Abu Dhabi to allow non-Muslim civil marriage under family law shakeup

According to a new decree issued on Sunday by its ruler, non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi are allowed to marry, divorce and have joint custody of children under civil law, the state news agency WAM said.

It is the most recent move in the United Arab Emirates, where, as in other Gulf states, civil status laws on marriage and divorce were based on the principles of Islamic Sharia to maintain their competitiveness as a regional trading center.

The decree of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan from Abu Dhabi, who is also President of the UAE Association of the Seven Emirates, states that the law provides for civil marriage, divorce, alimony, joint custody of children, and proof of paternity and inheritance includes.

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It aims to “enhance the emirate’s position and global competitiveness as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills,” said WAM.

The report described the civil law governing non-Muslim family matters as the first of its kind in the world to be “in line with international best practices.”

An illustration of a newlyweds during a civil ceremony outside the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, December 9, 2020. (Credit: YONATAN SINDEL / FLASH 90)

A new court for non-Muslim family affairs will be established in Abu Dhabi, serving in both English and Arabic.

The United Arab Emirates introduced a number of federal legislative changes in the past year, including the decriminalization of premarital sexual relationships and alcohol consumption, and the lifting of leniency programs in dealing with so-called “honor killings”.

These reforms, along with measures such as the introduction of longer-term visas, were seen as a way for the Gulf State to attract foreign investment, tourism and long-term stays.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/abu-dhabi-to-allow-non-muslim-civil-marriage-under-family-law-shakeup-684262