Non-Muslims will be allowed to marry, divorce, and get joint child custody under civil law in Abu Dhabi according to a new decree issued on Sunday by its ruler, state news agency WAM said on Sunday.
Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who is also president of the United Arab Emirates, issued a new law governing personal status matters for non-Muslims in the emirate, which includes an article on civil marriage.
The UAE last year introduced a number of legal changes at the federal level, including decriminalizing premarital sexual relations and alcohol consumption, and canceling provisions for leniency when dealing with so-called “honor killings”.
These reforms in UAE, where personal status laws on marriage and divorce had been based on Islamic Sharia principles, alongside measures such as introducing longer-term visas, have been seen as a way for the Gulf state to make itself more attractive for foreign investment, tourism, and long-term residency.
“The newly issued decree aims to enhance the position and global competitiveness of the emirate as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills,” added WAM.
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