🧭 Serantau & Timur Tengah · #8
UAE: must the husband tell the first wife before marrying again?
As far as a review of the English text of law 2024 goes, there is no provision requiring the existing wife to be informed of a new marriage (to be verified). The UAE also does not require court permission. The law that applies to Muslims is Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2024 on Personal Status, in force from 15 April 2025. It sets a limit of four wives (article 32(4)) and requires the husband to be fair in treatment, rotation and maintenance (article 49(6)). The wife's main protection is conditions in the contract (article 33): if a valid condition is breached, for example a condition that the husband will not marry again, she can apply to dissolve the contract within one year of learning of it. The condition must be written into the contract or acknowledged by the spouse. See Gulf States.
Sumber
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2024, articles 32, 33, 49