Dubai or Abu Dhabi Wedding Compared

If one of you lives in Dubai, both cities are open to you, and the choice comes down to the setting. Dubai gives you Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa views and beach resorts along the Gulf. Abu Dhabi gives you Emirates Palace, the beaches of Saadiyat Island and views of the Grand Mosque. The two cities are about 90 minutes apart by road, depending on traffic.

How the legal rules differ

The routes below are for non-Muslim couples. Muslim marriages in the UAE follow a separate process, so check the requirements with the courts directly. Our guide to Dubai marriage requirements covers the documents in more detail.

If you're visiting the UAE

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department says you don't need to be a UAE resident for a civil marriage, and that tourists are encouraged to apply wherever they live. The process runs in four steps:

1. Apply online. Submit your application through the court's electronic portal from anywhere in the world, then pay the fee once it's approved.
2. Travel to Abu Dhabi. The court emails you the date and time of your ceremony, which you attend in person in Abu Dhabi.
3. Bring guests if you like. No witness is required, but family and friends can attend, and you can exchange rings and recite vows if you tell the officiating team when you arrive.
4. Get it attested. After the court issues the marriage, it needs attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Visitors can't use Dubai's civil marriage. The UAE government says it requires both partners to be non-Muslim, at least 21, and at least one of them to be a resident of Dubai. To marry in Dubai itself, visiting couples can choose a church. Holy Trinity Church Dubai marries non-Muslim adults aged 18 and over, including non-resident couples.

If you live in the UAE

Living in Dubai opens up Dubai's civil marriage, as long as you both meet the rules above. Abu Dhabi's court accepts UAE residents too, and residents can attend the ceremony by videoconference instead of in person, according to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

Photo: Saeed Arab

The official fees side by side

Package prices vary too widely by venue and date to compare the two cities fairly, so these are the published legal fees. Each one covers something different.

• Abu Dhabi civil marriage: AED 300 for the standard service, processed within 10 working days, or AED 2,500 for the urgent service within one working day, according to the UAE government. Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a separate step.
• Optional prenuptial agreement in Abu Dhabi: AED 950, according to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
• Holy Trinity Church Dubai: AED 3,675 including VAT for non-resident couples and AED 3,150 for UAE residents. The church says its fees include attestation by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dubai Court.

For the cost of the celebration itself, our Dubai wedding cost guide breaks down per-person packages and minimum spends, and our guide to Dubai wedding package inclusions explains what those packages cover.

Venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Both cities have five-star hotels with ballrooms, beaches and wedding teams, so pick the setting you want in your photos. These venues all appear in our guide to the best luxury wedding venues in the UAE.

In Dubai:

• Atlantis The Royal and Raffles The Palm, on Palm Jumeirah
• Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, between the Gulf and the skyline
• Bvlgari Resort, on Jumeirah Bay, with a private beach
• The Address Sky View, with views of the Burj Khalifa
• Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, in the desert

In Abu Dhabi:

• Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, as in this Emirates Palace wedding
• The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, on Saadiyat's white sand beaches
• The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, with the Grand Mosque as a backdrop
• Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, in the desert

You can compare more spaces in our directory of wedding venues in Dubai. For a ceremony in the dunes, our guide to a desert wedding in Dubai covers timing and guest comfort.

Photo: Eylül Esmer

When to marry and what guests need

October to April is the UAE's main wedding season, with warm evenings for terraces, beaches and dunes. Our venue guide notes that the most requested dates at headline venues go 12 to 18 months ahead, so inquire early. From May to September, celebrations move into air-conditioned ballrooms, and venues tend to be more generous with packages.

For guests flying in, our list of things to do in Dubai with your wedding guests has ideas for the days around the wedding. If your wedding spans both cities, arrange transfers between them.

Marry in Abu Dhabi, celebrate in Dubai

If you're visiting and your dream venue is in Dubai, you can split the wedding across both cities. Hold the legal ceremony at the Abu Dhabi court with your closest people, then host the main celebration in Dubai a day or two later. Apply to the court early, and wait for your ceremony date before you lock in the Dubai celebration, since the court sets the date once your application is approved.

Plan your UAE wedding with Wedded Concierge

Wedded Concierge can compare venues and packages for your date and guest count, and our travel team can arrange stays for you and your guests.

Frequently asked questions