration, if applicable (for marriage reported late), originally signed
For divorced applicants:
- Submit judicial recognition or absolute divorce decree, apostilled/attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Birth certificate of the former spouse
- Bride’s birth certificate apart from the general requirements mentioned above
For widowed/annulled applicants:
- Submit judicial decree for annulment or the declaration of nullity for a previous marriage, attested/apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Death certificate of the former/deceased spouse
- Bride’s birth certificate apart from the general requirements stated above
Seek professional help
Please note that this information is only for guidance purposes, liable to changes without prior notice. Check with a legal professional specializing on-court marriage in Dubai for updated details prior to the marriage. With court marriage in Dubai, you must first submit a marriage application and obtain permission from the local marriage authorities. In order to check if you’re eligible for marriage in the emirate, seek the help of the professionals like Dubai Court Marriage. There are certain restrictions imposed by the Dubai Courts for conducting court marriages and registering legal partnerships. Marriage experts can also help in acquiring the necessary documents for getting married in Dubai.