Secular Israeli couple chooses Abu Dhabi civil court to marry

The Abu Dhabi Civil Court has registered an Israeli couple’s first marriage.

Groom Itamar Bareket, 26, and bride Nogah Meroz Mioni, 26, tied the knot on Monday in a simple ceremony at the Abu Dhabi judiciary.

The couple took off from Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Israel does not allow civil marriages, only religious leaders can hold weddings. So far, five Israeli couples have applied for civil marriages, ADJD officials said.

More flights are expected due to direct flights between Israel and the UAE capital.

“It’s really exciting. We’re really excited,” Mr. Bareket, who works for a tech company in Tel Aviv, told National.

“We live a secular life, and in Israel we don’t have the option of civil marriage.”

It is common for secular Israelis to travel to the Maldives, Seychelles or Cyprus for a civil marriage.

“We don’t follow any religious sect and want the ceremony to be as close to our lives as possible,” said Noga, who works in education.

The couple applied online last month for a civil marriage in the UAE and were given a date for the wedding.

An Emirati court official smiled and posed for a photo with the happy couple as they completed the brief proceedings.

“My parents were the first Israeli couple to have a civil marriage in the Seychelles. So it felt like a family tradition,” Noga said with a smile.

“I know that many Israelis are seeking civil marriages around the world. They are looking at the Seychelles and Maldives. Abu Dhabi is a short flight and a lovely destination, so I’m sure many more will follow,” she said. .

The couple plans to move to the UAE soon and settle here.

“I’m not a religious person, but today is Rosh Hashanah, and it’s an extraordinary day — and we’re so happy that our marriage started in the new year,” Noga said.

Whether or not civil marriages are allowed in Israel remains a major debate.

About half of Israeli adults want their party to push to legalize civil marriage in November’s election. last month’s poll display, while Orthodox voters strongly opposed it.

To date, at least 3,000 civil marriages have been held in Abu Dhabi’s new family court. The process is completely different from the UAE national marriage system based on Islamic teachings.

specialized family courts, which are Legislation introduced in November To better support residents of the emirate, hear all cases related to marriage, custody, divorce, parentage, inheritance and personal status.

Last month, guests from around the world flew to Abu Dhabi for the largest Jewish wedding celebration in the UAE.

UAE’s largest Jewish wedding – pictures

Updated: September 27, 2022 8:26 am