Wedding

Marriage Laws and Expat Marriages in Qatar

Getting married is not a very complicated process in comparison to several other procedures in Qatar. However, it may require few trips to embassies, photocopying, digging out certificates, and the usual passport-sized photographs.

Each country has its own regulations, but you may be required to produce birth certificates and divorce papers, residents permit, passport etc. Also check out about the procedures with your local embassy, as some require 21 days notice about your intention to get married.

Please Note: You need to Obtain Certificate that you guys were never married before, if so you need to show divorce Paper xyz..

Sharia Law

As per Sharia Law, a Muslim man can have up to four wives, provided, he can look after them materially and treats them equally. However, this practice is no longer being followed, as very few are able to afford it, and women are getting more independent and assertive, and refuse to accept such rules. Now, a Muslim woman can insert a clause in the marriage contract, restricting her husband from marrying another woman, for as long as the contract is valid. The wife can also retain her own name after marriage.

Muslim marriages in Qatar are performed at the Sharia Court, located on Al Rayyan Road, near Mannai Ra in the Musheirib area. The Sharia Court here allows marriages of Muslims only. Although marriages between Muslim men and Christian women are permitted by Sharia Courts in other Muslim nations, they are not allowed in Qatar.


Expat marriages in Qatar

Although a Muslim woman may not marry a non-Muslim man, unless he converts to Islam, the reverse may not be the case. On the other hand, majority of non-Muslim women are often pressurised into converting their religion. Also, it should be noted that in the event of breakdown of a marriage between a non-Muslim woman and a Muslim man, the children are usually kept by the husband in his home country.

Expatriate workers can usually be married in Qatar, provided, they meet the civil and religious requirements here. The Embassy and consulate staffs also sometimes perform civil marriage ceremonies, when certain requirements are met. Religious ceremonies can be arranged, but, only at churches or similar non-Muslim places of worship.

Christian Marriages

Non-Muslim marriages granted official recognition by the State of Qatar, are Christian Marriages, performed in Churches, registered with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by clergy recognized by the Ministry to perform non-Muslim marriages.

For non-Muslims, a Christian wedding may be the only legal way to wed in Qatar. Certain churches, such as those mentioned below, including the Catholic and Anglican Churches are licensed to carry out such weddings, although each have their own rules, and charge a fee to cover costs.

For a Christian marriage in the State of Qatar, you must, first contact either the Catholic, Anglican, Coptic or Orthodox churches in Qatar, and arrange the marriage ceremony. Following the ceremony, a marriage certificate may be issued. Translate a copy of the marriage certificate into Arabic through a translator, recognized by Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI). Register the marriage certificate and Arabic translation at the Office of Land Registration and Legalization at the office of Ministry of Justice in West Bay. The Ministry will stamp the back of marriage certificate with a registration number, and keep the copy and Arabic translation for its records. For more detail, visit the website www.moj.gov.qa.

Here are the contact numbers of some recognized churches in Qatar:

Anglican Church – 4416 5726
Catholic Church - 4490 1907
Greek Orthodox - 4487 2032
Coptic Church - 5584 0395