UAE issues first civil marriage license for non-Muslim couple

The UAE issued its first civil marriage license for a non-Muslim couple, state media and AFP reported.

The UAE has been amending its laws to present itself as a modernizing force in the region.

The official WAM news agency said a Canadian couple were the first to marry under a new law on the personal status of non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi.

The move “contributes to the consolidation of Abu Dhabi’s position as a world leading destination for skills and expertise from around the world,” WAM said.

Late last year, the UAE revamped an array of laws in a social liberalization drive designed to burnish its progressive brand.

These included lifting a ban on unmarried couples living together, loosening restrictions on alcohol and offering long-term residencies.

Earlier this month, the UAE announced it will move to a Western-style Saturday-Sunday weekend.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2022, the Emirates will become the only Gulf country not to observe weekends from Friday to Saturday.

Competition is hotting up as Saudi Arabia, seeking to diversify its economy, aims to turn its capital Riyadh into an international hub.

Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on women drivers and eased its strict Islamic dress code.

Last year, Riyadh said it would not sign contracts with companies that have their regional headquarters outside the kingdom.