Religion in the UAE

The constitution

Article 7 of the constitution makes Islam the official religion of the UAE and Islamic Sharia a main source of legislation. The constitution protects civil liberties, including the practice of other religions, and treats all people as equal before the law whatever their religion.^1,2

Freedom of worship

People of other religions practise their faith and celebrate their festivals freely. The UAE has permitted the building and running of their places of worship, such as temples, churches and gurdwaras.³

The Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, opened in February 2023, brings together a mosque, a church and a synagogue with shared spaces for dialogue, and offers guided tours to visitors.⁴

The UAE created a minister of state for tolerance in 2016, renamed the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in 2020, and declared 2019 the Year of Tolerance.⁶

Family law for non-Muslims

Muslims are governed by the federal Personal Status Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024. Non-Muslim residents can follow the law of their home country or the Civil Personal Status law, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, which covers civil marriage, divorce, inheritance, wills and child custody. Abu Dhabi has its own personal status law for non-Muslims.^5,7

Non-Muslim investors can register a will under the civil law, which matters for shares and property held in the UAE.

Respect for religions

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2023 on Combating Discrimination, Hatred and Extremism bans contempt of religions, insulting holy books or prophets, and damaging places of worship. Freedom of expression cannot be used to justify it. Insulting a religion is punished by at least one year in prison and a fine of AED 250,000 to AED 1 million, or one of these penalties.⁸

Non-Muslims are expected to respect Ramadan by not eating, drinking or smoking in public during fasting hours.⁹