Marriage in the United Arab Emirates is governed by a combination of Islamic principles, local traditions, and legal regulations. Islamic marriages within the country are conducted according to Sharia law, where the groom and bride are both Muslims, or the bride is from 'Ahl Al-Kitaab', typically referring to Christianity or Judaism. [1] Non-Muslim residents and visitors can marry through the UAE Personal Laws for non-Muslims or their respective religious or national laws. [2]
Though women across the Middle East typically married as a teenager or in their early 20s, early marriage declined sharply in the 20th century, particularly in the UAE. The percentage of women aged 15 to 19 who were married dropped from 57% in 1975 to 8% in 1995. [3] In 2005, the average age of marriage for women with secondary or higher education was 27, while the average age for women with no education was 18. [3] The same year, a report detailing attitudes towards marriage from mothers and their daughters found vast differences, with daughters reporting a desire to marry later in life, and to select their own husbands. [4]
Emirati weddings were described as "opulent" affairs by the BBC in 1999, with as many as 1000 guests. [5] The same report found that as many as 80% of personal loans taken out by Emirati men were used for wedding expenses; as a result, many Emirati men opted to marry "less demanding" foreign women, [6] known as "mixed marriages", which raised concerns of the potential dilution of Emiratis, an already minority ethnic group. [5] Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the country, launched a Marriage Fund in 1992 as a response, giving grooms £12,000 (equivalent to £26,266in 2023) to help pay for wedding expenses, only if the bride is Emirati. [5] The fund also enacted a fine of AED 500,000 ($140,000, equivalent to $261,707in 2023) for spending too much money on weddings. [7] The fund helped to marry 44,000 people as of 1999. [5] The fund was amended in 2010 to remove the discouragement of mixed marriages, citing personal freedom. [8] In 2024, the "Medeem Model for Women's Weddings" programme was launched, designed to help couples have less expensive weddings that were instead based on Emirati traditions. [9] [10] [11]
Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum announced the addition of a 10-day marriage leave for Emirati couples in 2025, as part of the initiative to double Emirati households in Dubai by 2033. [12] [13] Since January 2025, genetic testing is mandatory for all Emirati couples as part of the premarital screening programme. [14] The need for genetic testing has been attributed to a high prevalence of genetic disorders in the native population, linked to the 39% consanguineous marriage rate. [15] A study for the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction found that the key factor for women being in consanguineous marriages was pressure from families; furthermore, all participants in the study appeared to believe such marriages were inscribed in Emirati culture. [16]
In 2022, 1,500 guests, including high-ranking Emirati officials and foreign ambassadors from over 20 countries, attended the wedding of Rabbi Levi Duchman and Lea Hadad. The wedding was the largest Jewish event in the country's history. [17] [18]
The minimum age to marry in the United Arab Emirates is 18. [19] [20] Despite this, a 2015 report by the United Nations found that the percentage of girls under 18 being married was steadily increasing. [21] Under the UAE'S Personal Status Law, a woman's right to marry is granted if she consents; if her guardian is deemed to unjustly oppose the union, the court may transfer guardianship. The law also removed the requirement for a guardian's consent if a non-citizen Muslim woman's national law does not mandate it for concluding a marriage contract. [20] Women in "mixed-marriages", meaning a marriage to a non-Emirati, have been able to pass down their nationality to their children since 2011, considered a first in Gulf countries. [22]
Islamic marriages in the UAE are governed by Sharia law, where either both the groom and bride are Muslims, or the bride belongs to 'Ahl Al-Kitaab,' a term typically referring to followers of Christianity or Judaism. [1] The marriage must be registered in a Sharia court within the country. The application for marriage may be denied if one of the parties suffers from an inheritable blood disease or a transferable disease. [1] The advance dowry in a marriage is not allowed to be more than AED 20,000 and the deferred dowry should not be more than AED 30,000. [23] [1]
Polygamy, the act of marrying multiple spouses, is legal for Muslim males. [24] A man may have up to four wives at a time. [1] A study by the Khaleej Times found that 70% of people in polygamous unions in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah were not Emirati. The study also found that an increasing number of women have become vocally opposed against the practice, believing it negatively affects stability in the family dynamic. [25] The rates of polygamy in the country have been steadily declining, [26] and was one of the leading causes of divorce initiated by women in 2013. [27]
