Getting Married as a Christian in the UAE
Christianity is the second-largest religion in the UAE, and the country is home to numerous licensed churches representing Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and other denominations. Christians can have a church ceremony in the UAE — but understanding how that ceremony translates to a legally recognised marriage requires a few extra steps.
This guide covers everything Christian couples need to know about getting married in the UAE.
Note: Requirements vary by denomination, emirate, and destination country. Always verify current procedures with your church and the relevant embassy or consulate.
Are Church Weddings Legal in the UAE?
Church weddings are permitted in the UAE. The country has a number of officially licensed churches, and religious ceremonies conducted by their clergy are valid religious marriages. However, a church ceremony alone does not automatically create a legally registered marriage under UAE civil law.
To have full legal standing in the UAE and internationally, one of the following must happen:
- The marriage is registered at your home country's embassy or consulate in the UAE, OR
- The marriage is registered through the UAE Civil Marriage Court (for non-Muslims)
Many Christian couples in the UAE do both — have the church ceremony for their religious and cultural celebration, then register at the embassy for legal recognition.
Churches in the UAE
The UAE has officially licensed churches in several emirates. Notable ones include:
Dubai:
- St. Mary's Catholic Church (Oud Metha)
- Holy Trinity Church (Anglican, Oud Metha)
- Dubai Evangelical Church Centre
- Various other denominations in the Oud Metha church compound
Abu Dhabi:
- St. Joseph's Catholic Cathedral
- St. Andrew's Church (Anglican)
- Various other denominations in the Mushrif and Airport Road church compounds
Sharjah:
- Several churches in the Sharjah church compound
Note: Churches in the UAE are located on land allocated by the government. All are officially registered and legally permitted to conduct religious ceremonies.
Getting Your Church Marriage Legally Recognised
Option A: Register at Your Embassy or Consulate
This is the most common route for Christian expats. After the church ceremony, register the marriage at your home country's embassy in the UAE.
What you typically need:
- Marriage certificate issued by the church (signed by the officiating minister)
- Both parties' passports and visas
- Banns of marriage or notice of intended marriage (required by some denominations and some embassies in advance)
- Affidavit of single status / Certificate of No Impediment from your home country
- Embassy fee
Key embassies for Christian expats:
- British Embassy / FCDO in Abu Dhabi — for UK nationals
- US Embassy — for American nationals
- Indian Consulate — for Indian Christians (under Indian Christian Marriage Act)
- Philippine Consulate — for Filipino nationals
- Various European embassies for respective nationalities
Processing times vary: allow 2–6 weeks for the embassy to issue the marriage registration certificate.
Option B: UAE Civil Marriage Court (Non-Muslims)
If both parties are non-Muslim, you can register your marriage through the UAE civil courts in Abu Dhabi or Dubai — separate from or in addition to your church ceremony. This gives you a UAE-issued marriage certificate that is directly attested through MOFA.
See our full guide: Civil Marriage in UAE for Non-Muslims
Notice of Intended Marriage
Many Christian churches in the UAE require couples to give notice of their intention to marry — sometimes called "reading the banns." This is typically done several weeks before the ceremony. Some embassies also require a Certificate of No Impediment from your home country before the ceremony.
Start the paperwork at least 3 months before your intended wedding date to allow time for all certificates and clearances to be processed.
Documents to Prepare Before the Ceremony
Start collecting these as early as possible:
- Valid passports for both parties
- UAE residence visas
- Baptism certificates (required by Catholic and some other churches)
- Confirmation certificates (for Catholics)
- Certificate of No Impediment / single status from your home country (must be recent — many embassies require it to be less than 3–6 months old)
- Previous divorce decree or death certificate of previous spouse (if applicable)
After the Wedding: Getting Your Certificate Recognised Abroad
If your marriage was registered at your embassy, it is immediately recognised in your home country. To use the certificate in the UAE or other countries, it may need UAE MOFA attestation.
If your marriage was registered through the UAE civil court, get it MOFA attested before using it abroad.
Plan Your Christian Wedding Celebration
Beyond the legal and church logistics, Shaadi Bazaar helps you find venues, photographers, makeup artists, and decorators across the UAE who are experienced with Christian wedding celebrations.
