Provisions of the Sharia law
Legal Framework
Marriage of Muslims in the UAE is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 oOn 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 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 the UAE’s 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. offer and acceptance of spouses, and
2. that of the guardian if the wife is 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 with whom marriage is prohibited for the specified man.
3. Obtaining the consent of the wife.
4. The offer by the guardian (in case the wife is Muslim) and the other’s acceptance, except in cases where the woman is a Muslim of another nationality and the law of her country does not require her to have a guardian in marriage.
5. Testimony of two witnesses.
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.
Lists of authorised Sharia marriage officials (Mazoons) for each emirate
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Judicial Department – Abu Dhabi Courts (page in Arabic)
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Federal courts – Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain (page in Arabic)
Documents required
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 personal photograph of the bride and groom, if required by the relevant authority
· A valid passport for non-Emirati parties (original and copy)
· In some cases, an entry visa may be required if one party is a visitor or resident
· Proof of marital status.
Additionally,
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 of both parties.
· Valid Emirates ID or travel documents for the two Muslim witnesses (original and copy).
· Completion of the marriage application at the court or with a licensed marriage officiant, and signing of the marriage contract by both parties, the witnesses, and the officiant or Sharia judge.
· If any documents were issued outside the UAE, they must be officially attested and translated into Arabic by an authorised translator, and certified by the Ministry of Justice, the 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
· complete the medical examination
· prepare the required documents
· book an appointment through the Sharia court, an authorised marriage official, or the online service
· attend the appointment with the bride’s guardian and the witnesses
· sign the contract by both parties, the official, and the witnesses
· pay the fees and receive the marriage contract.
Electronic Marriage (eZawaj system)
Ministry of Justice provides an electronic marriage service through a smart and fully integrated digital system (eZawaj 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.
Log on to the e-Zawaj System with UAE Pass.
Special cases and provisions
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For all UAE nationals
o AED 50, 000 is the maximum dowry limit for UAE nationals. AED 20,000 is paid in advance.
o 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.
o Ajman nationals must obtain the approval of the Sharia Court of Ajman, if marrying a woman other than from GCC countries.
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For Emirati women marrying expatriate men
When an Emirati woman wishes to marry an expatriate man, she should obtain:
o consent from her parents/guardian
o permit from her employer if she is working in the Armed Forces.
o Note that the nationality of the Emirati woman should not have been obtained by dependency.
In addition, the prospective groom:
o must not be stateless
o must be a legitimate resident of the UAE
o must obtain a certificate of good conduct issued from the UAE.
Premarital counselling and screening
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:
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government hospitals
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health centres accredited by Ministry of Health and Prevention
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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:
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Premarital Screening and Counseling – Emirates Health Services
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Pre-marital Screening – Dubai Health
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Pre-Marital Testing Laboratory in Sharjah – Emirates Health Services
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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.
Visit the official website of Emirati Genome Programe.
Marriage grants
Ministry of Community Empowerment 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
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The groom must be at least 21 years old, and the bride must be at least 18 years old at the time of signing the marriage contract.
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The net monthly income of the groom must be less than 25,000 AED after deducting retirement allowance and housing allowance, if applicable, or he must be a beneficiary of social support from the ministry.
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The application must be submitted by the groom within six months from the date of the marriage contract, with all the required documents issued not more than three months before the date of the application.
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Both spouses must complete the ‘I'edad’ programme for marriage preparation within one year from the date of application.
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The applicant must not have benefited from any marriage grant or group wedding initiative previously.
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The applicant must not have been married before, except for widowers, or in cases where the wife is ill and unable to fulfill her marital duties.
Documents required
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Emirates ID
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certificate of residential and commercial property ownership
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detailed salary certificate
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bank statement for the last six months prior to the application submission date
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International Bank Account Number (IBAN) certificate for the applicant.
Check the service card for more details about the marriage grant and how to apply.
Related links
Community Development Authority - DubaiUpdated on:
04 Feb 2026
