🧭 Region & Middle East · #8

UAE: must the husband tell the first wife before marrying again?

The official Arabic text of the 2024 law on the UAE legislation portal contains no provision requiring the existing wife to be told of a new marriage; article 41 only requires the contract to be documented in court. 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, turns and maintenance (article 49(6)). The wife's main protection is a condition in the contract (article 33): if a valid condition is broken, for example a condition that the husband will not marry again, she may apply to dissolve the contract within one year of learning of it. The condition must be written in the contract or acknowledged by the spouses. See Gulf States.

Sources

UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2024, articles 32, 33, 49

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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