Marriage as per the Sharia law
This page provides information about how marriage is the basis of the family system in the UAE and marriage laws that apply to UAE nationals and expatriate residents.
Provisions of the Sharia law
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
Here are the key legal requirements for Muslim marriages:
- Marriage contract needs to be registered in a Sharia court in the UAE.
- Legal age for marriage is 18 Hijri years; otherwise, the judge's approval is required.
- A spouse's age should not be twice the other; otherwise, the judge's approval is sought.
- A premarital screening certificate is needed.
- Attendance of the couple is required.
- Attendance of the bride's father or his proxy and two male Muslim witnesses are required.
- For a woman to get married, she needs the consent of her guardian.
- In case of father's death, the presence of the next closest male guardian i.e. closest kin such as elder brother is required.
- Divorced and widowed women must produce a proof of the status.
- If the bride is Muslim and her father is not, she needs a 'No Objection' letter from her embassy or consulate.
Denial of marriage
Based on the medical screening certificate, application for marriage may be denied if one of the parties suffers from a:
- genetically inherited blood disease
- transferable disease.
Entities responsible for concluding Islamic marriages
Islamic marriages are conducted by UAE Judicial departments and Sharia courts or through the services of authorised marriage officers (Mazoons) in each emirate.
Maximum dowry (Mahr) in the marriage contracts
According to Federal Law No. 21 of 1997 on Fixing the Dowry in the Contract of Marriage and Its Expenses, the advance dowry in Islamic marriage may not exceed AED 20,000 and the deferred dowry may not exceed AED 30,000.
Premarital counselling and screening
In the UAE, premarital examination is a requirement for Muslims wishing to get married. The aim of the screening is to safeguard their health by ensuring that no potential infections will be transmitted between them.
Note: Applicants for a civil marriage are not required to have a premarital screening.
The screening includes tests for infectious diseases, such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), Hepatitis B & C, syphilis and genetic diseases such as Beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and other hemoglobinopathies. It also checks for German Measles (Rubella) and blood grouping, as per Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.
You can apply online to get the service and obtain the marriage fitness certificate through the UAE government’s health facilities mentioned in the following links:
- Premarital counselling and screening service – Emirates Health Services
- Premarital screening and counselling - SEHA, Abu Dhabi
- Premarital screening - DoH, Abu Dhabi
- Premarital medical test in Ajman - Government of Ajman.
Documents required and service fees are mentioned in the service card.
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.
- Ajman nationals 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.
For GCC nationals and citizens of other Islamic countries
- Citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain wishing to marry a person of nationality other than theirs must obtain the approval of their respective countries.
- A Yemeni woman wishing to marry a man of different nationality must obtain consent from her country.
Marriage grant - encouraging Emiratis to marry Emiratis
The UAE Government aims to build and maintain a stable and consolidated Emirati family and to fortify the Emirati social and demographic structure, by encouraging Emirati men to marry Emirati women.
In this regard, the UAE established Marriage Fund under Federal Law No. 47 of 1992, complementing and integrating with the social policy set up by late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding President of the UAE.
In 2016, the entity Marriage Fund was dissolved and its scope was brought under Ministry of Community Development (MoCD). The role of Marriage Fund is with the Marriage Grant Department of MoCD.
The Marriage Grant Department in Ministry of Community Development receives marriage grant applications from UAE citizens and offers the grants to deserving Emiratis according to its set criteria.
Provisions for obtaining a marriage grant
Marriage grant is governed by the Cabinet Resolution No. 5 of 2017 regarding terms, legalisation and procedures for the settlement of marriage funds (PDF, 400 KB, the resolution is available only in Arabic). According to the resolution, an Emirati couple who meets certain criteria are eligible to receive AED 70,000 from the government, paid in one instalment. Marriage grant applies to lower-income Emiratis and those on social welfare.
For the applicant to be eligible for the fund, there are certain requirements, which include:
- The groom and bride must be UAE nationals
- Age of the groom must not be less than 21 and that of the bride must not be less than 18
- This should be the groom’s first wedding (an exception can be made if he is remarrying because of the death of his wife from his first marriage)
- The net monthly income of the groom should not exceed AED 25,000 after deducting pension and housing allowances, if any.
Where to apply for a marriage grant?
Emiratis may apply for marriage grant through the website of the Ministry of Community Development.
Besides the Marriage Fund, there are entities in each emirate that provide services such as:
- Finding a match
- Providing community centres and majlis venues for wedding ceremonies
- Providing counselling before and after the marriage
Read more about marriage and family-related services on the websites of:
- Family Development Foundation - Abu Dhabi
- Community Development Authority - Dubai
Bunyan card
Dubai Municipality launched the Bunyan card under the theme ‘We build happiness for a better life’ for UAE citizens aged 18 years and above. The card provides citizens with discounts and offers on furniture to meet their needs of building materials and home furnishings at reduced price, thus providing them with good financial savings. A citizen can get the Bunyan card from Dubai Municipality centres at Al Tawar, Al Kafaf and Hatta.