The United Arab Emirates introduced a civil law in Abu Dhabi allowing for marriages, divorces, and obtaining joint child custody for non-Muslims in 2021, [28] and was extended to include the entire country in 2023. [29] The law amendment reportedly came after attempts to modernize the law and make it more inclusive. [30] Prior to this, marriage was to be conducted in the laws of the spouses' respective native countries, and civil matters were governed by Sharia law. Residents of the United Arab Emirates have an option to follow the application process in their native country or perform a civil marriage in the United Arab Emirates. [31] Within the first year of the law change, more than 5,000 marriages within a civil court were recorded, [32] 12% of couples being tourists. [33] [34] This percentage is attributed to residents of nearby countries that do not permit civil marriages. In one instance, a secular Israeli couple registered marriage in the UAE civil court for this reason. [35]
Article 5 of Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status provides five criteria for a civil marriage to take place: [36] both spouses must be at least 21 years old; the marriage must not be between close relatives; each spouse must consent to the marriage; spouses must sign a disclosure form; and any other conditions set out by the implementing regulations of the decree. [a] The law took effect on February 1, 2023. [36]
Same-sex marriage is not legal in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE's Federal Penal Code allows for capital punishment as a legal penalty for homosexuality, although this punishment has never been imposed. [37] Dubai's penal code imposes up to ten years imprisonment for homosexuality. [38]
Divorce in the UAE is regulated by Federal Law No. 28 of 2005. [39] Divorce for Muslims is based on Sharia law. Either of the married couple is allowed to pursue a divorce, with Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2022 giving equality to both men and women. [40] Though divorce is legal and allowed under Sharia law, it is mostly opposed against amongst Emiratis for cultural reasons. [16] [41] Data collected for the International Journal of Women's Studies found that divorce is considered a social stigma in the UAE, especially for women. [42] Despite this, divorce rates in the country have been considered high, with a 2009 report by the Juma'a al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage estimating that one in three Emirati marriages ended in a divorce. Divorce rates were consistently between 50-65% between 2005 and 2008. [43]
The age of custody termination is 18 for both males and females; previously, it was 11 for boys and 13 for girls. [44] [20] Children have a right to choose their preferred parent for residence one they turn 15. If the mother is non-Muslim while the child is Muslim, this is decided by the court's discretion, prioritising a child's interest; prior to this, the country terminated custody for non-Muslim mothers once the child turned 5. [20]
The Personal Status Law introduced penalties, including imprisonment and fines ranging from AED 5,000 to 100,000, for offences related to the custody of children, including unauthorized travel with a child and the mismanagement or seizing of inheritance. [20]
Politics of the United Arab Emirates take place in a framework of a federal presidential elective constitutional monarchy. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven constituent monarchies: the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis; Dubai is its most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.
Islam is the official religion of the United Arab Emirates. Of the total population, 76.9% are Muslims as of a 2010 estimate by the Pew Research Center. Although no official statistics are available for the breakdown between Sunni and Shia Muslims among noncitizen residents, media estimates suggest less than 20 percent of the noncitizen Muslim population are Shia.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, also known as MbZ, is an Emirati royal and politician who is serving as the third and current president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi since 2022.
Human rights in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are substantially restricted. The UAE does not have democratically elected institutions and citizens do not have the right to change their government or form political parties. Activists and academics who criticize the government are detained and imprisoned, and their families are often harassed by the state security apparatus. There are reports of forced disappearances of foreign nationals and Emirati citizens, who have been abducted, detained and tortured in undisclosed locations, and denied the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel during investigations by the UAE government. Human Rights Watch states that Emirati laws maintain capital punishment and discriminate against women, migrants and LGBT individuals.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Arab Emirates face discrimination and legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and under the federal criminal provisions, consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment; extra-marital sexual activity between persons of different sexes is also illegal. In both cases, prosecution will only be brought if a husband or male guardian of one of the participants makes a criminal complaint. The penalty is a minimum of six months imprisonment; no maximum penalty is prescribed, and the court has full discretion to impose any sentence in accordance with the country's constitution.
The history of the Jews in the United Arab Emirates describes the historical and modern presence of Jews over the millennia in the Middle East and the recorded meetings with Jewish communities in areas that are today in the geographic territories of the United Arab Emirates.
