Guidance

United Arab Emirates: Knowledge Base profile

Published 8 May 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-arab-emirates-knowledge-base-profile/united-arab-emirates-knowledge-base-profile

Version 2.0

About: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

This document contains useful information about United Arab Emirates which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

  • version 2.0
  • published for Home Office staff on 1 May 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

United Arab Emirates: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in United Arab Emirates.

Naming conventions exist in United Arab Emirates (UAE):

  • which pass on the forename of the father and grandfather in each generation
  • forenames include gender specific words meaning ‘son of’ or ‘daughter of’

Names consist of:

  • a forename, followed by:
    • ‘ibn’ – for a male child
    • ‘bint’ – for a female child
  • their father’s forename, followed by:
    • ‘ibn’ – for a male child
    • ‘bint’ – for a female child
  • their grandfather’s forename
  • a family surname

Change of name

Name changes are allowed for forenames only.

When a couple marry, the wife retains her family name.

United Arab Emirates: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in United Arab Emirates.

Dual nationality is not allowed in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A UAE national who gains another nationality can regain UAE nationality if they renounce the other nationality.

United Arab Emirates: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in United Arab Emirates.

Legitimacy

United Arab Emirates recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered legitimate if their parents:

  • were married at the time of the birth and the child is born:
    • at least 6 months after parents are married
    • no more than 4 years after any separation
    • from the time of the marriage if the parents marry after the birth

A child will be considered illegitimate if their parents:

  • never marry
  • are married less than 6 months before the child’s date of birth
  • were married at the time of birth and have been separated more than 4 years after the child is born

United Arab Emirates: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in United Arab Emirates.

Adoption is illegal in the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in United Arab Emirates.

Surrogacy is illegal in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in United Arab Emirates.

Same sex relationships are illegal.

Polygamous marriage (up to four wives) is recognised in the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from United Arab Emirates.

Birth certificates

Births must be registered within 30 days with the Ministry of Health & Prevention, who issue birth certificates in English and Arabic. The Ministry will reissue a certificate if an error is found or if the child’s full name is given after the first registration.

Parents must provide their marriage certificate to the authorities to register a birth. Where an unmarried woman gives birth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) she may be refused a birth certificate for the child.

Since 30 December 2021, all regions of the UAE issue digital certificates. HM Passport Office can only accept physical versions of these certificates which must have been stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Marriage certificates

Each Emirate in the UAE has its own style marriage certificate. There is no central registry, the marriage certificates are issued by the:

  • court for Islamic marriages
  • Church for a Christian marriage

Death certificates

Death certificates are issued by:

  • The Ministry of Health & Prevention
  • Department of Health in Abu Dhabi
  • Dubai Health Authority
  • Emirates Health Services

A death must be registered within 2 days.

Identity documents

Emirates ID card (also called the National Identity Card) is an identity card issued by Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA). The identity card is mandatory for all UAE citizens and legal residents of 15 years and above.

Work permits are issued by the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Back to top