Here's everything you need to know if you plan to get married in the UAE.

Starting Tuesday April 15th, 2025, there will be new changes to the UAE's federal personal status law, which includes key provisions for the age of consent to get married, permissible age differences between the couple to be wed, reclaiming engagement gifts, getting married without needing a legal guardian or custodian, and more.

What is a civil marriage and is it recognised?

A civil marriage is the lawful union of a man and a woman under a civil contract, regardless of his or her nationality and religion.