Wedding planning may be a stressful affair, and it can be tough to keep track of all the details. Particularly if you are marrying in Kuwait. The country’s wedding process is lengthy and time-consuming, so you may have to wait longer than intended. In this article we will discuss several options so you can have an easy wedding process in Kuwait.

Wedding requirements in Kuwait

If you are an expat wishing to get married in Kuwait, you will need to satisfy a list of requirements for your marriage to be legally recognized. These can vary according to your residence status:

• For expatriates, a civil ID or a passport is required.
• For illegal resident applications, the Executive Committee letter and personal identity are required.
• Choosing heirs for widow applicants
• If the husband is a student, a dealer, retired, or jobless, he will receive a letter from the Social Security Administration.
• If the guardian dies, the heirs are determined.
• The divorcee’s divorce certification
• Power of attorney
• If the husband is a member of the military, the employer will provide a marriage license.

Easy wedding alternatives to getting married in Kuwait

If we keep the daunting registration process aside, Kuwait provides a range of excellent and regal wedding venues for your wedding day. You have an assortment of options from local wedding halls to international hotels like Hilton offering beachfront locations. Reservation for these venues can be difficult to procure and afford for several expats. This usually pushes some expats to turn to their home countries for their dream weddings. Other Kuwait expats opt for destination weddings in countries with easy wedding procedures like Georgia or Seychelles.

How can Kuwait expats wed in Georgia?

Georgia is quickly becoming a popular wedding destination, thanks to its breathtaking scenery and world-class restaurants. Whether you prefer the Black Sea coast, the understated majesty of Tbilisi, or the snowy peaks, one thing is certain: your wedding will be truly magical. All of this with the added benefit of an easy wedding procedure for Kuwait expats makes Georgia a perfect location. All you need to provide is:

• Joint written application
• Passports for the bride and the groom
• 2 witnesses
• A document certifying the termination of a previous marriage.

Is having a wedding in Seychelles an option for Kuwait expats?

Absolutely! The Seychelles Islands have been named the World’s Most Romantic Destination for their breathtaking beauty. You have the opportunity to plan your perfect wedding on the glittering shores of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by white sandy beaches. The government of Seychelles is very accommodating to couples of all races and religions. This is a major pro for Kuwait expats tying the knot with their partners of different religions or nationalities. The only documents you have to submit to the Civil Status Office are a valid passport and birth certificate. If you are divorced or widowed, the evidence must be produced, such as a deed for change of name or a death certificate, as applicable.

Online wedding route for Kuwait expats

If you and your partner are currently located in different countries, it is possible to have a legal wedding online. Since Kuwait operates under Sharia law it is not possible to live with your partner unless you are married. An online wedding is a perfect solution to this. It is also, very wallet-friendly and you can always have a beautiful destination wedding celebration for your reception. The paperwork required for an online wedding varies based on your or your partner’s place of residence. This process will be a snap if one of you resides in a country with flexible marriage laws.

Final verdict

With all these wonderful options, it eventually comes down to the bride and groom to make the final decision. There could be several factors influencing your decision like budgets, venues, or simply the desire to have your dream wedding. Nothing should hold you back from being with your partner.

We suggest you explore all your options for an easy wedding as an expat in Kuwait. To discuss more, reach out to one of our experts!

There are 122 countries around the world that belong to the Hague Apostille convention. The aim of this organization is to ensure that the countries find a common ground for their legal processes. Kuwait does not belong to the convention but Saudi Arabia has joined this HCCH Apostille convention.

Since Kuwait and Saudi belong to the same continent and are part of the GCC countries, this is important news for Kuwait expats. This article examines the latest update on Saudi joining the Hague convention and what this means for expats in Kuwait.

What it means for Saudi to join the HCCH Apostille convention

Since Saudi has joined the Hague Apostille convention, it means that when legal documents from Apostille countries are tendered before the embassy, they will not have to undergo a second round of validation. The fees that are attached to the legalization of these documents will also be bypassed.

This is a sharp contrast with what has been the case over the years. The new agreement goes into full effect on December 2022. The development shows that more Middle East countries are now showing more interest in becoming part of the Hague Convention.

Highlights of Saudi joining the Hague Apostille Convention

Thus far, we have seen that the development of the new agreement in Saudi Arabia is a good one. Foreign public documents can now be moved with more ease and reduced costs. Visitors that have documents such as these have one less worry when visiting Saudi Arabia.

