Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Birth certificates for children of unmarried non-Muslim expats and unmarried Muslims from non-Muslim countries can now be processed quickly in Abu Dhabi. Under Abu Dhabi’s new secular family law implemented last February, the couples may obtain the document with their declaration of parentage and a court order of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The UAE government has recently decriminalized the cohabitation of unmarried couples in 2020. Hesham Elrafei, a legal expert in Abu Dhabi explained that the previous Sharia rules prevented a baby born out of wedlock to be registered under the father’s name. “The new law abolished all this as it looks at the matter from a human rights perspective,” he added. This new scheme makes Abu Dhabi the first and only city in the region to tackle the social problem in a progressive manner in contrast to other jurisdictions that may order “the annulment of interfaith marriage due to the baby born out of adultery.” Elfarei noted that Abu Dhabi can be considered as one of the most progressive cities with liberal family laws that are perfect for expats living in modern society. The process for obtaining the birth certificate no longer requires legal assistance or knowledge. The couple must fill up an application form written in both Arabic and English through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s website and sign the declaration at the end of the application form, confirming that the baby is theirs. The required documents are birth notification and a copy of the father’s Emirates ID and passport. Elrafei assures that it is now possible to get the court order within 24 hours or during the next day that would order the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi to issue the birth certificate for the child. Interested individuals can contact nonmuslimfamilycourt@adjd.gov.ae for further information. KSO/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page