UAE issues first civil marriage license for Non-Muslim Couple

The United Arab Emirates has issued the first civil marriage license for a non-Muslim couple.

The United Arab Emirates gave its first civil marriage license to a non-Muslim couple on Monday, according to state media, as the Gulf country tries to maintain its competitive edge over regional rivals.

The UAE has been revising its laws to depict itself as a modernising force in a largely conservative region, where foreigners make up 90 per cent of the population of about ten million people.

According to the official WAM news agency, a Canadian couple became the first to marry in Abu Dhabi under a new law regulating non-Muslims’ personal status.

According to WAM, the move “contributes to Abu Dhabi’s consolidation as a world-leading destination for skills and expertise from around the world.”

Civil marriage is uncommon in the Middle East, the birthplace of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and is normally performed under the authority of one of the three monotheistic beliefs.

Civil marriages are allowed in Tunisia and Algeria.

While some countries in the region allow civil unions under certain conditions, others only recognize civil marriages performed outside of the country, and still others do not recognize civil unions at all.

Late last year, the UAE revamped an array of laws in a social liberalisation drive designed to burnish its progressive brand.

These included lifting a ban on unmarried couples living together, loosening restrictions on alcohol and offering long-term residencies.

The UAE announced earlier this month that it will switch to a Western-style Saturday-Sunday weekend.

From January 1, 2022, the UAE will be the only Gulf country that does not observe weekends from Friday to Saturday, the Muslim day of prayer.