Getting Married in the UAE: Paperwork Explained

Two different starting points

There are broadly two situations people mean when they say "getting married in the UAE":

• Marrying in the UAE itself: the process and required documents differ significantly depending on whether the couple is Muslim or non-Muslim, and each community follows its own registration route through the relevant court or consulate.
• Marrying abroad, then needing it recognised in the UAE: this is far more common among expats, and is really an attestation problem rather than a marriage-registration one.

This guide focuses mainly on the second scenario, since it's the one we help with most often.

Why a foreign marriage certificate needs attestation

UAE authorities don't automatically accept a foreign marriage certificate at face value, it needs to be attested through a recognised chain to prove it's genuine. This typically involves attestation in your home country, then by the UAE embassy or consulate there, and finally by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) once it's presented locally.

Why it matters practically

An attested marriage certificate is the document you'll be asked for if you want to sponsor your spouse on a family visa, prove your marital status to any UAE authority, or complete dependent paperwork of almost any kind. Without it, sponsorship applications simply can't proceed.

What you'll need to get started

• Your original marriage certificate
• Both spouses' passports
• Any attestation steps already completed in your home country

See our detailed walkthrough in how to attest a marriage certificate for the full process, or registering an overseas marriage in the UAE if you married abroad and want the full picture.

Timeline and cost

Attestation typically takes three days to two weeks, depending on how many steps the chain involves for your home country. Our all-in service fee starts from AED 449, covering preparation and coordination, with government fees such as the MOFAIC charge shown separately at cost.

If you're planning a family visa too

Attestation and sponsorship are often done back to back, once your marriage certificate is attested, we can move straight into the family visa process. If salary eligibility is a question mark for you, our guide on the minimum salary to sponsor family in the UAE is worth reading alongside this one.

Key takeaways:
• A foreign marriage certificate needs attestation before UAE authorities will accept it.
• The chain usually runs home-country attestation, UAE embassy, then MOFAIC.
• Typical turnaround is three days to two weeks; our fee starts from AED 449.
• This is usually the first step before sponsoring a spouse on a family visa.

A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.