Expats from Kuwait who have documents from Apostille nations now have more positive prospects. This news is a delight to many.

Presently, we do not have more information on how Saudi joining the Apostille Convention will affect couples who marry in Apostille nations outside Saudi. We will avail you with more details when there is a new development.

The UAE has been revising its laws in order to portray itself as a modernizing force in a traditionally conservative region, with foreigners accounting for 90 percent of the country’s population of nearly ten million people.

According to WAM, the move “contributes to Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global leading destination for skills and experience from throughout the world.”

CURRENT UAE LAWS: NON-MUSLIM CIVIL MARRIAGE IN ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi recently announced civil marriages for non-Muslims in the UAE. However, the exact conditions are still unknown at this time.

This is a significant step forward for the UAE, as civil marriages are uncommon in the Middle East, the birthplace of Islam. Marriages between Christians and Jews are traditionally performed under the authority of one of the three monotheistic religions.

Having said that, a Canadian couple became the first to marry in Abu Dhabi under a new rule governing non-Muslims’ personal status, according to the official WAM news agency.

APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has announced that birth certificates for babies can be issued online through the “TAMM” platform. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Government Services platform.

Parents of newborns will receive communication from the hospital facility following the birth of their child. They will not be notified of the registration and login processes until later.

They’ll be directed to submit the necessary documents and pay the necessary fees in order to obtain the certificate.

The online service is available to anyone who requires certificates for past birth dates issued by the emirate’s hospitals.

VERDICT ON GETTING MARRIED IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND GETTING A DIGITAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE

While the government has opened doors and made life simpler for overseas couples, this is not always this way. Every couple is in a unique situation, and they may not have all of the necessary paperwork and documentation.

It’s a good idea to use an agency, which has handled expat couple marriages and UAE newborn visa cases.

If you want your newborn documentation to go as smoothly as possible, schedule a consultation with our legal team.

Both Dubai and Kuwait are home to many expats from around the world. Both countries are very friendly city, and welcoming of expats given that many Kuwaitis have attended American, British, Irish, and other foreign colleges.

The mixing pot of culture of locals and expats explains why you have so many people from different nationalities and religion meet, fall in love and decide to consolidate their love through marriage.

In this article we shed light on the requirements for a paperwork for a civil marriage in Dubai Vs Kuwait.

Paperwork for civil marriage in Dubai

A civil marriage in Dubai is only possible if both partners are non Muslims. If either of the partner is a Muslim then getting married in Dubai that follows Sharia law is not possible.

Legal document requirements in Dubai for civil marriage

Non-Muslims can complete their marriage formalities at the following locations:

• Their country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE,
• A temple or church, depending on their religion.
• Some countries require nationals to file an intent to marry application with their embassy or consulate in the UAE. You should check with your embassy and proceed as necessary.
• The marriage must be registered in both parties’ embassies in the UAE.
• The bride’s approval
• At least one of the parties to the marriage contract (husband, wife, or wife’s guardian) must have a UAE residency visa. Both the bride and groom must be UAE residents in other emirates.
• A positive pre-marital screening certificate issued by the concerned public healthcare institutes in the UAE for the couple.

Civil marriage in Kuwait for Non Muslims

If both partners are Non Muslim; tentatively the following list of documents would be required. However the same can differ based on the nationality and current living situation of each partner.

• Nationality certificate or civil ID (for Kuwaiti applicants)
• Passport or civil ID (for resident applicants)
• Personal identity and a letter from the Executive Committee (for illegal resident applicant)
• Identifying the heirs (for widow applicants)
• Letter from the Public Social Security Institution (in cases where the husband is a student, a dealer, a retired, or unemployed)
• Identifying the heirs (if the guardian is deceased)
• Certification of divorce (in case of divorcees)
• Attorney-in-fact power of attorney
• Employer-issued marriage license (if the husband is a military man)

In conclusion to getting your civil marriage in Dubai Vs Kuwait

Whether you decide to get married in Dubai or Kuwait; both countries have extremely long, timeous wedding process which might require you to wait longer than expected. However if a civil paperwork is the end goal then countries such as Georgia, Seychelles make it easier to marry.

Keen to learn more about your wedding situation; speak to our team that has helped many couples tie the knot easy and hassle-free.