Yes, you can live with your partner in Dubai if you are not married, as the UAE decriminalized cohabitation for consenting, unmarried adults over 18 in 2020, making it legal for foreigners and residents to share accommodation, though respecting local cultural norms, especially regarding public displays of affection, is still important. While living together is allowed, you won't have the same legal rights as married couples (like automatic visa sponsorship or inheritance rights), so it's crucial to have legal documents like wills in place, especially if you have children, as courts recognize parental relationships through the child.
🤔 Great news! The rules have changed. It's now perfectly legal for unmarried couples to live together in Dubai. 🎉 Previously, it was technically against the law, though some expats did it anyway. But now, you can live with your significant other without being married. This is a game-changer for saving money!
Under Islamic law, cohabitation was illegal in the UAE before 2020. However, reforms in the UAE's personal status laws have since decriminalised cohabitation for unmarried Dubai residents. This applies to expatriates and tourists, ensuring couples can live together freely without fear of legal action.
It is perfectly acceptable to hold hands with your partner anywhere in Dubai. including the airport.
One of the symbols that best represents Dubai is the 3-finger hand gesture, coined in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al. Maktoum. The meaning behind the three fingers is “Winning - Victory - Love”, understood as work ethic, success and love for the nation.
Under the new regulations, extramarital relationships are permitted in Dubai.
Physical intimacy in public is strictly regulated under Dubai rules. Holding hands between married couples is generally tolerated. However, kissing, hugging, or other intimate gestures can lead to arrest and deportation. Unmarried couples should be particularly cautious about public displays of affection.
Previously, under Federal Law No. 3 of 1987, it was a punishable offense for unmarried couples to live together in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi. However, under the new rules for unmarried couples in UAE ( Federal Decree-Law No. 15 of 2020), the consensual relationships between unmarried couples are now decriminalized.
Cohabitation agreements are made between partners who want to live together but remain unmarried. They can include a provision about what should happen if the couple were to decide to get married. It could even state that the couple should draw up a prenuptial agreement at that time.
Public displays of affection are discouraged in Dubai, even between married couples. Handholding or innocent affection is fine but keep the passionate kisses and heavy petting behind closed doors when you are here to avoid trouble.
Key Points of the New Cohabitation Law
You must both be over 18. You must not be married to someone else. Adultery remains a criminal offense. Same-sex couples are not protected under this law.
Yes, it is legal to have a child out of wedlock in the UAE.
Parents must marry or acknowledge the child legally.
The answer is - Yes, unmarried couples can share a hotel room in Dubai. Dubai has relaxed many of its regulations in recent years to accommodate international tourism. It is now customary for hotels to accept unmarried couples, as well as foreign couples, without requiring proof of marriage.
Can you kiss in public in Dubai? While married couples are allowed to hold hands in public, kissing is considered offensive to public decency. UAE government guidelines define kissing as "inappropriate behavior."
Unmarried Couples Living Together In Dubai
Unmarried couples in Dubai can now legally live together. In the past, this was not allowed under UAE laws. The rules changed in 2020, making Dubai living together unmarried legal. Couples can now share a home without worrying about legal trouble.
THE LAW ON CO-HABITATION IN DUBAI
One of the most commonly asked questions is, “can unmarried couples legally share accommodation in Dubai?” The answer is, yes they can. It is no longer required to be married or related to share accommodation in Dubai legally.
Polygamy is allowed as per the UAE's law. A Muslim male may have four wives, provided he offers equal sustenance and equal treatment to all. Here are the key legal requirements for Muslim marriages: Marriage contract needs to be registered in a Sharia court in the UAE.
Dubai adheres closely to Sharia (traditional Islamic religious) law. There is little tolerance for same-sex relations and multiple common actions are illegal, including: PDA (including same-sex PDA) Public drunkenness.
$100 (around 367 AED) per day in Dubai is possible, but it depends on how you spend it.
Public displays of affection should be minimal; holding hands is acceptable but kissing and hugging in the public is not. Noise disruptions, bad language, making obscene gestures and showing disrespect in any way to the UAE, its leaders or religion are all forbidden and may land you in legal trouble and deportation.
If you are a married couple, the extent of your public displays of affection is limited to hand-holding. Couples who are not married cannot engage in any form of public affection. Kissing and hugging in public is not tolerated and couples who are caught could be fined or imprisoned.
10/ Swearing/hand gestures
For example, giving someone a thumbs up in Dubai is equivalent to the middle finger in British culture. Never shake hands, pass things, or eat, using your left hand. This hand is considered to be dirty in Dubai culture as it's used after going to the bathroom.