To marry again in the UAE after a divorce abroad, you need proof the first marriage ended, normally the final divorce decree or certificate. For a Dubai civil marriage it must be attested by your home foreign ministry, the UAE embassy and MOFA, with an Arabic translation stamped by the Ministry of Justice. Abu Dhabi has its own list.
The attestation route for a divorce document, country by country, is on divorce certificate attestation. This article is about the other half of the question: what each marrying authority in the UAE asks to see, and how to prepare for it.
Which UAE authority will marry you?
Where and how you marry decides the paperwork. These lists come from the UAE government portal, updated in September 2026, and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
| Where you marry | Who can use it | What it asks for on a previous marriage | Foreign documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai civil marriage (Dubai Courts) | Non-Muslims, at least 21, one partner resident in Dubai | Proof of being single | Home foreign ministry, UAE embassy and UAE MOFA, plus Arabic translation stamped by the Ministry of Justice |
| Abu Dhabi civil marriage (Abu Dhabi Judicial Department) | Non-Muslim couples, at least 18 | Evidence of divorce, or death certificate of a former spouse | Attestation of foreign evidence is not set out on the court page, so ask before you book |
| Marriage under Sharia law (courts in each emirate) | Couples marrying under Sharia law | A final divorce certificate | Officially attested and translated into Arabic by an authorised translator |
| A church wedding | Members of that church | Set by the church | Set by the church |
In Abu Dhabi the standard civil marriage takes up to 10 working days, or one working day with the urgent service.
What counts as proof that your marriage ended?
The court wants the document that ends the marriage for good. Depending on the country, that is:
- A final court order, such as the UK final order or decree absolute
- A divorce certificate issued by a civil registry
- A court judgment stating the marriage is dissolved, with proof that it is final where the country has an appeal period
An interim order, a separation agreement or a lawyer's letter does not prove the marriage ended. If you hold more than one of these papers and are unsure which is final, send a photo before you start. Attesting the wrong paper means paying for the chain twice.
If your former spouse has died, the proof is their death certificate instead. See death certificate attestation.
Step by step: from a foreign divorce to a UAE wedding
- Ask the marrying authority for its list in writing. Dubai Courts, the Abu Dhabi court, the Sharia court or the church office.
- Get a sealed or certified copy of the final divorce from the court or registry that issued it. It must not be laminated.
- Attest it in the issuing country. The foreign ministry first, then the UAE embassy. For the UK and the USA, the embassy and MOFA attestation are added together on MOFA's digital route.
- Complete MOFA attestation in the UAE if your country is still on the paper route. See MOFA attestation.
- Translate it into Arabic with a translator licensed by the UAE Ministry of Justice. See legal translation in Dubai.
- Check your names. If you changed your surname at marriage or after the divorce, keep the attested marriage certificate or a deed poll ready to link the names on your passport, decree and application.
- Apply. Dubai civil marriage documents are uploaded as PDFs, so keep clear scans of the attested decree and the translation.
What about the single status certificate?
Dubai asks for proof of being single. Your attested divorce decree shows the earlier marriage ended, but it cannot show you did not marry again afterwards. Some embassies issue a marital status or single status certificate for this, and some couples have been asked for one alongside the decree. The need for it depends on your nationality and the court, so it is confirmed case by case. Ask the court and your embassy at the same time, so one does not wait for the other.
How long should you allow?
The foreign ministry in the country that granted the divorce sets the pace. With us:
| Divorce issued in | Usual time | Our total price |
|---|---|---|
| UK, standard | 22 to 24 working days | from AED 985 plus VAT |
| UK, premium | 12 to 14 working days | from AED 1,600 |
| USA | about 7 weeks | from AED 1,025 plus VAT |
| Canada | 4 to 6 weeks | from AED 1,900 plus VAT |
| Any other country | depends on the country | quoted after you share a copy |
| UAE court divorce, MOFA only | 2 to 3 working days | from AED 250 plus VAT |
Prices include every official fee and the courier. Translation is added once the attested document is back. Start the divorce attestation before you set a wedding date, because the court cannot accept your application until the papers are complete. All prices are on attestation fees.
Common problems for second marriages
- Interim order instead of the final one. The court needs the final decree or certificate.
- Apostille only. The UAE is not in the Apostille Convention, so the UAE embassy and MOFA steps are still needed.
- Translation done abroad. For Dubai the Arabic translation must carry the Ministry of Justice stamp in the UAE.
- Name mismatch between passport and decree with no linking document.
- Church rules found out late. Ask the parish office first, as its list can be longer than the court's.
How we help
Send a photo of your divorce decree on WhatsApp and tell us where you plan to marry. We tell you which document the court or church needs, the attestation route for the country that issued it, and the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts. We are a private document service, not a court or MOFA, and the marriage itself is registered by the court or church you choose.
