Abu Dhabi: UAE issued its first civil marriage license for non-Muslim couples, the country’s media reported Monday, because the Gulf State tried to maintain its superiority of regional competitors.
United Arab Emirates – where foreigners form 90 percent of around 10 million populations – have changed their laws to show themselves as modern forces in areas that are mostly conservative.
The official WAM news agency said the Canadian pair was the first to marry under the new law on non-Muslim personal status in the capital of Emirati Abu Dhabi.
Steps “contribute to the concolidation of the position of Abu Dhabi as the world’s main goal for the skills and expertise from all over the world,” WAM said.
Civil marriages in the Middle East, the birthplace of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, are rare and are usually carried out under religious authorities from one of the three monotheistic beliefs.
Civil marriages are permitted in Tunisia and Algeria.
While some countries in the region allow civilian unions based on certain conditions, some only recognize civil marriages carried out abroad and others at all.
At the end of last year, the UAE changed the array of laws in the encouragement of social liberalization designed to burn the progressive brand.
This includes raising a ban on unmarried couples who live together, loosen alcohol restrictions and offer long-term residencies.
Earlier this month, the UAE announced he would move to the weekend weekend western style.
Starting on January 1, 2022, Emirates will be the only Gulf country that does not observe weekends from Friday, Muslim prayer days, until Saturday.
The competition is hot as a neighboring country of Saudi Arabia, trying to diversify its dependent economy, aimed at changing the capital Riyadh to be an international center.
Saudi Arabia has raised a ban on women’s drivers and relieves tight Islamic clothing codes.
Last year, Riyadh said he would not sign a contract with a company that had their regional headquarters outside the royal.