The UAE issued its first civil marriage license for anon-Muslim couple, state media reported Monday, as the Gulf country seeks to keep its edge over indigenous challengers The United Arab Emirates– where nonnatives make up 90 percent of the roughly 10-million population– has been amending its laws to present itself as a modernising force in a largely conservative region.
The sanctioned WAM news agency said a Canadian couple were the first to marry under a new law on the particular status ofnon-Muslims in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi The move”contributes to the connection of Abu Dhabi’s position as a world leading destination for chops and moxie from around the world,”WAM said Civil marriage in the Middle East, the motherland of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, is uncommon and generally conducted under a religious authority of one of the three monotheistic beliefs.
Civil marriages are allowed in Tunisia and Algeria While some countries in the region allow civil unions grounded on certain conditions, some only honor civil marriages conducted abroad and others not at all Late last Time, the UAE revamped an array of laws in a social liberalisation drive designed to furbish its progressive brand.
These included lifting a ban on unattached couples living together, loosening restrictions on alcohol and offering long- term occupancies Before this month, the UAE blazoned it’ll move to a Western- style Saturday-Sunday weekend Starting on January 1, 2022, the Emirates will come the only Gulf country not to observe weekends from Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, to Saturday Competition is toast up as neighbouring Saudi Arabia, seeking to diversify its canvas-reliant frugality, aims to turn its capital Riyadh into an transnational mecca.
Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on women motorists and eased its strict Islamic dress law Last time, Riyadh said it would not subscribe contracts with companies that have their indigenous headquarters outside the area.