How to get married in Dubai for foreigners
A lot of foreigners or expats in Dubai are used to having to prepare a plethora of documents just to be able to live legally in the city. This is significant especially for couples who are looking to settle down in Dubai as paperwork for marriage can be finalized up to a year.
Dubai follows Sharia Law which makes the complicated process of marriage just a tad more complex as something so simple as starting a family is deemed illegal unless proper documentation is provided.
The diverse scope of religions present in the city also provide unique scenarios for legalization under Sharia Law such as:
A Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman, but a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man unless he converts into Islam
guide2dubai.com
What are the documents required to legally get married in Dubai
Here is the official list of documents:
- In Dubai, at least one party to the marriage contract (husband, wife or wife’s guardian) should have a residence visa in the UAE.
- Couple’s Birth Certificates in english
- Couple’s Passports (original and photocopies)
- Passports of Witnesses (original and photocopies)
- UAE Medical Fitness Certificate and Blood Test
- For divorce
- Final divorce papers
- Former Marriage certificates
- · For widows
- Death certificate of previous spouse
Do note that all English documents have to be
- Officially translated into Arabic
- Notarized at the Dubai Courts (both English and Arabic documents)
- Authenticated by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Authenticated by the embassy of the couple’s country
- If the couple have different nationalities, both embassies requirements need to be met
Situations that complicate getting married in Dubai
1. Getting married while pregnant
Although UAE law now does allow unmarried couples live together, having a child out of wedlock is still considered a crime.
2. Getting married for different religions
As mentioned, UAE law does provide leeway for couples who want to marry despite having different religions. However, these situations need to be consulted by their respective embassies for best case scenario,
3. No access to documents through embassy
The nature of embassies does have the tendency to provide documents for long periods of time which makes finalizing the wedding a difficult task
There are a lot of hurdles that you need to clear if you really want to be married in Dubai. For most expats who already live here, being able to celebrate this special day with people you are close to and having the UAE experience is great. However, there are other great options to situate yourself in without having to wait for a long period or spend a lot of money, such as getting married in Georgia.
You will find below a table to compare getting married in Dubai or in Georgia
Dubai/UAE | Georgia | |
Documents Needed | List of requirements | Passport Copy |
Family Consent | Most of the cases | None |
Time | If Muslim about a week, If non-Muslim about a few weeks to a few months | Half a day |
Religion | Matters | Doesn’t matter |
Embassy/Legalization | UAE is not part of the Apostille convention (needs to legalize on each embassy) | Already a part of the Apostille convention (no need to legalize on each embassy) |
As you can see getting married can be easy. But mostly for its citizens. As soon as a couple represents different countries, nationalities or religions the process can become very complicated and includes a lot of paperwork. Meanwhile almost all you need in Georgia is your passport. Want to know more? Check our packages here.
Do you know someone who would appreciate this advice? Don’t hesitate to share the article with them!
Get Married During COVID-19 in Georgia | Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] married in Georgia is one of the easiest and cheapest ways that you can possibly have. Check the comparison of having a wedding in Dubai and in Georgia to know the […]
Is Georgia a marriage solution for GCC expats?| Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] Georgia is incomparable in terms of flexibility in catering what the best wedding will be for you. As long as you know what you are looking for, Georgia has it. And if you are still not sure if you should get married in Dubai or opt Georgia chick this comparison table. […]
Can GCC residents marry in Georgia over a dayoff?| Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] married in Georgia over the weekend. And if you are thinking of a possibility of doing the same in Dubai check this article and think […]
How can GCC residents marry in Georgia? | Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] documents. We have composed a legal checklist that may also help you. And if you are considering getting married in Dubai instead you should definitely check this blogpost to know the […]
How GCC residents can get married in Georgia? | Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] choose between getting married in Dubai or Georgia? Check the difference here to help you make up your […]
Can foreigners get married in Georgia? | Easy Wedding Georgia %
[…] start planning! It helps. And just to make sure you chose the best solution you can also read about requirements for foreigners getting married in Dubai here. As you can expect it’s not nearly as easy as it it in […]
Can you marry in Georgia over the weekend? | Easy Wedding Georgia
[…] If you are wondering what is the probability of doing the same in Dubai, check the comparison here.https://easyweddinggeorgia.com/blog/how-to-get-married-in-dubai-for-foreigners/ […]