Dubai

Documents required to get married in Dubai

Dubai is home to many luxury hotels and venues, including the well known Burj Al Arab and The Ritz-Carlton. However, it is a bit of a hassle to legally marry in Dubai, so generally we would recommend that you just have a blessing in Dubai and get the paperwork out of the way back home. However, if you are completely determined to tie the knot in Dubai, this is what you need to do:

1. As always, your first port of call should be the relevant Embassy, in this case the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, in order to find out exactly what documents you will need.
2. Legally, you are permitted to marry through a religious ceremony at a church or Sharia court, although be conscious of the fact that there are no civil marriages in the UAE at all.
3. In order to legally wed in the UAE, you or your partner have to be residents there.
4. Assuming that you fit all of this criteria, you will then have to provide an affirmation or affidavit document that justifies the legal right for you and your partner to wed.
5. Organise an appointment at your relevant embassy or consulate in the UAE. Before you arrive, make sure you have completed an ‘Affirmation for marriage' (non-religious) or an ‘Affidavit for marriage (religious) that decrees that it is fine for you to marry your partner. This will be sent to you via email once you've booked the appointment.
6. Remember to take all the necessary documents listed below to the meeting. These forms should be completed in English and your partner will need to complete his/her own form.
7. The marriage affirmation or affidavit is then valid for 3 months once it's approved, and you will probably have to get it professionally translated into Arabic, as well as getting the document legalised by the UAE authorities.
8. As always, if in doubt, consult your relevant Embassy or consulate for advice and recent updates - good luck!

Necessary Documents

• Passport.
• Birth certificate.
• Passports of two witnesses.
• Fee (approximately £50)
• Divorce certificate (if necessary from previous marriage).
• Death certificate (if you have been widowed).
• Sworn affidavit stating that you are free to marry.
• UAE Medical Fitness Certificate and blood test.

Sources

• https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad
• http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/planning-to-get-married-in-dubai-read-this-before-you-say-i-do-1.1638437

Sources updated on 16th May 2024

This information is appropriate for UK nationals getting married overseas. We always advise that you contact the relevant embassy for information before booking any trips. This information is up to date to the best of our knowledge.