Embassy of the United States

Public Services

Islamic Marriage

Islamic Marriages are performed at the Marriage Sections of the Dubai Courts (Tel: 04-334-7777 or http://www.dubaicourts.gov.ae ). No prior appointment is necessary. Please note that the Islamic court will NOT marry Christians, so the procedure below does NOT apply to non-Muslims. 

STEP 1: Both the bride and groom must hold valid UAE residence visas issued by the Emirate of Dubai.


STEP 2: The bridegroom, bride, guardian of the bride (i.e. father, or the legal guardian upon father’s death, or his attorney), and two male Muslim witnesses must be present on the day of the marriage. The following documents must also be presented: 

• If the bride’s father is deceased, a Certificate of Death or Sharia’a Declaration of his death by the bride.
• The couple’s original passports and copies, (nationality document of UAE bridegroom if the bride is a UAE national), and identification documents of the guardian and witnesses.
• If the bride is divorced or widowed, proof must be presented. If the divorce was made upon court judgment, evidence must be presented to ensure that this judgment is not under appeal in a court of appeal or a court of cessation.
• If the bride is Muslim and her guardian is non-Muslim, a no objection letter from the bride’s Embassy or Consulate is required, in which her marital status and the name of the person she intends to marry must be mentioned. The no objection letter must be attested by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and must be legally translated into Arabic and attested by the UAE Ministry of Justice. As the US Consulate cannot provide such a letter, American citizens who want to marry should write their own statement, which the US Consulate will notarize for a fee of 111 UAE Dhms. Notary services are performed between 11:30 am and 2:00
• All documents issued outside the UAE (i.e. birth/death certificates, divorce decrees, etc) must be translated into Arabic and attested by the UAE Ministry of Justice and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

STEP 3: After the wedding ceremony is complete, you will receive a UAE marriage license upon payment of a 50 UAE Dhms processing fee. 

STEP 4: Take your documents to the Ministry of Justice (04-282-5999) near the Garhoud Bridge to authenticate the signature and the Notary Public seal. Then take the documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to authenticate the seal of the Ministry of Justice.

STEP 5: Finally, bring all your documents to the US Consulate General for authentication of the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your marriage certificate will then be legal for use in the US.