NEWS

Abu Dhabi passed a law allowing non-Muslims to marry, divorce and get joint child custody under civil law in the country.

DETAILS

• Before the law, non-Muslims here had to get married in the embassy or consulate of their country.
• Aim – provide a flexible and advanced judicial mechanism for the determination of personal status disputes for non-Muslims, thus enhancing the Emirate’s position and global competitiveness as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills
• First civil law passed by the Emirates concerning non-Muslim family matters.
• Guaranteeing the right to non-Muslims to adhere to an “internationally acknowledged law” in terms of customs, culture, language and protecting the best interests of their children.
• Apply civil principles in the regulation of all family matters pertaining to non-Muslims.
• Courts dedicated to non-Muslim family matters will be set up by the Judicial Department, and will function in Arabic and English “in order to facilitate the understanding of judicial procedures by foreigners and to improve judicial transparency”
• Doesn’t require the consent of the woman’s guardian anymore and only requires the marriage to be held on the will of the man and woman.
• This law reflects Abu Dhabi’s legislative leadership and the global status it has achieved