Marriage. A foreign woman married to an Emirati national may acquire citizenship provided that the marriage lasts for at least seven years with the condition of having at least one child, or ten years in the absence of children. The wife of a naturalized male citizen may also acquire Emirati citizenship.
Foreigners with valid residency permission can marry an Emirati national and petition for citizenship. The Emirati government can also confer citizenship on the basis of outstanding merit.
The bride and groom must agree to the marriage. The couple must practice Islam, if one of the partners has recently converted to Islam it must be confirmed. Foreign nationals must: have a residency permit, provide a certificate of no criminal record, have citizenship (marriage to stateless persons is prohibited).
All nationals and expatriate residents can conclude their marriages in the UAE. In the UAE, Islamic marriages are conducted according to the Sharia provisions, which apply in the following cases, regardless of nationality: where both the groom and the bride are Muslims.
A UAE passport in Dubai can be granted by descent, by naturalisation, by marriage, or by exceptional merit. The latter option is available for investors. Before applying for citizenship, they obtain a 2- or 10-year residence permit by investing at least AED 750,000, or approx. $204,000 in UAE property.
Dual Citizenship UAE
According to the new citizenship law in the UAE, those who are granted UAE citizenship will be allowed to keep their existing citizenship. Accordingly, the UAE allows for dual citizenship, you just need to check with your country of origin.
It is pertinent to note that cohabitation of unmarried couples is not a crime anymore in the UAE if there are no objections by their legal guardians. Therefore, if you are living with your girlfriend in the UAE, it may not be considered a crime, and there may be no imprisonment or penalties for cohabitation.
Cost for getting legally married
A pre-marriage screening test, which is mandatory, can cost you between AED 250 and AED 900, depending on the medical centre you choose. The court charge for the wedding process in Dubai is AED 1800.
It is very crucial to remember that it's absolutely illegal for any woman who's unmarried or single to be pregnant while residing in UAE. The consequences of local authorities discovering that any single woman is carrying a baby can include jail and deportation.
Such a query is often concerning Muslims, as pursuant to the Islamic Sharia laws, a Muslim male may have as many as four wives. Thereby, polygamy is practiced in the UAE.
CAN FOREIGNERS GET MARRIED IN DUBAI? Yes, foreign expats can get married in Dubai and tie the knot in the emirate. However, it is important to note that: The marriage must be legally registered with the courts or relevant embassies.
According to the Dubai government, it's a legal move to cohabitate. Unmarried couples and even relative flatmates were not allowed to live together in the Emirates until recently. The authorities have, however, hardly ever pursued or penalised anyone breaking the law in recent years.
Naturalization. This method provides that a citizen of a foreign state must live for 30 years or more in the territory of the Emirates. They must also have a regular source of income in the UAE and an unblemished reputation. They must be fluent in Arabic and voluntarily renounce the citizenship of another state.
According to Arton Capital's Passport Index, the UAE passport held the 1st position globally as of December 2022. A holder of the UAE's passport could travel to 180 countries; 121 destinations offered visa-free travel and 59 offered eVisa or visa on arrival at the airport.
Second marriage law in UAE differs in that a second wife without separation is eligible for a male. On the other hand, the woman must get a separation or divorce from her spouse and finish the iddah time. According to second marriage law in UAE she can then enter another man's life as his spouse after that.
The UAE residence visa fee for a year is roughly AED 1000. If we exclude the health insurance charges, a 2-year Dubai residency visa without health insurance for your husband (in 2022) will cost you somewhere around AED 3,500 if applied when he is inside the UAE and about AED 2200 if applied when he is outside the UAE.
Can unmarried couples stay in the same hotel room? According to the law, it's illegal for unmarried couples to stay in the same room during a holiday in Dubai. In reality, this is not strictly enforced and it's unlikely you'll be challenged on it. Many unmarried couples visit Dubai every year without issue.
Sexual relationships or unmarried couples cohabiting is illegal in Dubai. Cohabiting, including in hotels, is also illegal, however most hotels in Dubai do not enforce an 'only married couples' rule. The luxury hotels which mostly cater to foreigners are especially relaxed.
The online dating scene is constantly changing in the UAE, and many dating sites are actually banned. Surprisingly though, Tinder usually works (always with a VPN, sometimes even without one).
The UAE is the third-richest country in the world, below Luxembourg at number two and Qatar at number one, with a GDP per capita of $57,744. The bulk of its money comes from the production of goods and provision of services related to petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminium and cement.
Housing and land benefits for UAE nationals
The UAE Government allocates land or provides free housing or housing loan, residential facilities and maintenance to deserving Emiratis. This way, the UAE ensures access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
Alcohol. UAE Residents can drink alcohol at home and in licensed venues. Liquor licences are still required for Residents in Dubai but are no longer required for Residents in Abu Dhabi and other Emirates (save for Emirate of Sharjah) to purchase alcohol for personal consumption.
UAE citizenship benefits
visa-free travel to at least 167 countries. no personal income tax. Additionally, private individuals to file their taxes. the possibility of buying a property and starting a business in Dubai.