Weddings abroad in Middle East

Getting married in Abu Dhabi is an easy matter once the couple meet the requirements and conditions set by the government.

There is no civil marriage in the United Arab Emirates.

Islam is the official state religion and the Sharia Court in Abu Dhabi performs marriage, regardless of applicants’ nationalities, according to Islamic law. However, Christians can marry in church in Abu Dhabi and register their marriage in the emirate.

The main requirement for either marriage is that both parties are residents in the UAE. Each party should produce a birth certificate and a certificate of marital status, which have to be properly attested – either in the applicant’s home country (by the respective foreign ministry and the UAE consulate) or in the UAE (by the applicant’s consulate and the UAE Foreign Ministry)

The following link will be able to provide you with the legal information that you require on getting married in the UAE: http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan.your.visit
/important.info/married.aspx

A British citizen wishing to give Notice of Marriage must meet the following requirements:

One party has to be a British citizen

Resident in Bahrain

Produce the following:

British birth certificates

British passport

(Original divorce papers - if applicable)

Anyone arriving from out of Bahrain will have to establish residency for 21 days in Bahrain and then post the banns for a further 21 days;

For further information on getting married in Bahrain visit http://ukinbahrain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-bahrain/marriage-birth-bh

It is possible to get married in the United Arab Emirates at churches and under Sharia law in the courts.

There are no civil ceremonies performed in the UAE. The Embassies conduct marriages in only very rare circumstances.

For further information please head to this link: http://ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-uae/how-to-register-marriage

There are several legal procedures that a British couple must adhere to if they wish to marry in Oman. Marriages performed at the British Embassy are celebrated under the provisions of the Marriage Act 1982 (as amended) and the Foreign Marriage Order 1970 (as amended).  At least one partner must be a British national.

Applicants must produce an original long birth certificate and / or any other original document that the marriage officer needs to see in order to be satisfied as to the nationality and date of birth of each party.

For further information on getting married in Oman visit http://ukinoman.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-oman/marriage-in-oman

There are several different legalities that British citizens need to adhere to if they wish to marry in Qatar.

Notice of Marriage Application form – fully completed

Passport

Birth Certificate

Original Decree Absolute (in the case of a previous marriage which ended in divorce)

For further information and full instruction on getting married in Qatar visit http://ukinqatar.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-qatar/marriage-in-qatar