For non-Muslim expats residing in Dubai who wish to enter into marriage within the emirate, the provisions of UAE Personal Law for non-Muslims apply. According to Article 1(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status (UAE Personal Law for Non-Muslims), this legislation applies to non-Muslim citizens or foreigners residing in the State, unless one of the parties insists on applying their national law regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, and proof of kinship.
Non-Muslims wishing to marry through the relevant Personal Status Court must be at least 21 years old. Each future spouse is obliged to explicitly declare their consent to the marriage before the judge and sign an information disclosure form. The conditions for civil marriage for non-Muslims in the UAE are detailed in Article 5 of the UAE Personal Law for Non-Muslims.
Article 6 of the UAE Personal Law for Non-Muslims regulates the procedures for concluding and certifying a civil marriage. Civil marriage procedures can take place before a certifying judge in the competent court after submitting an application using a special form, provided that all requirements of this Decree-Law and its subsidiary legislation are met.
The marriage is concluded by both spouses filling out the appropriate form before the certifying judge. Spouses have the right to agree on the terms of the contract that will govern their rights during the marriage and rights after divorce, especially concerning joint custody of children. The marriage contract form must include details of any previous marriages, as well as the date of divorce, if applicable. The wife must state that her marriage is not yet valid, and the husband must provide such a statement if his country's law does not permit polygamy; in any case, the husband must disclose information about any existing marital relationships to the certifying judge.
The contract must also specify the consent of each party, whether oral or written. After verifying compliance with all conditions of the civil marriage contract and completing the procedures established in this article, the certifying judge approves the marriage contract, which is then entered into the relevant registry.
Based on the above provisions, a couple may consider marrying before a judge in the Dubai Personal Status Court, provided they meet the requirements of the UAE Personal Law for Non-Muslims. Furthermore, depending on the couple's religion, they may consider getting married at non-Muslim religious centers approved by the Dubai Community Development Authority, such as churches, Hindu temples, or Sikh temples (Gurdwaras).
Depending on citizenship, it is recommended to consult the relevant embassy or consulate in the UAE if it provides marriage services for non-Muslim residents. Marriage registration may also be possible at such an embassy or consulate.
For further information on the procedure, legal consultation should be sought from a lawyer in the UAE. Ashish Mehta is the founder and managing partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates, qualified to practice in Dubai, the UK, and India. Readers can send their questions to news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.
The Emirate has announced the start of nominations for the first Dubai-it Award, designed to recognize those who embody the Dubai-it philosophy by turning the impossible into reality. Nominations will open on Monday, August 10, and close on Thursday, September 10.
The award, which was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in June, will annually honor individuals, projects, companies, and institutions that demonstrate the 'Dubai-it' approach. Sheikh Hamdan noted that the award 'recognizes achievements, inspiring the next generation of transformative success.'
The 'Dubai-it' initiative was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on June 17. This concept reflects the belief that ambitions mean little without their realization, and speed must be combined with quality.
The Dubai-it Award will be held annually from September to May. Its goal is to identify examples that align with the Dubai action philosophy—actions that turn ambitious ideas into results, achieving them with perfection, precision, and distinction in a short period of time. June, July, and August will be dedicated to receiving and evaluating nominations for the next cycle.
For the first edition, nominations are strictly accepted from August 10 to September 10. The award allows anyone to nominate candidates—individuals, projects, institutions, and companies—whose work aligns with the 'Dubai-it' philosophy. Nominees can nominate themselves or others, specifying the category to which the achievement belongs.
To submit an application, you must visit the website www.dubai-it.ae and enter your email address, after which a one-time password (OTP) will be sent and the application form will open. In addition to nominations, the award team will track significant achievements throughout the year, identifying examples that reflect the Dubai approach to execution.
The Dubai-it Award covers 10 key areas: government, real estate, economy, business, technology, healthcare, sports, education, society, and services. Winners will be awarded in three main categories: Individual, Project, Institution, or Company.
Applicants must provide a complete application detailing the nominee's achievement, its nature, goals, and field of activity, as well as the category. It is necessary to explain the nominee's role in achieving it. The materials must clearly describe the achievement itself, the problem or opportunity that triggered it, the steps taken, the results obtained, and its impact on people, the city, the sector, the institution, the economy, or the quality of life. Supporting data and evidence are also required, including performance indicators, figures, reports, photos, media coverage, testimonials, or any other documents demonstrating the scale, quality of execution, speed of implementation, and tangible effect.
After this, nominations undergo thorough review and evaluation to confirm the completeness of the information, the authenticity of the evidence, and the clarity of the results. The evaluation process may include meetings or interviews with nominees or involved parties, as well as requests for additional information or documents.
The winners of the Dubai-it Award will be determined based on eight criteria: exceptional nature of the achievement, superiority and quality of execution, speed and efficiency of the achievement, alignment with the Dubai action philosophy, transforming vision into tangible results, exceptional impact, sustainability and development potential, and clarity of the model and its inspirational role.
