# Civil wedding in Abu Dhabi for tourists

> How non-Muslim tourists marry in Abu Dhabi: who can apply, the ADJD process step by step, documents, legalising the certificate and where to take portraits.

This page as HTML: https://www.noorlight.cc/blog/abu-dhabi-civil-wedding

Published: 2026-10-02

Yes — non-Muslim tourists can legally marry in Abu Dhabi without being UAE residents. Abu Dhabi's civil marriage law, administered by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) through its Civil Family Court, lets two non-Muslim adults apply online, choose a standard or an express service, and attend a short civil ceremony in person in Abu Dhabi, after which a bilingual Arabic–English marriage certificate is issued digitally. Both partners must be physically present, and the certificate needs legalisation for use in your home country. The ceremony itself takes about 15–30 minutes; the portraits are what you plan the rest of the day around.

This guide covers who can apply, the process step by step, documents, timing, getting the certificate recognised at home, and where to take the wedding portraits afterwards.

> The short version: check eligibility (both non-Muslim, 18+, free to marry). Apply on the ADJD portal at least two weeks before your date. Bring passports and, if either of you was married before, the divorce or death certificate, legalised and translated. Attend the ceremony together. Legalise the certificate for use abroad. Book the photographer for the ceremony and a portrait session at sunrise or late afternoon the same day.

## Why couples marry in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi introduced a civil marriage framework for non-Muslims in 2021, with the Civil Family Court opening the following year. Unlike many destination-wedding countries, it does not require residency, there is no waiting period of weeks in the country, and the ceremony is secular and short. That makes it one of the simplest places in the world for a foreign couple to marry legally on holiday — and one of the few in the region.

Dubai has its own civil marriage arrangements, but they are aimed at residents. For a couple flying in on tourist visas, Abu Dhabi is the route.

## Who can apply

- **Both partners non-Muslim.** The framework is designed for non-Muslims; mixed-faith and other cases follow different rules, so check with ADJD before applying.
- **Both 18 or older.**
- **Free to marry.** Not currently married to anyone else. If either partner was married before, you must prove that marriage ended.
- **Both present in Abu Dhabi** on the day of the ceremony.
- **Residency is not required.** Tourists and visitors can apply.

## The process, step by step

1. **Apply online** through the ADJD civil marriage service (also reachable via Abu Dhabi's government services platform). You fill in the form for both partners and upload the documents.
2. **Choose the service level.** A standard service takes several working days to process; an express service is completed much faster at a higher court fee. Check the current fees on the ADJD portal when you apply.
3. **Pay the fee online.**
4. **Receive the appointment.** ADJD confirms the date and time of the ceremony by SMS or email.
5. **Attend the ceremony** with your original passports. A judge or authorised official confirms your identities and that you both consent freely. You sign, and you are married. You may exchange rings and bring guests; witnesses are not mandatory.
6. **Receive the certificate**, issued digitally in Arabic and English.
7. **Legalise it for use abroad** (see below).

Plan to apply at least two weeks before your intended date. Express service exists for tight schedules, but documents that need legalising from your home country take longer than the court does.

## Documents

| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Passport (copy for the application, originals on the day) | Both | Valid for your stay |
| UAE entry visa or entry stamp | Tourists | Proof of legal stay |
| Emirates ID and residence visa | Residents only | Not needed for tourists |
| Divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse | Anyone previously married | Must be legalised and, if not in Arabic or English, legally translated |
| Prenuptial agreement | Optional | Can be registered with the court for an additional fee |

ADJD may ask for additional documents depending on your situation — for example a declaration of single status. Check the requirements in the application itself rather than relying on any third-party list, including this one.

**Legalising foreign documents** usually follows a chain: certified in your home country, legalised by your foreign ministry, attested by the UAE embassy there, and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start this first; it is the slowest part.

## Getting the certificate recognised at home

The marriage is legal in the UAE the moment you sign. To use it at home — to change a name, register the marriage, apply for a visa — the certificate usually needs to be legalised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then accepted by your own country's authorities or embassy. Requirements differ by country, so check with your embassy or registry office before the trip, and ask:

- Will my country recognise a civil marriage registered in Abu Dhabi?
- Does it need legalisation, embassy attestation or a translation?
- Do I need to register the marriage at home within a set period?

