Residents

Whether you are a citizen or a resident of the UAE in Ras AlKhaimah, you must register your marriage officially in accordance with UAE laws. There are specified Government authorities that you need to visit to complete the required marriage procedures, and obtain the necessary documents.

Pre-MaritalMutual Check Certificate 

The Pre-Marital Mutual Check Certificate is an official mandatory requirement to proceed with marriage procedures in the UAE.This medical checkup examines the applicants for infectious diseases, such as HIV (AIDS), Hepatitis B and C, as well as genetic blood diseases such as thalassemia, sickle-cell disease and some other preventive tests such as blood type and immunization against Rubella for women.

If you are planning to get married in the UAE, you and your prospective spouse have to undergo a pre-marital medical check-up at one of the health care centres, authorized by the Health Authority, to obtain a “Pre-Marital Mutual Check Certificate”. 

You can visit the same health care centre within a few days to collect the certificate (you will receive two copies). If you would like to collect the results of your prospective spouse, without their presence, you must present their original Emirates ID.

Process Description

     ✓ Visit a the Pre-Marital Mutual Check Centre
     ✓ Submit the required documents
     ✓ Pay the fee based on the required medical tests
     ✓ Complete the required medical tests and procedures
     ✓ Collect the certificate at a later date from the same healthcare facility

Required Documents

     ✓ Copy of valid Passport (for the couple)
     ✓ Emirates ID (Original – for the couple)
     ✓ Copy of valid Residency Visa
     ✓ 2 colourphotos (passport size)

Fees

     ✓ The fee depends on the tests required by the physician

Requirements and Conditions

     ✓ If the couple is planning to marry in an emirate other than Ras Al Khaimah, and one person has taken the medical check-up in Ras Al Khaimah, a report of the test results will be provided, instead of the certificate.
     ✓ If the couple is planning to marry outside the UAE, and one person has taken the medical checkup in Ras Al Khaimah, a report of the test results will be provided, instead of the certificate. The results must then be attested by the concerned authorities. 
     ✓ If the couple is planning to marry in Ras Al Khaimah, and one person is outside the UAE, a copy of the passport or Emirates ID card of the person who is outside the country is required.
     ✓ If the couple is planning to marry in Ras Al Khaimah, and one person is in another emirate, he/she should take the required medical checkup and provide the results from one of the healthcare centres, approved by the Health Authority of the other emirate.
     ✓ The presence of one of the parents is required if the applicant is below 18 years.

Responsible Department 

Kuwaiti Hospital – Department of Pre-Marital Medical Tests
Ras Al Khaimah, Kuwaiti Street
Phone: +971 7 2337333 - Department of Pre-Marital Medical Test
Working Hours: 7.30 am – 2.30 pm

Marriage Contracts are officially issued and registered in Ras Al Khaimah by the Documents and Authentication Department of RAK Courts. Marriage procedures can be held inside or outside the RAK Courts premises.

If you are planning to get married inside the RAK Courts premises, you and your prospective spouse must visit the Documents and Authentication Department, along with the legal guardians and witnesses and submit the required documents. The marriage procedures shall be performed by the competent judge under the Sharia Law applicable in the UAE. 

However, if you are planning to get married outside the RAK Courts premises, you must contact a Legal Marriage Officer directly (each area has an authorised legal marriage judge responsible for performing marriage contracts), or visit/contact RAK Courts – Legal Marriage Officers Department on +971 7 233 1541 (Ext. 336 / 294). The concerned employee at RAK Courts shall provide you with the Authorized Marriage Officer’s phone number (according to the region). All the required documents should be submitted at the appointed date, as the Legal Marriage Officer will not be able to issue the marriage contract if any document is missing.

Process Description 

     ✓ Submit the application along with the required documents to the Marriage Officer
     ✓ Signing of the application by the fiancé, fiancée, the legal guardian and the two witnesses in front of the Marriage Officer and Notarise the contract
     ✓ The Marriage Officer submits the Marriage Contract personally at RAK Courts (Legal Marriage Officers Department); in case he can’t,  the husband or the father visits the Department to complete the marriage procedures, along with the required documents 
     ✓ Pay the fees at the Finance counter in the Legal Marriage Officers Department
     ✓ Receive the original Marriage Contract and a certified copy

Required Documents

     ✓ Copy of the Emirates ID cards of all parties
     ✓ Copy of the Family Book (of the legal guardians)  
     ✓ Copy of valid Passport (of the husband and wife)  
     ✓ Pre-MaritalMedical Check Certificate (Original)

Fees

     ✓ AED 200
     ✓ AED 25 (for every certified copy of the contract) 

Note

     ✓ If the marriage procedures are performed outside RAK Courtspremises, the personal attendance of the legal guardian, the witnesses and the wife in the Courts will not be needed. However, the personal attendance of the husband, the legal guardian or the Marriage Officer is required to complete the notarization of the marriage contract procedures.

