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Question: My fiancé and I recently relocated to Abu Dhabi from the UK and are eager to get married here. Could you provide information on the necessary formalities? We are non-Muslims.

Answer: In this scenario, the Abu Dhabi Law of Civil Marriage and Divorce Procedures is applicable. Non-Muslim residents or visitors in the UAE can apply for a civil marriage in Abu Dhabi, provided they meet certain criteria, as outlined in Article 2 of Regulation No. 8/2022 by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. This regulation, Decision No. 8 of 2022, governs the adaptation of civil marriage and divorce regulations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, specifically for non-Muslim foreigners.

According to this law, a court attestation officer is responsible for concluding and registering civil marriages for both residents and visitors, adhering to established legal rules and provisions. Article 7 of the regulation states that a marriage is considered civil if it is conducted and registered according to the law, without reference to any specific religious law.

Article 8 outlines the conditions for concluding a civil marriage, while Article 9 details the procedure for registering such a marriage. To register a civil marriage, couples must:

1. Complete the civil marriage registration form in both Arabic and English, available on the Department’s website. Attach the required documents and pay the prescribed fee. Both spouses must disclose any previous marital relationships and declare that they are not currently married.

2. The court verifies that all conditions for the civil marriage are met and that the necessary procedures are fulfilled.

3. Upon approval, the court will contact the couple within three working days to schedule a date for the issuance of the marriage certificate, either virtually or in person at the court’s headquarters.

4. The marriage attestation officer will certify the marriage and issue a bilingual civil marriage certificate, which is recorded in the electronic civil marriage registry.

Based on these provisions, you and your fiancé can register your civil marriage at the Civil Family Court within the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

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