## The ceremony day: how to plan around it

The ceremony is short and its exact time is set by the court, so the day is built around it.

- **Before**: hair and make-up at the hotel, getting-ready photos, travel to the court with time to spare.
- **The ceremony**: 15–30 minutes. Photographs during the ceremony are generally possible but follow the court's instructions on the day.
- **After**: the portrait session — ideally in the last two hours before sunset.

If your appointment is in the morning, you can shoot portraits at sunrise beforehand and again late afternoon. In summer, keep outdoor portraits to sunrise or the last hour before sunset.

## Where to take the wedding portraits

[Abu Dhabi](https://www.noorlight.cc/destinations/abu-dhabi) has a quieter, more spacious feel than Dubai, and its best portrait locations reward planning.

| Location | Best hour | Look | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Corniche and its beaches | Sunrise; late afternoon | Sea, skyline, long promenade | Public; quiet early in the morning |
| Saadiyat beaches | Last hour before sunset | Soft sand, open sea | Some stretches belong to hotels — check access |
| Mangrove National Park | Early morning | Green mangroves, boardwalks, water | Calm light; kayaks optional |
| Heritage areas around Qasr Al Hosn | Late afternoon | Sand-coloured walls, traditional architecture | Respect each site's rules on professional cameras |
| Desert outside the city | Sunset | Dunes, wide sky | 4×4 access; a classic wedding frame |
| Liwa | Sunrise or sunset | The tallest dunes in the country | A long day or an overnight stay |

Landmark attractions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque have their own rules — professional shoots generally require permission or are not allowed; visitors can take personal photos. See our guide to [photographing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque](https://www.noorlight.cc/blog/sheikh-zayed-mosque-photography). Many couples visit one landmark as guests and do the directed portraits at the beach or the dunes.

For the most dramatic setting, take a day to drive to [Liwa](https://www.noorlight.cc/destinations/liwa) on the edge of the Empty Quarter — a wedding portrait on a dune there is unlike anything in the cities.

## What to wear

Civil ceremonies are relaxed, and you can wear a wedding dress and suit. Consider:

- **Modesty in public** — a covered-shoulder option or a light wrap for public places and heritage sites.
- **Heat** — in summer choose light fabrics; even in winter the court and car are air-conditioned while outdoors is warm.
- **Shoes for sand** — if the portraits are on a beach or a dune, bring flat sandals or go barefoot.

## Photography and video

Our [Abu Dhabi civil wedding photographer](https://www.noorlight.cc/services/civil-wedding-abu-dhabi) service starts from $650 for 3 hours and 150 edited photos — enough to cover getting ready, the ceremony and a portrait session. For a full day with travel to the dunes, the [elopement photographer](https://www.noorlight.cc/services/elopement) package starts from $900 for 4 hours and 200 photos. A [wedding film](https://www.noorlight.cc/services/wedding-film) starts from $1,500. Hair and make-up is available as an add-on (+$180). Wedding galleries are delivered within 3 weeks.

## Common mistakes

- **Leaving document legalisation to the last week.** It is the slowest step and depends on your home country.
- **Booking flights before the court date.** Apply first, then fix flights, or choose express service.
- **Planning portraits at midday.** The ceremony time is fixed; the portrait time is not. Move portraits to the low-sun hours.
- **Assuming any landmark allows a shoot.** Check, or choose the beach, the mangroves or the dunes.
- **Not checking recognition at home.** One call to your embassy or registry before the trip saves weeks afterwards.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can tourists get legally married in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Non-Muslim couples aged 18 or over can marry at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court without UAE residency. Both partners must be present in Abu Dhabi for the ceremony.

### How long does a civil marriage in Abu Dhabi take?

The ceremony takes about 15–30 minutes. Processing takes several working days on the standard service and much less on express. Apply at least two weeks ahead to allow for documents.

### Is an Abu Dhabi civil marriage recognised in my home country?

Usually, once the certificate is legalised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and accepted by your authorities. Rules differ by country — check with your embassy or registry office before you travel.

### Can we have wedding photos at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

Only personal photos as visitors, in the mosque’s dress code. A professional shoot needs the Centre’s permit. Most couples take portraits on the Corniche, Saadiyat or in the dunes.

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