Responsible Department 

To notarize the marriage contract, visitthe Legal Marriage Officers Department at RAK Courts, near Al Meezanroundabout 
Phone: +971 7 233 1541 Ext. No. 336 / 294
Working Hours: 7.30 am – 2.30 pmand 3.00 pm – 10.00 pm

Conditions and Requirements

✓ Personal attendance of the fiancé, fiancée and legal guardian or their legal representatives 
✓ The fees of the external Marriage Officer are added to the service fees
✓ Should the fiancée be a widow or divorcée, proof of such status must be submitted, provided that she has completed her legally prescribed waiting period and is free from any Shari'a impediments
✓ Should the fiancée have recently embraced Islam, a Certificate of Islam Proclamation must be provided along with a certificate stating that she is not married. The fiancée must be free from any Shari'a impediments
✓ If the Power of Attorney or any other document was issued outside the UAE, the said document must be duly translated and certified
✓ Should the fiancée be a housemaid, nursemaid or equivalent, a No Objection Letter is required from her sponsor
✓ Original Emirates ID cards (with copies) of the husband, the wife, the legal guardian, legal representative and the witnesses must be provided 
✓ The original Pre-Marital Mutual Check Certificate must be submitted 

Responsible Department 
To notarize the marriage contract, visit the Legal Marriage Officers Department at RAK Courts, near the Al Meezan roundabout 
Phone: +971 7 233 1541 Ext. No. 336 / 294
Working Hours: 7.30 am – 2.30 pm and 3.00 pm – 10.00 pm

This service allows you to submit a request to complete a Marriage Contract between a UAE national woman and an expatriate man, performed by a Marriage Officer according to Shari'a law.

Process Description 

     ✓ Submit the application along with the required documents to the Marriage Officer
     ✓ Signing of the application by the fiancé, fiancée, the legal guardian and the two witnesses in front of the Marriage Officer outside the Courts Department premises
     ✓ Pay the fees of the Marriage Officer 
     ✓ Pay the fees of the process at the Finance counter (Sheikh Saqr Hall, from 7.30am to 2.30pm)
     ✓ Receive the original Marriage Contract and a certified copy

Required Documents

     ✓ Emirates ID cards of all parties (original and copy)
     ✓ Family Book for the fiancée (original and copy)
     ✓ Pre-Marital Mutual Check Certificate (original and copy)
     ✓ Good Conduct Certificate for the proposed husband (original and copy)

Fees

     ✓ NotarizationFees: AED 200
     ✓ Accreditation Fees: AED 25 (for every Certified Copy of the contract) 

Requirements and Conditions 

     ✓ Personal attendance of the fiancé, fiancée and legal guardian or their legal representatives provided that such representatives are competent and of legal age (21 years old)
     ✓ Personal attendance of two competent witnesses of legal age

Note

     ✓ UAE women who have obtained UAE citizenship by dependency are not allowed to get married to expatriates

Responsible Department 

To notarize the marriage contract, visit the Legal Marriage Officers Department at RAK Courts, near the Al Meezan roundabout 
Phone: +971 7 2331541 - Ext No. 336 / 294
Working Hours: 7.30 am – 2.30 pm / 3:00 pm – 10.00 pm

This service allows you to submit a request to complete marriage procedures for a female who has no legal guardian (father, son, brother or uncle), conducted by a Marriage Officer according to Shari'a law.

