How to Get Married in Abu Dhabi for Filipino Couples

If you are searching for how to get married in Abu Dhabi for Filipino couples, the first thing to know is that there is more than one route. Two Filipinos can marry through the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, while eligible couples can also use the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court and report the marriage to the Philippine authorities afterward.

That distinction matters. The embassy route has its own document list, waiting period and fees. The Abu Dhabi civil route has a different process entirely.

Can Filipinos Get Married at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, but the Philippine Embassy states that it solemnizes marriages only when both parties are Filipino. The Embassy has jurisdiction over Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. It also explicitly encourages applicants to consider marrying outside the Embassy and reporting the marriage afterward because of the volume of marriage applications it receives.

Philippine Embassy Abu Dhabi Marriage Requirements

For two Filipinos applying to marry at the Embassy, the published requirements include:

• PSA-issued birth certificate: 1 original and 2 photocopies
• Local civil registry transcription if the PSA birth certificate is unclear
• PSA-issued CENOMAR: 1 original and 2 photocopies
• Three copies of each applicant’s passport data page
• Three copies of each applicant’s Abu Dhabi or Al Ain visa page
• One passport-size photo for each applicant
• Marriage Counseling Certificate

Additional documents apply in some cases. Applicants aged 18–21 may need an Affidavit of Parental Consent, while those aged 22–25 may need an Affidavit of Parental Advice. Annulled applicants and widows or widowers must provide additional proof of their previous marital status.

How Much Does a Philippine Embassy Marriage Cost?

The Embassy’s published marriage procedure lists:

• AED 100 for the Marriage License
• AED 240 for the solemnization of the marriage

A marriage banns is posted for 10 calendar days before the Marriage License can be collected. Only after that process is completed can the couple set the wedding date, subject to Embassy availability. Both applicants must appear personally to submit the documents and apply for the Marriage License.

What If One Partner Is Not Filipino?

This is where many couples lose time. If one partner is Filipino and the other is not, the Philippine Embassy marriage route is not the same option because the Embassy solemnizes marriages only between two Filipinos.

For mixed-nationality couples, civil marriage in Abu Dhabi may be the more relevant route. Abu Dhabi’s Civil Family Court accepts eligible foreign nationals regardless of religion, and tourists can also apply. The current court fee is AED 300 for standard processing of up to 10 working days or AED 2,500 for urgent processing within one working day.

Married at Abu Dhabi Civil Court? The Embassy Step Comes After

If you marry through the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, the Philippine Embassy process changes. Instead of applying for the Embassy to solemnize the marriage, the Filipino spouse generally needs to deal with the Report of Marriage.

The Embassy’s current published requirements include:

• Four completed Report of Marriage forms with original signatures
• Original plus three copies of the UAE marriage contract, with English translation and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation
• Four passport-size photos of each spouse
• Three copies of each spouse’s valid passport
• Affidavit of Delayed Registration, if applicable
• Negative Certification of Marriage Record from PSA, if applicable

The published fees are AED 100 for attestation, AED 100 for the Report of Marriage and, when applicable, AED 100 for the Affidavit of Delayed Registration. The Embassy notes that the Report of Marriage may be claimed after five working days, although additional documents can be requested depending on the case.

Previously Married? Do Not Treat This as a Small Detail

If you have been annulled, widowed or previously married, your paperwork can change significantly. This is one of those situations where “I already have a document” is not the same as “I have the document the authority will accept.”

If remarriage, custody or alimony issues are part of your case, see our guide to remarriage and custody or alimony in Abu Dhabi before assuming your previous-marriage documents are enough.

Which Route Makes More Sense?

If you are two Filipinos and are comfortable with the Embassy’s document process and waiting period, the Embassy route may suit you. If you are mixed nationality, interfaith, travelling on a short timeline or simply need a civil route, Abu Dhabi’s Civil Family Court may be more practical.

The point is not to choose the route that sounds easiest. It is to choose the one that actually fits your nationalities, documents and deadline. A five-minute review before applying can save weeks of fixing the wrong paperwork later.