De-facto relationships Dubai
 

Hello,

Is it possible to have a "de-facto relationship" in Dubai? I have read that is technically not allowed but is it "tolerated" when living in expat communities?

(Just to clarify we are not living in UAE yet and I'm wondering if we could start life in the UAE with this type of relationship)

Are there many EK couples living this way? I could imagine that immigration might not allow the partner to enter??

I'm hoping that UAE might be a little more understanding of western ways than say Qatar?

Many thanks.

different question: same answer
 

The basic rules are the same in Qatar as in UAE.

The difference is that the UAE, has a dont tell dont show policy.

In general, if your partner has a vaild visa to enter the UAE, and remain, then there is no problem, behind closed doors.
If NO residence visa, then only a visit visa then expect complications until the relationship can be regularised.

I have no idea if the UK, civil partnership documents actually could be considered suitable, but the UAE does think that a relationship should be between two persons of different genders.


There are many threads here, so suggest you surf a little.

Good luck.

glf

Thank you both for your replies,

Gulfstream, you mention "until the relationship can be regularised". What does that mean? My girlfriend would not be "sponsored" by another company, she would be accompanying me and seeking employment after settling in the UAE.

It all sounds a little tricky, will need to do some more research.

Thanks again.

Hope away.

To live here, your partner needs a sponsor and that cannot be you if you're unmarried. Solution, partner gets employment that includes sponsorship. Resign from job, lose visa, leave within a month.

Your partner will receive zero benefits from Emirates. Medical here is a wrought so she/he had best get a job with medical/dental benefits.

Keep good, yet discrete, relationships with everyone you know. One pissed off neighbor making a phone call to the police will have you in jail. Really hard to make your pickup from the clink.

Yes, a few people live here under those conditions but recruitment will state that it's not possible (they have to).

It's not that draconian, getting married I mean.

Yes it can all turn to custard, but the reality is there are thousands doing just what you are asking about.
Even without a sponsor, if she has an Aussie visa she can do monthly trips across the border by car to Oman, which is about a 3 hour round trip, not ideal but very do-able.
Ideally she would get a job, but it can be done. As mentioned elsewhere, just don't piss off your neighbours, especially if they are local. Of course it also helps to refer to her as your wife

regularise
 

The aim is not to upset anyone.
As mentioned in a later post, if you walk like a couple, talk like a couple, then you "are" a couple.
I can promise you that many many couples in UAE are not married, but when living in sponsored accomodation, there are problems. If not in company accomodation, there should be NO problem, just waddle like a duck.......

glf

Go to a nice little island in the South Pacific and get a piece of paper to say you're married!!
If ya don't think you can marry her it sure ain't gonna last here as place is the curse of rocky relationships.

UAE as the other gulf states upholds shari'ah law and only recognizes that a man and woman live together under matrimony. That is period.

Now practically you might get away with some other arrangements but should it hit the fan you're in for some serious trouble including jail sentence and deportation.

As stated there is plenty of this to search for here. Try "se@ on the beach couple"