Q1. How would you define a civil marriage?
A civil marriage is a legally recognized union that involves a non-Muslim man and woman solemnized as a civil contract. This type of marriage operates under secular rules and is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status (New Law). Notably, civil marriage allows for marriage between interfaith couples as well.
Q2. Who is eligible to get married under the new law?
The new law extends the eligibility to get married to UAE residents, tourists, and visitors. However, there is a specific requirement that the applicants must either be non-Muslims or citizens of a non-Muslim country.
Q3. Does the New Decree Law on civil marriage apply to Muslims?
The Decree Law on civil marriage does not apply to Muslims, as it is designed explicitly for non-Muslim individuals. Family matters of Muslims in the UAE are governed by Sharia or Islamic laws, which dictate the regulations and procedures related to marriage and other family affairs.
Q4. What are the key differences introduced by the new law regarding marriage?
The new law brings significant changes to the concept of marriage in the UAE, particularly with the introduction of civil marriage. Non-Muslims are now allowed to marry without requiring guardian approval or a premarital screening certificate, as stated in Articles 5 and 6 of the law. The critical conditions for marriage under the new law include the following:
- Minimum age requirement: The parties involved must be at least 21.
- Free consent: The marriage should be based on the voluntary and informed consent of both parties.
- Prohibited degrees: The marriage should not occur between individuals within the prohibited degrees of relationship, as specified by the law.
- Monogamy: The parties involved should not be currently married to someone else.
Q5. What are the legal requirements for marriage in Dubai?
- One of the parties shall be a citizen or resident of Dubai.
- The involved parties shall be 18 lunar years old and above.
- Either the individuals involved or their authorized legal representative must personally attend the proceedings. If applicable, the representative must provide a valid Power of Attorney, and the involved party must present their original identification document to verify their personal information.
- The witnesses must be males.
- Soft copies of all documents must be submitted in PDF format, with the condition that they are accompanied by a legally translated version in Arabic, certified by the Ministry of Justice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). If the documents originate from a foreign country, they must also be certified by the appropriate authorities: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the respective country, the UAE embassy in that country, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UAE.
Q6. What are the conditions for Civil Marriage in Dubai?
To satisfy the requirements for civil marriage in Dubai, the following conditions must be met:
- At least one of the parties involved must be a Dubai resident.
- The age of both individuals must be 21 years or older.
- The parties or their legal representative must personally appear before the authorities. If a representative is present, they need to submit a Power of Attorney document. The concerned party must also provide their original ID to confirm their identity details.
- All documents must be submitted electronically in PDF format. If any documents are issued from outside the country, they must be translated into Arabic and officially stamped by the Ministry of Justice in the UAE. Additionally, the documents need to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the relevant country, the UAE embassy in that country, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UAE.
Q7. What documents are required for a legal marriage?
The following documents are required for a legal marriage:
- Pre-marriage medical examination certificate: You need to upload a PDF copy of the pre-marriage medical examination certificate. An authorized medical centre should issue this certificate, and you must present the original certificate to attest to the marriage contract.
- Private Attested Power of Attorney: If there is an agent involved, you must upload a PDF copy of a Private Attested Power of Attorney. This document authorizes the agent to act on behalf of one or both parties in the marriage.
Q8. What documents are required for a civil marriage?
For a civil marriage, the required documents are as follows:
- Private Attested Power of Attorney: If an agent is involved in the marriage proceedings, you must upload a PDF copy of a Private Attested Power of Attorney. This document grants authority to the agent to act on behalf of the parties involved.
- Attested marital status certificate: You must submit an attested marital status certificate for both parties to the marriage. This certificate should be obtained from the Embassy of their country of origin. The certificate verifies the marital status of the individuals.
Q9. Who are the beneficiaries of a legal marriage?
The beneficiaries of a legal marriage are all citizens and residents of the Dubai Emirate.
Q10. Who are the beneficiaries of a civil marriage in Dubai?
The beneficiaries of civil marriage are non-Muslims and residents of the Dubai Emirate.
It is required that one of the parties to the marriage must be a resident of Dubai.
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