Process Description 

     ✓ Submit the application along with the required documents to the competent judge to obtain the approval 
     ✓ Schedule an appointment with the Marriage Officer to conduct the Marriage Contract 
     ✓ Appear before the Marriage Officer to conclude the contract
     ✓ Signing of the application by the fiancé and the two witnesses in the presence of the marriage officer
     ✓ Pay the fees (Marriage Officer  Fee + Notarization of the marriage contract at the Courts Department)
     ✓ Receive the original Marriage Contract and a certified copy 

Required Documents

     ✓ Emirates ID cards (original and copy)
     ✓ Copy of the Passport of fiancé and fiancée
     ✓ Certificate of non-existence of a guardian from the concerned authorities or court (original and copy)
     ✓ The application (original and copy)
     ✓ Authenticated Power of Attorney permitting delegation of powers, in case the principal is acting on behalf of another party (original and copy)

Fees

     ✓ Notarization Fees: AED 200
     ✓ Accreditation Fees: AED 25 (for every Certified Copy of the contract) 

Requirements and Conditions 

     ✓ Personal attendance of both, the fiancé and fiancée
     ✓ Personal attendance of two competent witnesses of legal age
     ✓ Should the fiancée be a widow or divorcée, proof of such status must be submitted, provided that she has completed her legally prescribed waiting period and is free from any Shari'a impediments
     ✓ Should the fiancée have recently embraced Islam, a Certificate of Islam Proclamation must be provided, along with a certificate stating that she is not married. The fiancée must be free from any Shari'a impediments
     ✓ If the Power of Attorney or any other documents was issued outside the UAE, the said document must be duly translated and certified
     ✓ Should the fiancée be a housemaid, nursemaid or equivalent, a No Objection Letter is required from her sponsor

Responsible Department 

To notarize the marriage contract, visit the Legal Marriage Officers Department at RAK Courts, near the Al Meezan roundabout 
Phone: +971 7 2331541 Ext. No. 336 / 294
Working Hours: 7.30 am – 2.30 pm and 3.00 pm – 10.00 pm

Residents of the UAE, regardless of their religions, nationalities or backgrounds, may get married in Ras Al Khaimah by performing a marriage ceremony according to their religious affiliation. Muslimexpatriates can perform the marriage ceremonies at RAK Courts or with a religious clerk at home. The marriage application along with all the necessary documents must be submitted to RAK Courts, and the marriage can be officially performed with the presence of two witnesses. The marriage certificate will be issued within a couple of days. 

Non-Muslim residents can get married in church, foreign embassies in the UAE or even at home. 
Churches in Ras Al Khaimah may perform marriage ceremonies, but both parties have to be Christians. If a marriage is performed in a church, the marriage certificate must still be obtained from RAK Courts. It is also highly advised that the marriage is registered at the respective consulates. However, the marriage still needs to be registered at RAK Courts and the respective embassies regardless of whether it was performed at a court, church or temple.

Required Documents

     ✓ Birth Certificates
     ✓ Original passports and copies of the ResidencyVisas
     ✓ A Marital Status Certificate stating whether the applicant is divorced, single or widowed, attested either in the applicant’s home country (by the respective foreign ministry and the UAE consulate) or in the UAE (by the applicant’s consulate and the UAE Foreign Ministry)
     ✓ Pre-marital Mutual Check Certificate

Requirements and Conditions 

     ✓ The bride or groom must have a valid ResidencyVisa in the UAE 
     ✓ The other party must undergo a medical examination before their marriage
     ✓ The Bride’s guardian's approval for the marriage. In case of the father's absence, the closest next-of-kin male can be the guardian, and in certain exceptional cases, the cleric sheikh himself may assume the guardian's role.
     ✓ The bride and groom must be residents in the UAE
     ✓ Marriage formalities and requirements might vary from one situation to another; so the couples are advised to consult their countries' missions in the UAE to get additional details about all the necessary requirements

For UAE Nationals

After the Marriage Contract is issued, you and your spouse must visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs to complete the following:
     ✓ Get your names removed from your parents’ current Family Book
     ✓ Get your own Family Book 

For Residents

After the Marriage Contract is issued, you must visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs to:
     ✓ Change visa sponsorship status or issue a Residency Visa for your spouse

For more information, please contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs on+971 7 277 3333.

The Ras Al Khaimah Government seeks to strengthen family bonding in the emirate, through the Department of Reform and Family Guidance atRAK Courts, which works onresolving family disputes through legal awareness and family reconciliation. It also offers family counseling (in person or via telephone counseling) for families suffering from disputes and conflicts or in the case that a couple(or one of the spouses)is seeking divorce.

The Department offers free domestic guidance and reform counselling for families and parents, and it has succeeded in resolvingmany family and marital disputes without resorting to the judicial systemwith complete confidentiality and privacy.
For more information, visit RAK Courts Department.