As an expat in Saudi, you might be wondering about your options to have a wedding in Kuwait. Getting married in Saudi can be a long and troublesome process, most expats usually opt for other easy wedding locations. Kuwait is a GCC country, operating under Sharia law just like Saudi. Sharia law can be rigid in its own way.

Easy wedding requirements in Kuwait for Saudi expats

To legalize your marriage in Kuwait, the involved parties are required to have a legal resident permit. This can make the process difficult, especially if either you or your future spouse are not a residents in Kuwait. Most GCC countries do not accommodate visitors in their marriage laws.

Below is the detailed list of documents required for you to get married in Kuwait

• Civil ID/Passport for residents
• Letter from the Executive Committee and the personal identification (for illegal resident applicant)
• Determination of heirs for widow applicants
• Letter from Public Institution for Social security (if the groom is a student/retired/unemployed)
• Determination of heirs (the if guardian is deceased)
• Proof of divorce
• Power of attorney
• Permit to marry (if the groom is employed in the military)
• The presence of the bride’s guardian is essential
• Two witnesses are required

You will have to file these documents in court along with an application form and a fee to legalize your marriage. These documents have to be provided in Arabic.

Verdict on an easy wedding for Saudi expats

If you are an interfaith, interracial, or non-Muslim expat couple, it is advised that you choose other easy wedding options to get married. Beautiful countries like Georgia and Seychelles are ready to welcome international couples. They offer cooperative marriage laws with a swift process. Having an online wedding in the comfort of your home is another excellent option for you.

Curious about other easy wedding options? If you are an expat living in Kuwait or Saudi, our team is here to help you through the process.

As of February 1, 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be implementing reforms to the Federal Personal Status Law, affecting the legal system for non-Muslim expatriates concerning marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance.

The main purpose of these changes is to modernize the UAE legal system. The following are the details of these new reforms.

Civil Marriage Reforms in Dubai

The new law will regulate the conditions and procedures for marrying, allowing non-Muslim couples to legally wed in a non-Sharia process. To get married, both parties must be at least 21 years of age and fill out a declaration form in front of a judge.

This law has been in effect in Abu Dhabi since February 2022, and will now be implemented UAE-wide starting from February 2023.

Divorce Reforms in the UAE

Under the new decree, either spouse can initiate a divorce, without having to prove fault or justify the need for it. Divorces may be granted after a single hearing, without the need for family guidance counseling or mediation sessions.

If the divorcing couple has children, joint and equal custody will be granted until the children are 18 years old. In the event of custody disputes, the court can take further action while considering the best interests of the child or children.

Financial alimony will be determined based on factors such as the length of the marriage, the wife’s age, and the financial status of both partners, with a female’s testimony having equal value to a male’s.

Inheritance Reforms for non Muslim in Dubai

Non-Muslims can now register their wills at the same time as their marriage certificates, allowing them to dictate who will receive their property. In the absence of a will, 50 percent of the deceased’s estate will go to the spouse, while the other half will be equally distributed among any children. If there are no children, 50 percent will go to surviving parents or siblings.

Conclusion

The reforms to the UAE’s family law are significant steps towards modernizing the country’s legal system and providing greater protection and support for non-Muslim expatriates.

The changes to marriage, divorce, and inheritance laws aim to simplify the process and ensure fairness for all parties involved. These efforts demonstrate the UAE’s commitment to providing a more inclusive and progressive society for its citizens and residents.

If you’re in a GCC country, including Kuwait, and want to get married, we can help you with that. Just contact us and we’ll get everything sorted out for you.

Abortion is not allowed in the UAE. The statutes specify that anyone who aborts a child or assists in the abortion of a child commits a criminal act.
Continue reading to learn more about abortion in the United Arab Emirates and our ultimate advice for pregnant women.

Abortion’s Consequences in the UAE

Before we get into the regulations of abortion. Let’s have a look at the repercussions of getting an abortion in the UAE. Anyone who intentionally aborts a pregnant woman by giving her medication or doing any other technique that ends in abortion faces a five-year prison sentence.

Suppose the crime is committed without her permission and the criminal faces seven years in prison. These rules were recently tightened after it was discovered that pregnant women were forced to abort their children, putting them and their newborn babies at risk.

Abortion is illegal in the UAE unless the following conditions are met:

It puts the woman’s life in jeopardy, or there are indications that the baby will be born with fatal defects and will die.

The fetus must be aborted before it reaches the age of 120 days. Which occurs during the 17th week of pregnancy and one week into the second trimester. An authorized medical board must approve the abortion. It is illegal to abort a fetus after 120 days of pregnancy.

Final Recommendation to Couples in the UAE Facing an unexpected pregnancy

It’s a well-known reality that having a child changes many aspects of one’s life. But abortion is not an option in the UAE. As previously said, you have the option of raising the child jointly, as a single parent, or by marrying.

Many couples who have been waiting for the ideal time to say “I do” can now commit to having a happy family while awaiting the birth of their child.

If you’re thinking of getting married but don’t want to have an abortion. Give our legal wedding planners a call and explain your circumstances.

Kuwait has a religious court system that governs family and personal status law. It is rooted in Sharia law. As of 1984, Kuwait’s family law code governed matters such as divorce, marriage, child custody, and inheritance. 

To marry under Sharia law for Muslim couples is simpler in Kuwait rather than for mixed couples. This article will provide you with a deep insight into why is it hard to get married under Sharia Law for Muslim ex-pats marrying a non-muslim.

Regulations to get married under Sharia Law

For the marriages of international expats under Islamic law, couples may have to submit the following documents, depending on their status at the time.

• Citizenship or civil ID (for Kuwaiti applicants)
• Citizenship or civil ID (for resident applicants)
• Official letter from the executive committee and personal identification (for illegal residents)
• (For widow applicants) Identification of heirs
• Public Institution for Social Security official letter (if the husband is a student, a dealer, a retired, or unemployed)
• Identification of heirs for those whose guardian is deceased.
• Required divorce certificate 
• Submit a power of attorney
• Require Permit to marry from the employer (if the husband is a military man)

In Kuwait: Final verdict on marriage for mixed couples under Sharia law

Georgia, or Seychelles, is renowned as a country for the easy-wedding of all expats around the world. Not only to have a simpler marriage process than Kuwait but it is also filled with beautiful romantic locations, which makes it an ideal wedding. Sometimes, couples are entertained with online services for marriage. 

Keep in touch with us and avail wedding packages for expats all over the world!