Marrying in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital and the largest emirate of the UAE, and the wealthiest. Its palace hotel on the Corniche, opened in 2005, is built on a palatial scale, and a wedding there sits in a category of its own.
The city occupies a peninsula and several islands in a sheltered bay of the Arabian Gulf. It is quieter than Dubai, more conservatively run and less tourist-facing. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque lies a short drive from the Corniche and can be visited respectfully as part of a weekend itinerary.
The Corniche is lined with parks, hotels and the blue water of the bay, and Al Maryah Island, a short bridge from the mainland, holds further waterfront hotels.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- November, December, January, February
- Shoulder season
- October, March, April
- Peak season
- December, January
The climate resembles Dubai's but is a little more humid in summer. The wedding season runs from October to April, and November to February is best.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of Abu Dhabi, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of Abu Dhabi
Western Corniche
The palace hotel stands here in extensive grounds, with a private beach and marina and gardens reaching the water on three sides. A ceremony on the lawn or beach with the gold-domed palace behind is an architecturally grand setting.
Al Maryah Island
A purpose-built financial and commercial island joined to the centre by a bridge. Its hotels offer rooftop venues, a pool terrace and ballrooms.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque area
The mosque is not a wedding venue, but a hotel opposite has views of the white domes reflected in the creek.
Eastern Mangroves
The east of the city faces a mangrove national park. A hotel beside it offers kayak access and boardwalk gardens, and suits couples who want a more intimate, nature-facing Abu Dhabi.
What venues are like
Palace ceremony and ballroom
The palace hotel has ceremony and reception spaces on a scale matched only by real palaces, with lawns and a beach for garden ceremonies. It is the choice when the brief is unapologetically grand.
Rooftop and waterfront terrace
Several hotels have rooftop or upper-floor terraces with views across the bay or skyline.
Mosque-view and heritage venue
A hotel directly opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has event spaces with views of the lit white domes. The backdrop is a major work of Islamic architecture rather than a hotel building or a natural landscape.
Marina and beach venue
The palace hotel's private marina and beach are open for outdoor events, with maintained landscaping that makes a more refined setting than most Dubai beach venues.
Airports and transfers
- Dubai International (DXB) The alternative gateway for guests on Emirates, British Airways or Virgin from other UK airports. A coordinated coach transfer suits large groups, and the road between the two cities is a fast, well-kept motorway.
- Al Maktoum International (DWC)
- Zayed International (Abu Dhabi) (AUH) Etihad flies direct from London Heathrow and Manchester, and British Airways flies from Heathrow. The airport is a short drive from the Corniche, and for groups on Etihad it is the most direct route.
- Ras Al Khaimah International (RKT)
Abu Dhabi airport is served by Etihad from London and Manchester. Dubai airport is also a viable gateway, with Abu Dhabi a drive away along the main motorway.
Marrying legally in the United Arab Emirates
A visiting couple marries in a civil ceremony at the Civil Family Court of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Neither partner needs to live in the Emirates, the application can be made online, and the ceremony itself takes about fifteen minutes. Dubai's civil marriage service is built for residents of Dubai, so the celebration is usually held in Dubai or elsewhere after the legal ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
- 1Before you travel
The documents
The passport of each partner, and evidence of divorce or the former spouse's death certificate where either applies. A British national may be asked for an affidavit or affirmation of marital status, which the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the British Consulate in Dubai issues by appointment.
- 2Up to ten working days before
The application
Made on the Judicial Department's website, through an approved typing centre or through an approved law firm. A standard application takes up to ten working days and an urgent one is available.
- 3The day
The civil ceremony
Held at the Civil Family Court in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's main building beside Zayed Sports City. The court aims to complete the ceremony in about fifteen minutes, rings and personal vows are allowed, and the marriage certificate is issued afterwards with digital authentication.
- Residency
- none required
- Legal form
- civil ceremony in Abu Dhabi
- Application
- online, typing centre or law firm
- Ceremony
- about 15 minutes
Already married at home?5 Star view
Many couples complete the legal marriage at home or at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court and hold the celebration in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah or elsewhere in the Emirates. A celebration with no legal effect needs none of the steps above: the venue and the planner confirm what the setting allows.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United States
American citizens are issued a visa on arrival and need not apply in advance. The United Arab Emirates raised the stay for American passport holders to 90 days in any 180-day period from September 2024; the passport must be valid for at least six months from arrival.
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British passport holders are given a visitor visa free of charge on arrival and need not apply in advance. It allows a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and the passport must be valid for at least six months after the day you arrive.
Travelling from the Gulf
Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman need no visa and no sponsor to enter the United Arab Emirates; a passport or a national identity card is accepted at the border. A resident of the Gulf who holds another passport follows the rule for that passport.
Other nationalities
Many nationalities are issued a visa on arrival and others need an entry permit arranged before travel. Check the Immigration and Citizenship Authority's list or the Emirates' embassy in your country.
The visitor visa covers a wedding trip. A visiting couple does not need a residence permit to marry in Abu Dhabi.
Reference Abu Dhabi Judicial Department: civil marriage (adjd.gov.ae). gov.uk: United Arab Emirates entry requirements; affidavit and affirmation of marital status forms, UAE; notarial and documentary services guide for the United Arab Emirates. Fragomen: United Arab Emirates, longer durations for visas on arrival. Khaleej Times: how expats and tourists can marry under Abu Dhabi's civil family law (February 2022). Checked 5 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
The Corniche hotels are packed into a short stretch, so accommodation logistics are simple for most wedding sizes.
At the table
The dining scene is smaller in breadth than Dubai's. The palace hotel's own restaurants cover everything a wedding party needs without leaving the property.
Palace hotel dining
Lebanese, Chinese and Indian restaurants and an afternoon tea mean most groups can eat on the property throughout. The tea, with gold-flake cappuccinos, is among the most photographed food experiences in the UAE.
Island hotel restaurants
The hotels on Al Maryah Island include Japanese and Cantonese restaurants of a high standard, both needing advance booking for groups.
Cultural dining experiences
The mangroves, the desert and the fishing coast supply fresh seafood, slow-cooked Emirati lamb and ouzi rice. A traditional Emirati dinner at a heritage restaurant in the old city suits the weekend programme.
Alcohol and halal
All major hotel restaurants are licensed, and rules on alcohol outside licensed premises are enforced more strictly than in Dubai. Halal food is standard, and pork is sold only at licensed hotels, clearly labelled.
What planners tell couples
More conservative than Dubai
The rules on alcohol, dress and public behaviour match the rest of the UAE but are applied with less tolerance, especially outside the main hotel zones. Inside licensed hotels they relax to international standards.
Mosque dress code
The code is strictly enforced at the entrance. Women must cover hair, arms and legs, and men need long trousers and covered shoulders. Abayas are available at the entrance, and access is restricted on Fridays.
Legal ceremony
Non-Muslim foreign nationals can marry in the UAE through licensed civil ceremony providers. Most international couples complete the legal marriage in the UK and use the Abu Dhabi event as the celebration.
Ramadan
Hotels keep full service in enclosed areas. Public Ramadan rules are stricter than in Dubai, and eating, drinking and playing music in public during daylight are more actively policed.
