Abu Dhabi attracts a variety of people from all over the globe. And when all these different people interact, magic often happens and they fall in love. But what if you want to take the next step and make your love official?
The task of getting married in a foreign country might appear daunting, but here in Abu Dhabi, there are many procedures and resources in place to make the sure all those boring but essential legal protocols can be sorted out simply and efficiently.
‘At the core of it, marriage is essentially a legal contract between two consenting adults,’ says local lawyer Ziad Salloum. ‘So while many people might find the legal requirements in completing their papers to be a bit tedious or cumbersome, they are nevertheless necessary before the couple-to-be can move on and enjoy a lifetime of marital bliss.’
Religion and your nationality
The main factors that determine organising a wedding here, according to Ziad, are you and your loved one’s religious and national backgrounds, and there are certain criteria that must be met in order to be legally
wed in this city.
The first step is to visit the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) and inform the marriage department that you intend to wed. You will be told of the necessary paperwork required, as well as the fee that has to be paid. The documents they need from you include passport copies with valid residency visas, birth certificates, proof of single status and a medical test. Although the website of the Judicial Department asks for the birth certificate as a requirement, it is advisable to check as this is not always necessary.
Having a residency visa makes the process simpler, but it’s not impossible to wed if your partner is on a visitor’s visa. If the bride to be doesn’t have a residency permit, then she must be accompanied by her father and should complete a medical test. If the future husband is on a visitor’s visa, then he needs to complete the medical test.
The bride to be’s father plays a pivotal role for a marriage in a Sharia court. The woman must be accompanied by a male relative to give her away to her spouse. If her father is deceased or unable to visit the country, then she must support this with paperwork (copy of death certificate) and in this case the closest male relative can act as her guardian. If there is no relative available, then the ruling judge can temporarily act as the woman’s guardian.
In most cases, the woman will be required to prove that she is free to get married. This will often involve getting a paper from her embassy attesting that she is single, widowed or divorced.
Two witnesses are necessary at the time of the marriage. If the couple being wed are both Muslim, then there should be two male Muslim witnesses, however they should not be related to the woman. People getting married who are not Muslim can have witnesses of any religion. In some cases, couples at the courthouse will just ask people in the vicinity to act as witnesses. This is acceptable as long as they are carrying valid UAE identification.
Muslims from any country can wed each other at the ADJD. Additionally, a Muslim man can wed a woman from a different religious background, provided she is Christian or Jewish. However, a Muslim woman is not allowed to wed a non-Muslim man in the UAE. In this case, the couple’s only options would be either to travel abroad and have a civil marriage, or have the man convert to Islam. The conversion process is fairly simple; the groom to be would have to declare his intention at the ADJD. Depending on the governing procedures at the time, the conversion could take a few days or could require several weeks to complete. ‘In some cases where conversion is done just before marriage, the groom might be asked to complete a short course on Islam,’ says Ziad.
Christians wishing to tie the knot are able to do so at some churches in the city, such as St. Andrews Church or St. Joseph’s Church. Hindus may also marry in a temple, although most embassies can perform the ceremony as well, for most religions.
‘It is very important to check with your embassy concerning marriage procedures,’ advises Ziad. ‘The British embassy used to offer this service, however it no longer does except under very exceptional circumstances. However the French and Indian embassies do.’
A very civil affair
Although the emirate of Abu Dhabi doesn’t perform civil marriages, it does acknowledge them. However, in order for the license to be accepted, the papers need to be ratified by the couple’s respective embassies and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. Couples wishing to have a civil marriage will often travel to nearby destinations that support such unions, such as Turkey and Cyprus. To have their union recognised in the UAE, they need to have the document translated and attested at the ADJD.
Choosing the right ceremony
While getting married in a courthouse is necessary, it probably won’t live up to most girls’ notions of romance. Many couples choose to have a ceremony after the papers are done and Abu Dhabi is full of great destinations to host a glamorous or intimate affair.
If your wedding will take place during the cooler months, then you should take advantage of the great weather and host an outdoor event. With so many hotels on the coast, such as the St Regis Saadiyat Island Hotel & Resort (02 498 8888) and Emirates Palace (02 690 9000), you could enjoy the special day against a beautiful beach backdrop. Alternatively, many hotels have ballrooms designed specifically for indoor occasions, such as Le Royal Méridien (02 674 2020) and the InterContinental (02 666 6888). While Abu Dhabi has its fair share of videographers, florists and caterers, planning a wedding can be daunting and overwhelming.
If you opt to host your special day at a hotel, most will have their own wedding planners to lend you their organisational services, leaving you free to revel in the occasion.
Wedding to go?
In its continuing efforts to ease the marriage procedure, reforms introduced by the ADJD in 2011 no longer always need the couple to visit to the courthouse. Residents of Abu Dhabi can now simply call up the courthouse and request a visit from a marriage clerk. The clerk will visit the couple-to-be at a destination of their choosing and fill out the necessary information on an e-contract from his laptop. Part of the information that will be filled in includes the names of witnesses, as well as any financial arrangements and dowry.
Once all the information is entered and complete, the courthouse prepares the marriage contract and the groom can collect the certificate from the courthouse once it is ready. Then all you have to worry about is sorting out your big day…
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department is open Sun-Thu, 7.30am-3pm. To contact them, you can call their call centre (800 ADJD (2353)/02 651 2222). You can also find out more by visiting their website at www.adjd.gov.ae.
Let’s talk about money
While not the most romantic aspect of matrimony, prenuptial agreements are a common feature of modern unions. In Islam, the marriage contract allots a space for specifying certain financial and other agreements. If no agreement is specified by both parties, then the governing law is applied according to religious stipulation.
A dowry is often given in Islamic unions. The amount can vary, and some couples choose to give something symbolic, such as a gold coin, while others offer a specified cash amount. The dowry is to be paid to the bride or her family at the time of the union.
Your medical history
If opting to marry in a Sharia court, then both parties need to complete a medical test. The test can be done at any hospital in the city, or at the SEHA centre, www.seha.ae (02 410 2000). The test checks for dangerous transmittable diseases, as well certain genetic factors that could be passed on to the couple’s children in the future. Common things that are screened for are thalassemia and anemia. This medical test is mandatory for everyone in the UAE and is a crucial step in allowing the couples to have healthy lives. Once the results are available, a medical representative sits down with the couple and advises them
on proper healthy habits.
You’ll need a passport copy, a copy of the residency visa, the Emirates ID card and two passport photos. The medical test is only valid for three months, so the marriage should be completed within that
time frame.
It’s time to plan your wedding!
ADNEC
You can have you wedding at this five-star venue and they can supply a wedding planner and the catering for you as well.
(02 406 4210).
Lana’s Party Perfect
Will cater for all sorts of events, covering most international cuisines. And they’ll make bespoke dishes as well.
(02 681 0090).
Exotica Flowers
Make dazzling floral arrangements for customers in the Middle East.
(02 644 4416).
Patchi Chocolates
Bespoke sweet treats to offer your guests.
(02 666 6741).
Joy Studios
Videos and photos of your day.
(02 634 3484).
