More than 4,300 couples have married in Abu Dhabi since the start of the year, with demand for civil ceremonies remaining strong despite regional tensions and recent airspace disruptions.
The daily number of civil marriages taking place has also increased since Iranian missile and drone attacks on the UAE began on February 28. Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has been processing up to 70 weddings a day since then.
“Why Abu Dhabi?” Judge Abdulhafiz Zaidan, head of Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court, said on the popularity of weddings. “Because of how efficient and quick the process is.”
Couples are travelling not only from across the UAE but also from abroad to marry at the court, with some arriving on visit visas, getting married and flying back home shortly afterwards.
The court was established by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to introduce a civil legal framework tailored for foreigners.
Focus on efficiency
Mr Zaidan told The National: “In a country that is home to more than 200 nationalities, and led by a leadership deeply committed to family values and human dignity, it became necessary to introduce a legal framework that caters to expatriates who choose to apply their own national laws instead of Islamic Sharia law.
“From the outset, the focus was on efficiency. There was no appetite for cases to be delayed by bureaucracy or red tape. Dedicated courts were created, with judges from around the world presiding over them.
“Today, we have reached a point where many individuals are choosing to have their cases heard in the UAE, under UAE law, in some instances even opting for it over long-established international judicial systems.”
Children of unmarried mothers can now be registered and issued birth certificates, a shift Mr Zaidan said has had a profound social impact.
“Previously, these children remained unregistered, meaning they had no access to health insurance or schooling. It was the children who bore the brunt of it,” he said.
'Love triumphs' in face of war
Mona Al Raeesi, head of the Civil Family Court Services section, broke down the numbers. “Actually, the number of marriages is increasing,” she said.
“Before [the war], we had around 60 to 65 couples per day. Now it is closer to 70,” she said. “Do they look scared? You can see the people for yourself. Love is in the air.”
Michael Williams, 42, and Rachel Salema, 36, who have lived in the UAE since 1997, said there was never any doubt they would go ahead with their wedding despite the air strikes.
“Love triumphs all,” Ms Salema said. “Even though the situation seems uncertain, the UAE remains home for us and it is safe. It was safe, it is safe and it will remain safe.”
Mr Williams said the decision to proceed with their wedding plans for March 26 was straightforward, despite the turmoil over the Iran war.
“There was never a moment of hesitation, as long as the courts were going ahead with it, we were going ahead with our wedding. Everyone supported our decision,” he said.
Pebin Muriyamadom, 33, from Switzerland, and Sabina Doskaliyeva, 33, from Kazakhstan, decided to fast-track their wedding in Abu Dhabi as tensions escalated.
“We had planned to get married in Switzerland in August or September, but with everything happening, we decided: why not here?” said Mr Muriyamadom. “If something were to happen, or if we ever had to relocate, we wanted to be together.”
Ms Doskaliyeva said the decision quickly felt like the right one. “We checked if it was possible to marry here and found out that we could, so we went ahead,” she said. “In hindsight, I don’t think we would have chosen to get married anywhere else. This is now home.”
The couple applied for an express marriage, and their wedding took place within days.
Stuart Rafferty, 32, and Rae Chase, 31, a British couple who have lived in the UAE for 20 and 30 years, respectively, said they had no hesitation in proceeding with their marriage plans.
“We will have our wedding party in April. This has been booked for two months. We feel safe. We wouldn’t have postponed,” Mr Rafferty said. His parents and family flew in to witness the ceremony.
“We’ve seen the UAE go through harder times and continue to develop,” he said. “We trust the people who make the decisions to do what is best for everyone.”
Ms Chase added: “We’ve seen the country develop. It is very adaptable and throughout that time the authorities have always had people at the forefront of their mind. It has always been a priority for the leadership.”
Crunching the numbers
Between January 1 and March 25 this year, Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court recorded 4,320 civil marriages, including 934 between February 28 and March 25, indicating a steady flow of applications rather than merely a short-term surge.
The figures build on a sharp rise in recent years. The court recorded 19,000 civil marriage contracts in 2025, an increase of more than 15 per cent on the previous year.
Numbers have climbed steadily since the law came into effect, from 5,400 contracts in 2022 to more than 16,000 in 2024, bringing the total to 53,000 contracts.
The civil family court, introduced under Civil Marriage Law No. 14 of 2021 in Abu Dhabi, and operational from late 2021, remains the only court in the UAE that allows civil marriages regardless of religion or nationality.
Registrations now average about 1,600 a month, or 70 each day, equivalent to around 13 marriages an hour, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a destination for civil union in the region.
“The rain concerned us more than the bombing,” said Emre Yesie, 50, from Turkey, who married Russian Natalia Gorbatyuk, 52, in Abu Dhabi last week.
Inside the court, civil ceremonies often resemble traditional weddings, with brides in white dresses, vows exchanged, and rings placed, as family and friends watch from rows of wooden benches.
“We have had couples travel from different countries and across the UAE to get married at the civil family court,” said Hamdan Al Ameri, the court's administrative director.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Not only are couples coming in from around the UAE and abroad, but our statistics continue to increase.”
The court has been praised by one leading legal expert for its swift processing of cases, a contrast to countries in other parts of the world.
“In recent weeks, complex cases, particularly those involving children, have been resolved swiftly and with great sensitivity, including decisions awarding fathers joint custody following careful and balanced consideration,” said Byron James, partner at Expatriate Law. “This reflects a modern and sophisticated approach, firmly centred on the welfare of the child.
“By comparison, family courts in England continue to experience significant backlogs following the pandemic, with cases often taking 12 to 18 months to conclude. In Abu Dhabi, similar matters are frequently resolved within four to five weeks.”
