Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: 21 of 1997
- Issued Date: 21 Dec 1997
- Effective Date: 31 Dec 1997
- Official Gazette: No. 312
- Sector: Family and Community
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 19
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Law regulates the dowry (mahr) in marriage contracts in the UAE. It sets maximum limits for the advance and deferred portions of the dowry, and imposes restrictions on the expenses and duration of wedding ceremonies. The law aims to curb excessive spending and maintain social stability by standardizing dowry and wedding practices across the country. It is an important piece of legislation for individuals entering into marriage, as well as for wedding service providers, to ensure compliance with the legal requirements. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law applies to all marriage contracts in the UAE. It regulates two key aspects: (1) the amount of the dowry (mahr) in the marriage contract, and (2) the expenses and duration of the wedding ceremony. The purpose is to standardize and limit dowry and wedding practices to maintain social stability and prevent excessive spending. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 1-3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law does not provide any specific definitions. It uses the term "dowry" (mahr) to refer to the financial consideration paid by the groom to the bride as part of the marriage contract. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The key obligations under this law are:
- Dowry Limits: The advance dowry cannot exceed AED 20,000, and the deferred dowry cannot exceed AED 30,000. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 1)
- Wedding Duration: The wedding ceremony may not last more than one day. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 3)
- Slaughtered Camels: No more than nine camels may be slaughtered during the wedding ceremony. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 3)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law imposes the following penalty for non-compliance:
- Violation of the limit on slaughtered camels (Article 3, Clause 2) is punishable by a fine of AED 500,000. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 5)
The law also states that violating its provisions will result in the offender being deprived of the marriage grant set out in Federal Law No. 47 of 1992. However, the details of this grant and the specific penalty are not provided. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 4)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This law repeals Federal Law No. 12 of 1973 Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract, as well as any other provisions that are contrary to or inconsistent with this new law. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 7) The law also references the following related legislation: - Federal Law No. 1 of 1972 regarding the Competencies of the Ministries and the Powers of Ministers - Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code - Federal Law No. 47 of 1992 Establishing the Marriage Fund (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Law came into full force and effect on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, which was 31 December 1997. (Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof, 1997, Art. 8)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law Determining the Dowry in the Marriage Contract and the Expenses thereof for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.