The Ministry of Justice’s electronic system for completing a UAE marriage contract online now covers every stage of the process, from application and fee payment to receiving a signed digital copy, with a federal service fee of Dh50 and a target processing time of one working day.
The platform, available across all federal Sharia courts, lets applicants log in via UAE Pass, select the contract type, enter details for both parties and their witnesses, upload documents, and pay electronically. Once a marriage officiant reviews and collects the required signatures, the approved contract is sent to both spouses by email.
What the online process involves
For Muslim couples, the process requires coordinating with an authorised marriage officiant to conclude the contract. For non-Muslims using the federal Sharia court system, both parties meet with an authentication judge, who registers and issues the civil marriage contract.
The Ministry of Justice’s Request for Marriage Contract service carries the service code 121-040-002-000 and is administered by the Judicial Inspection Department and Courts. Inquiries can be directed to the ministry’s hotline at 800 333 333.
The legal basis for the digital system was set by the Federal Judicial Council, which introduced five new regulations to implement Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 on personal status. One of those regulations, covering Sharia marriage officers, sets out licensing conditions and permits contracts to be concluded electronically using digital signatures, including remotely.
Eligibility and required documents
Under the federal Sharia court system, both parties must be at least 21 years old, must have legal capacity to marry, and the marriage must be between a man and a woman. The wife must not already be in an existing marriage, and the marriage must not be between two sisters.
Required documents include a no-objection certificate from the relevant embassy where applicable. Under UAE Sharia law, if a bride’s guardian is outside the country, a legal power of attorney or official authorisation may be accepted in lieu of their presence.
Non-Muslim couples have a separate route through Dubai’s civil marriage service, which also requires both parties to be at least 21, with at least one party a Dubai resident. That process can be completed within 24 hours, according to the UAE Government Portal. Documents issued outside the UAE must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country, the UAE embassy there, and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Abu Dhabi civil marriage: a different framework
Couples in Abu Dhabi who are non-Muslims and where neither party is a UAE national can use the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s Civil Family Court, which operates under a separate framework. There, the minimum age is 18 rather than 21. The standard service is processed within 10 working days at a cost of Dh300; an express option is processed within one working day at Dh2,500, allowing the couple to choose their own ceremony date and time within court hours.
The Federal Judicial Council’s broader package of five regulations also covers arbitrators, family guidance, children’s visitation rights in custody cases, and affidavits and authentications, with the stated aim of simplifying procedures and strengthening child protection measures.
The ministry’s electronic marriage contract system is live across all federal Sharia courts as of 9 August 2026; the Dh50 federal fee applies to new applications submitted through that system.
