Abu Dhabi's nod to non-muslim civil marriage

In news– Abu Dhabi has given approval to non-Muslim marriage recently.

Key updates

With this nod, non-Muslims will be allowed to marry, divorce and get joint child custody, and proof of paternity, and inheritance under civil law in Abu Dhabi.
It is the latest step in the United Arab Emirates where personal status laws on marriage and divorce had been based on Islamic sharia principles, as in other Gulf states to maintain its competitive edge as a regional commercial hub.
The decree was approved by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayedal-Nahayan, who is also president of the UAE federation of seven emirates.
The civil law regulating non-Muslim family matters is being the first of its kind in the world.
A new court to handle non-Muslim family matters will be setup in Abu Dhabi and will operate in both English and Arabic.

The UAE last year introduced a number of legal changes at the federal level, including decriminalising premarital sexual relations and alcohol consumption, and cancelling provisions for leniency when dealing with so-called “honour killings”.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)-country profile–

UAE is a federation of seven states: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah.
Border countries are Oman and Saudi Arabia.
UAE shares maritime borders with Iran and Qatar.

Capital- Abu Dhabi.
Currency- Dirham
The country’s largest city is Dubai.
In 2020, it became the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Before oil was discovered in the 1950s the UAE’s economy was dependent on fishing and a declining pearl industry.
But since oil exports began in 1962, the country’s society and economy have been transformed.