Can Muslims Have Civil Marriage in Abu Dhabi: Legalize Your Union with Precision
To secure couple benefits globally and ensure their union is recognized both legally and religiously, many Muslim couples turn to various marriage options like Muslim civil marriages and nikkahs.
This blog will outline the steps involved in a Muslim civil marriage and detail the documentation required for both civil and religious ceremonies.
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Civil Marriage For Muslims
The revised marriage laws of Dubai have recently opened the ways for foreign Muslims to get into Muslim civil marriages. The court marriage in Abu Dhabi has facilitated a lawful way for the couples to make their relationships official.
Another aspect to take into consideration is that civil marriages treat both parties with all legal protections in regard to their marriage, such as property division, alimony, and child custody. Added to that, some of the rights entailed to civil marriage are rights of inheritance, social security entitlements, and even sponsorship for visa and residency purposes.
For Muslims resident in the UAE, the organization of a Muslim civil marriage is relatively straightforward. In Abu Dhabi, an officer of the court’s attestation department is responsible for registering and finalizing all civil marriages of residents and tourists visiting the UAE.
Civil Marriage Eligibility
Federal Law No. (41) of 2022 on Civil Personal Status outlines marriage and family regulations. Article 5 details the requirements for a civil marriage:
- Both individuals must be over 21 years old.
- The partners must be unrelated.
- In Dubai, at least one person must be a resident.
- Consent from both individuals is required.
- Each person must show evidence of being single.
- A disclosure form is mandatory for both parties.
What Do You Need to Marry in Civil Court?
Securing a civil court marriage is simpler than you might expect. Here’s what you need:
- Identification
- Passport
- Annulment or divorce certificate from any prior marriage
- Two male witnesses
Civil Marriage vs. Shariah Marriage in Abu Dhabi: Key Differences
Two kinds of main marriage frameworks are available for couples to choose from in Abu Dhabi: a Muslim civil marriage and a Shariah marriage. Each has different rules and regulations to cater to different individual circumstances and preferences.
The Muslim civil marriages in Abu Dhabi are under Federal Law No. 41 of 2022 concerning the Civil Personal Status, hence even more modern in approach to marriage and inclusivity.
Among the important aspects embraced within Muslim civil marriage is that there isn’t any bride’s guardian approval henceforth expected; hence, this makes the process less restrictive for couples upon marriage.
Other differences are that Muslim civil marriages do not require any medical tests to be conducted on the bride and groom, which, on the other hand, is a must for Shariah marriages. This system also is very lenient toward interreligious marriages whereby couples of different religious backgrounds can marry each other after fulfilling certain conditions.
It is for this reason that all Muslim civil marriages are officially registered through the Dubai Courts or whatever legal body may be necessary for a locally and internationally recognized marriage with all the legal protections under UAE civil law.
On the contrary, Shariah marriages conform to Islamic law, which is eminently traditional and directed towards religious dictations.
Further, wali or permission of guardians for the bride at marriage is required under Shariah law, showing the traditional linkage of family consent with marriage. Medical tests for proving the fitness of marriage are compulsorily to be carried out for both bride and groom.
This again has a greater affinity to the Islamic method of regulating the health and compatibility aspects. Shariah marriages are registered through Islamic courts and, in most cases, are confined to persons of the same religion.
This cultural paradigm in marriage indeed places a premium on the religious compatibility of the parties hence generally frowning or placing restrictive conditions on interfaith marriages.
Muslim civil marriages provide an individual with a more liberal and accommodative approach, especially for interfaith couples or those that would require fewer procedural requirements for the sealing of their marriage.
Meanwhile, Shariah marriages remain closely attached to Islamic tenets and are thus more chosen by those who would want to attach religious customs to the commencement of their union. Both the frameworks give valid legal recognition, but the choice between civil and Shariah marriage will depend on the personal, religious, and legal preferences of a couple.
No matter if you select a Muslim civil marriage or Shariah marriage, Easy Wedding will guide you through the entire process.
The Advantages of Muslim Civil Marriage in the UAE
A UAE Sharia marriage followed by a Muslim civil marriage is pretty beneficial. With respect to the legal recognition of a Muslim civil marriage, every possibility may range from the widest.
This will ease your problem in the international lawsuit. Another advantage is that this saves a lot of bureaucratic process and removes the requirement of premarital health screenings; hence, it provides a much easier track for couples.
How to Complete Nikkah and Civil Marriage
Looking for easy ways to get married, here are four simple steps:
Step 1
Perform your Nikkah and get the marriage certificate attested by MOFA in the UAE.
Step 2
Assemble your required documents, such as passport, IDs, and any divorce or annulment certificates.
Step 3
Book an appointment for your civil marriage at the court.
Step 4
Visit the court on the designated day to finalize your civil marriage and obtain your marriage certificate.
Make Your Abu Dhabi Marriage Effortless Today!
Ready to make that step further into your journey together?
Easy Wedding has a team that will guide you through every step to ensure that the whole experience is smooth and stress-free.
Contact us today and start your process of Muslim civil marriage to make this union official. Let us make your special day a reality!
FAQs
Can a Muslim marry a non-Muslim in the UAE?
While in the UAE, a Muslim man is allowed to marry a woman of any other religion, such as Christianity or Judaism, a Muslim woman normally cannot marry a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam. Recently some rules have been changed, and through civil court procedures, Muslim women have obtained the right to marry a non-Muslim man. That is, whereas in the past a man had to be converted, now these new rules allow a way for marriage to occur without conversion.
Do you need to be a resident of the UAE to get married?
No, you are not compelled to be a resident of the UAE to get married in their country. You can also marry in the UAE when on a tourist duty. You will have to submit an application for marrying along with documents like your passport and statement of present status. These shall be checked and scrutinized as well for the end of the procedure to sanction the marriage.
Is civil marriage the same as Nikah?
Nikah and civil marriage are not the same thing. Nikah is a type of religious marriage between the bride and groom, which is performed according to the rituals of Islam. Such marriages are valid in every Islamic state and also in United Arab Emirates. Or, in other words, it is the marriage that is executed by the local government and is carried out according to the secular method. Civil marriage applies to those who may not be interested in religious ceremonies or would favor a marriage with no religious service.
