Legal Framework

Marriage for Muslims in the UAE is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 On the Issuance of the Personal Status Law. It regulates matters such as marriage, divorce, custody, alimony, wills, and inheritance, ensuring the protection of family stability and individual rights. The law came into effect on 15 April 2025.

Islamic marriages are conducted according to the Sharia provisions, which apply in the following cases, regardless of nationality:

• where both the groom and the bride are Muslims
• where the groom is Muslim and the bride is from 'Ahl Al-Kitaab'; such as a Christian.

While the law permits a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman, it does not allow a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man without proof of his conversion to Islam. Polygamy is allowed as per the UAE's law. A Muslim male may have four wives, provided he offers equal sustenance and equal treatment to all.

Key legal requirements for Muslim marriages

Islamic marriages are conducted by UAE Judicial departments and Sharia courts or through the services of authorised marriage officials (Mazoons) in each emirate. Under the Personal Status Law, a marriage contract is considered valid once its essential elements and conditions are fulfilled, and it produces its legal effects from the moment it is concluded.

• Elements of Marriage Contract - Article 18

The elements necessary for the conclusion of a marriage contract are:

1. an offer and acceptance by spouses
2. and that of the guardian if the wife is a Muslim. If she is a Muslim of another nationality, acceptance by her guardian is not required, if the law of her country does not require so.

• Conditions for the Validity of the Marriage Contract - Article 26

The following conditions shall be met for the marriage contract to be valid:

1. specifying the spouses
2. the wife should not be, permanently or temporarily, part of the category of women to whom marriage is prohibited for the specified man
3. the consent of the wife
4. the offer by the guardian (in case the wife is Muslim) and the other’s acceptance, with the exception of the non-citizen Muslim wife if the law of her nationality does not require her to have a guardian in marriage
5. testimony of two witnessess.

Entities responsible for concluding Islamic marriages

Islamic marriages are conducted by the UAE’s Judicial departments and Sharia courts or through the services of authorised marriage officers (Mazoons) in each emirate.

Find a list of authorised Sharia marriage officials (Mazoons) for each emirate:

• Judicial Department – Abu Dhabi Courts (page in Arabic)
• Dubai Courts
• Ras Al Khaimah Courts
• Federal courts – Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain (page in Arabic).

Key required documents

Requirements may vary from one emirate to another. However, in most cases, the following documents are required to complete a marriage application in the UAE:

• Emirates ID of both parties, if they are UAE citizens or residents
• a photograph of the bride and groom, if required by the relevant authority
• a valid passport for non-Emirati parties (original and copy)
• proof of marital status
• • if either party was previously married, a final divorce certificate must be provided
  • if either party is widowed, a death certificate of the former spouse is required
  • a medical examination and fitness certificate for both parties
  • an entry visa may be required if one party is a visitor or resident
  • valid Emirates ID or travel documents for the two Muslim witnesses (original and copy).

Note:

• If any documents were issued outside the UAE, they must be officially attested and translated into Arabic by an authorised translator, and certified by Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a UAE embassy or consulate.
• In special cases, such as when the bride’s guardian is outside the UAE, a legal power of attorney or official authorisation from the guardian may be accepted. If the father is not Muslim, a certificate of consent from the bride’s country of origin or diplomatic mission in the UAE may be required.

Steps to complete the marriage contract

Following are the steps to complete the marriage contract:

1. complete the medical examination
2. prepare the required documents
3. book an appointment through the Sharia court, an authorised marriage official, or the online service
4. attend the appointment with the bride’s guardian and the witnesses
5. sign the contract by both parties, the official, and the witnesses
6. pay the fees and receive the marriage contract.

Electronic marriage (e-Zawaj System)

Ministry of Justice provides an Electronic Marriage Service through a smart and fully integrated digital e-Zawaj System, that operates on computers, tablets, and smartphones. The service has been implemented across all Federal Sharia Courts in the UAE. It allows marriage contracts to be completed online at every stage, starting from submitting the marriage application, booking an appointment, selecting an authorised marriage official, and paying the fees electronically.

The system also enables authorised marriage officials to complete the marriage contract using smart tablets, without the need for paper-based transactions or records, ensuring speed and accuracy. In addition, the system provides all the information and guidance needed to help users access the service easily.

Special cases and provisions

For all UAE nationals

• AED 50, 000 is the maximum dowry limit for UAE nationals. AED 20,000 is paid in advance.
• National males who are members of Armed Forces or employees of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Police and wish to marry expatriates should first obtain a special permission from their employers.
• UAE citizens from Ajman must obtain the approval of the Sharia Court of Ajman, if marrying a woman other than from GCC countries.