Human rights in Dubai are based on the Constitution and enacted law, which promise equitable treatment of all people, regardless of race, nationality or social status, per Article 25 of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates. Despite this, Freedom House has stated: "Extreme forms of self-censorship are widely practiced, particularly regarding issues such as local politics, culture, religion, or any other subject the government deems politically or culturally sensitive. The Dubai Media Free Zone (DMFZ), an area in which foreign media outlets produce print and broadcast material intended for foreign audiences, is the only arena where the press operates with relative freedom."
According to Human Rights Watch, there is substantial discrimination against women in the United Arab Emirates. The status of women has improved over the years. UAE performs better on metrics of gender equality than many other states in the Gulf region, and it has been making reforms to protect women's rights and empower women in different sectors. Critics describe some of these reforms as window dressing.
The Emiratis are the citizen population of the United Arab Emirates. Within the UAE itself, their number is approximately 1.15 million.
The Emirati passport is a travel document issued by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to individuals holding any form of Emirati nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requirements and serves as proof of UAE citizenship. It also facilitates access to consular assistance from the UAE embassies around the world.
The culture of the United Arab Emirates is part of the culture of Eastern Arabia. Its historical population was a small tribal community that changed with the arrival of an influx of foreign nationals in the mid-20th century. Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian cultures, with influences from the cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent. Islam has had a prominent influence on local architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is an Emirati royal and politician. He is the ruler's representative in Al Dhafrah region of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Hamdan is a son of the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. Hamdan is the younger brother of both former UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed and the current president, Mohamed bin Zayed.
Muslim marriage and Islamic wedding customs are traditions and practices that relate to wedding ceremonies and marriage rituals prevailing within the Muslim world. Although Islamic marriage customs and relations vary depending on country of origin and government regulations, both Muslim men and women from around the world are guided by Islamic laws and practices specified in the Quran. Islamic marital jurisprudence allows Muslim men to be married to multiple women.
Relations between the neighboring countries of Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are historic, however the diplomatic relationship undergoes major shifts. Both countries maintain diplomatic relations with each other and have embassies in each other's capitals.
Islam is the majority and official religion in the United Arab Emirates, professed by 74.5% of the population as of 2020. 63.3% are Sunni, 6.7% are Shia, while 4.4% follow another branch of Islam. The Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum ruling families adhere to the Maliki school of jurisprudence. Many followers of the Hanbali school are found in Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Ajman. Their followers include the Al Qasimi ruling family. The other main religions present in the country include Christianity (12.9%), Hinduism (6.2%), and Buddhism (3.2%). Zoroastrians, Druze, Baha'i, Judaism, and Sikhism are also practiced by some non-nationals. 1.3% of the population is agnostic.
Syria–United Arab Emirates relations refer to the relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Syria. The UAE has an embassy in Damascus and Syria has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. Both countries are members of the Arab League, part of the Middle East region and share close cultural ties.
The legal system in the United Arab Emirates is based on civil law, and Sharia law in the personal status matters of Muslims and blood money compensation. Personal status matters of non-Muslims are based on civil law. The UAE constitution established a federal court system and allows all emirates to establish local courts systems. The emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have local court systems, while other emirates follow the federal court system. Some financial free trade zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own legal and court systems based on English common law; local businesses in both emirates are allowed to opt-in to the jurisdiction of common law courts for business contracts.
The judicial system of the United Arab Emirates is divided into federal courts and local courts. The federal justice system is defined in the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates, with the Federal Supreme Court based at Abu Dhabi. As of 2023, only the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have local court systems, while all other emirates use the federal court system for all legal proceedings.
Levi Duchman is the first resident chief rabbi of the United Arab Emirates. He also serves as the head of the Jewish congregation of Abu Dhabi, of the Jewish Community Center of UAE in Dubai, and as a member of the executive board of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.
The law permits doctors to conduct sex reassignment surgery when there are "psychological" and "physiological" signs of gender and sex disparity. The penalty for performing an unwarranted "sex correction" surgery is three to 10 years in prison." ... "In November 2020 the penal code dropped a clause criminalizing wearing clothing deemed inappropriate for one's sex. The law now criminalizes only men who enter a place designated for women while disguised as a woman. The punishment for this infraction is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to DH 100,000 (US$27,250).PDF download
