Marrying in Sir Bani Yas Island
Sir Bani Yas is an island in the Arabian Gulf, west of Abu Dhabi. It was the private reserve of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, who turned a barren island into a wildlife sanctuary. It now holds one of the largest free-roaming wildlife populations on the Arabian Peninsula, including oryx, giraffe, cheetah, hyena and ostrich, with many birds across restored savannah, mangrove and coast.
The island has three resorts in three settings. One faces the open Gulf from a mangrove-fringed shore, one sits among trees beside the game reserve, and one is a desert camp of permanent tents in the drier south. A full buy-out uses all three together and gives one event spread across beach, savannah and desert.
The island is remote. Beyond what the resort operator runs there is no road, no other hotel and no tourist infrastructure. It suits couples whose brief is intimacy, nature and exclusivity.
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
- Peak season
- December, January
The island has the same Gulf climate as the western UAE: ideal from November to February, warm in October and March, and very hot from May to September. Wildlife is most active in the daytime in the cooler months.
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 Sir Bani Yas Island, 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 Sir Bani Yas Island
The northern coast resort
The most beach-facing of the three, on a shallow bay. Ceremonies take place on the jetty or the beachfront, with mangroves and the Gulf all round. It is the most requested for ceremonies.
The wooded interior resort
Beside the game reserve boundary, with villas around the perimeter. Giraffe and oryx are often seen from the terraces. A ceremony in an outdoor clearing among acacias at dawn keeps the wildlife close.
The southern desert camp
Permanent tents in the desert section, with a minimal, Bedouin-inspired character. Away from any light source, the night sky is very clear.
Full island buy-out
Using all three properties makes the island a private estate with beach, savannah and desert. A ceremony at the coast, dinner in the interior and a bonfire in the desert is the sequence a full buy-out makes possible.
What venues are like
Beach and jetty ceremony
The bay and jetty on the northern coast are the main ceremony space. With the Gulf in every direction and the island's vegetation behind, the setting is complete without decoration.
Game reserve dawn ceremony
A ceremony at first light on the edge of the reserve, with giraffe and oryx in the background, is timed to the animals' morning movement.
Island-wide celebration format
The geography becomes the structure: arrival by ferry, ceremony on the beach, cocktails on the reserve perimeter, dinner in a clearing, bonfire in the desert. All guests must stay on the island throughout.
Private villa dinner
Individual tables in the villa compound, lantern light and the night sounds of the island make a dinner a restaurant cannot offer.
Airports and transfers
- Dubai International (DXB) A second option with a much longer drive via Abu Dhabi. For a very small party with a large budget, a private charter from Dubai to the island airstrip is simpler than mixed arrivals and coaches.
- Al Maktoum International (DWC)
- Zayed International (Abu Dhabi) (AUH) The main gateway, with direct flights from London and Manchester. The road to the ferry terminal passes through Liwa, at the edge of the Rub' al Khali desert. The resort operator coordinates transfers.
- Ras Al Khaimah International (RKT)
The island is reached by ferry from the mainland terminal or by charter flight from Abu Dhabi. It has no public access, and all guests arrive through the resort.
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
All accommodation on the island is in the three resort properties. There is no other hotel of any kind.
At the table
Dining is self-contained within the resorts, with no outside restaurants. Food quality is high at all three.
Coastal seafood dining
The main restaurant on the northern coast leans towards seafood, with fresh Gulf catch when available. Beach barbecue dinners can be set up for private groups.
Game reserve dining
The reserve restaurant has an outdoor terrace from which wildlife is often seen during dinner. Slow-cooked meats and Arabic mezze suit the bush-camp setting.
Alcohol and dietary
The resorts are fully licensed and handle all dietary requirements. Halal food is standard, and pork is served only in licensed hotel restaurants.
What planners tell couples
Wildlife and guest conduct
The island's animals are wild. Guests should not approach, feed or disturb them. This is a nature reserve and not a zoo.
Connectivity
Mobile signal and internet are limited in parts of the island. Guests should be told in advance so a break from screens is a choice and not a surprise.
Alcohol
All three resorts are licensed. Standard UAE rules apply: no alcohol outside the resort perimeter and none bought off the property.
Ferry and transfer logistics
The ferry is the standard arrival. A charter flight from Abu Dhabi to the island airstrip suits the couple or key guests wanting a faster or more dramatic arrival.
Legal ceremony
A licensed civil ceremony can be held at the resort with the right documentation. Most couples complete the legal marriage at home.
