The simplest answer would be NO!

Here everything you need to know if you are an unmarried couple living in Dubai.

Dubai laws for the unmarried couples living together

Dubai and other emirates in the UAE are governed by Islamic laws known as Sharia laws which forbid two unmarried people of opposite sex to live together. The ‘Tawajed Clause’ prohibits indeed two people from opposite sex to live together without being legally married.

Dubai attracts many tourists and expats from all over the world. No matter if you are visiting UAE as a tourist or if you are a long-term expat, the same law applies for everyone.

Dubai is a regional hub which attracts many people from different countries, origins, orientations and religions. Depending on the reason for being in the city, if someone is inviting his girlfriend or boyfriend to live with, they need to know that it’s illegal. However, most people who are coming to Dubai for a short-stay, like tourists, have no issue at all. Yet, if someone complains or if a couple gets caught by law makers in Dubai, they will be in great trouble and face fine, jail or even deportation. In 2018, a 20 years old man and a 19 years old woman, both Pakistani, ‘were initially charged with having sex out of wedlock, but a medical examination found that they had not, Ajman Criminal Court was told.’

‘A young, unmarried couple have been jailed for a month and will be deported after completing the sentence after they were convicted of living together for three weeks and kissing’ Thenational.ae

What type of marriages are legal in Dubai?

Not every marriage is considered legal and is accepted by Dubai law. Same–sex people, even if legally married back home, will face great difficulty if found in an inappropriate situation in Dubai.

UAE’s laws only recognize heterosexual marriages which have been registered and can be verified with legal certifications if needed. However, no one is going to ask you for a marriage certificate, unless you caught the attention of Dubai’s legislators.

Back home, marriages or religious marriages are only considered legal if you have proper marriage certification in your possession. Same-sex marriages are not recognized in UAE due to the Shariah law, even if a proper and valid certification has been issued in your home country.  

What can you do to live with your boyfriend or girlfriend in Dubai?

Are you considering coming to Dubai ? Are you planning to bring your partner to UAE to live together? You definitely want to know what this would take.

No need to organize a lavish marriage to officialize your relationship in front of the UAE authorities, a marriage certificate is enough to abide by the law. You also do not need to get married in the UAE, if you have a marriage proof from your home country or any other country, this will be enough.

Do you know someone struggling to live in the UAE as an unmarried couple? You can always talk to our team to discuss and find a way out.

Getting married is a very big decision in a relationship, especially, if you are living abroad and both the partners are not of the same nationality. Living in the UAE and wanting to get married to your partner, the most obvious and simplest solution is to get married in Seychelles, a paradise island.

If you have completed the wedding process in Seychelles, then it must have been an experience to remember. Although the official wedding process is completed. But the residents of Dubai still need to go through some of the official work as well. They need to get their marriage registered in Dubai so that they can use their wedding certificate to acquire all the perks that Dubai has to offer to a family. Do you know how you can get it registered? If not then you have come to the right place. After reading this article you will learn how you can register for your Seychelles wedding in Dubai. So, let’s dive into it.

Register Your Seychelles Wedding in Dubai

Your civil wedding performed in Seychelles will be recognized as it is in most places in the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with Dubai (UAE). After getting married in Seychelles you will most probably have the following documents.

• Authentication letter from the Foreign Ministry of Seychelles
• Wedding certificate with Apostille
• Attested wedding documents by the UAE embassy present in Seychelles

Now you have to register your wedding from the authorities of the UAE. You can complete the process by following the steps listed below and the UAE will recognize your marital status.

Marriage Registration Process in the UAE

You will need to bring the documents listed above to the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to get your marriage registered. It’s the main office that stamps the documents in order to make them acceptable by the government of the UAE.

After entering the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you’ll need to go through the security check first. After that, you’ll proceed to the cash counter to tell the receptionist (officer) what kind of documents that you want to get attested to. You’ll need to pay the fee in cash there in order to receive an electronic card. It will allow you to get inside the very next hall where you’ll wait for your token number. Upon your turn, you’ll have your wedding certificate stamped along with an official sticker and that’s about it.

Keep in mind that it is important to respect the local dress code while going to MOFA as it’s the government’s official building.

Final Word on How You Can Register Your Seychelles Wedding in Dubai?

In order to get your marriage registered in your home country, you’ll need to visit your respective embassy or consulate to find out the requirements. It’s not possible to state them as every country has its own set of rules to follow.

If you know someone who wants to get his/her marriage registered in the UAE/Dubai, share this information with him/her.

Seychelles comprises 115 islands which boasts of unblemished beaches. Each one of them is picturesque and holds an aesthetic beauty, so much so, that you will be spoilt for choice for an ideal beach to get married in Seychelles.