For Emirati women marrying expatriate men

When an Emirati woman wishes to marry an expatriate man, she should obtain:

• consent from her parents/guardian
• permit from her employer if she is working in the Armed Forces.
• Note that the nationality of the Emirati woman should not have been obtained by dependency.

In addition, the prospective groom:

• must not be stateless
• must be a legitimate resident of the UAE
• must obtain a certificate of good conduct issued from the UAE. 

The UAE places special importance on pre-marital medical screening, based on a strong belief that a healthy family is the foundation of a stable and cohesive society. These tests provide early reassurance for couples planning to marry, helping them understand their health status clearly and responsibly. They also help reduce the risk of genetic and infectious diseases, protecting the spouses and safeguarding the health of future generations.

Types of marriage covered by the screening

The medical screening is a mandatory requirement for Sharia marriages for Muslims only. A marriage contract cannot be registered without a valid medical certificate for both parties. It is not required for a civil marriage.

Approved medical screening facilities

The following facilities are approved to conduct pre-marital medical screening:

• government hospitals

• health centres accredited by Ministry of Health and Prevention

• certain approved private hospitals (depending on the emirate).

You may apply online for pre-marital medical screening and counselling, and obtain a medical fitness certificate for marriage through the health facilities listed in the following services:

• Premarital Screening and Counseling – Emirates Health Services

• Pre-marital Screening – Dubai Health

• Pre-Marital Testing Laboratory in Sharjah – Emirates Health Services

• Pre-Marriage Medical Test– Ajman.

Test results issued by non-approved facilities are not accepted. Details of the documents required and applicable fees are available on the links shared above.

Types of conditions covered by the screening

Pre-marital medical screening helps detect three types of infectious diseases: HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, as well as inherited blood disorders such as thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.

As of January 2025, Ministry of Health and Prevention introduced the mandatory genetic testing as part of the premarital screening programme for all Emiratis planning to marry. The comprehensive genetic testing list includes 570 genes that cover 840+ genetic disorders. These conditions include intellectual and/or motor disabilities, deafness, and early loss of vision, immunodeficiencies, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, favism (G6PD) and more.

Ministry of Family provides a marriage grant to support Emirati youth planning to marry, helping them establish stable and cohesive families and strengthening social cohesion. The grant reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to empowering young people and easing the financial responsibilities at the start of married life. To make the service more accessible, the ministry has simplified procedures through continuous improvements and electronic integration with relevant authorities, allowing applications to be processed more quickly and efficiently. The grant terms and conditions follow the Cabinet Resolution No. 5 of 2017 Regarding the Conditions, Controls, and Procedures for Disbursement of Marriage Grants.

Grant Amount

The UAE law grants eligible recipients a financial amount of AED 70,000, to be paid in one installment, to support marriage costs.

Terms and conditions of the grant

• Both the applicant and his wife must be UAE nationals.
• The groom must not be less than twenty-one (21) years old and the bride must not be less than eighteen (18) years old at the time of the marriage contract.
• The applicant's monthly net income must not exceed AED 25,000 (twenty-five thousand dirhams), after deducting pension contributions and housing allowance (if any).
• The grant application must be submitted within a period not exceeding six months from the date of the marriage contract.
• The grant applicant and his wife must commit to attending the mandatory awareness courses and lectures of the Premarital Preparation Program (Edaad) within one year from the date of
• Submitting the marriage grant application.
• The grant applicant must complete and submit the required documents within a period not exceeding three months from the date of application submission.
• The applicant must not have previously benefited from the Marriage Grant or from any other grant in the UAE.
• The grant applicant must not be married, unless exempted in accordance with the provisions of Clause (3) of Article (4) of Cabinet Resolution No. (5) of 2017 regarding the conditions, regulations, and procedures for disbursing the Marriage Grant. 
  
   

Documents required

• Document proving the applicant's monthly net income, including a detailed salary certificate (the basic salary certificate should include allowances, bonuses, housing allowance, and pension deductions).

• Statement of land and property ownership from the passport issuing authority, in addition to a statement from the Department of Planning and Survey (for applicants from Sharjah only).

• Bank statement showing the applicant's monthly salary deposits, indicating the account balance for the last three months prior to the submission date on the website.

• Bank confirmation letter including the International Bank Account Number (IBAN).

• Within one calendar year from the date of grant disbursement, the beneficiary must submit the original or a certified true copy from the competent court of the legal entry acknowledgment in the presence of the spouse or her guardian, or the child's birth certificate, or a copy of the child's addition.

Check the service card for more details about the marriage grant and how to apply.

Related links

• Ministry of Family

• Family Development Foundation – Abu Dhabi 

• Community Development Authority - Dubai