If you are Muslim expats and still don’t know why Nikah and a civil wedding are difficult in Qatar? There are a lot of restrictions to reaching out to marriage laws, it doesn’t even matter whether you are organizing the civil ceremony or Nikah. It usually happens the same for both. 

In this article, we shed light on the difference between a civil ceremony and a Nikah wedding in Qatar and why it is hard to exchange vows here. 

The traditional way of marriage for Muslim Expats:

The religious way of marriage for Muslims is performing Nikah under Sharia Laws. This is convenient for those who live in Islamic countries, not for those who plan to move to other countries. 

When tying the knot with a Muslim partner, Nikkah in Qatar is completed by an Imam and two witnesses. It is not applicable to non-muslim partners.

Muslim Expat’s Approach for arranging Civil ceremony in Qatar:

Civil ceremonies for Muslim ex-pats in Qatar are not easy to conduct especially when they are getting married to non-muslims. The couple must have undergone a large lengthy process to fulfil the legal requirements of the Sharia Court. 

It’s noteworthy if you choose other countries as a wedding destination and celebrate your marriage without any fuss. 

Final thoughts on why Qatar is not the best wedding destination place for marriage

Nikkah and civil ceremony both are legal ways of marriage for Muslim expat couples. However, Qatar is not the perfect option for them because of the time-consuming process. If you want to legalize your marriage according to Sharia Law, pick the Seychelles, Georgia or online locations for weddings. All are beautiful ways to enjoy the best moments of life. 

Our highly-trained team can help you plan a world-class civil ceremony, nikkah wedding or both at the perfect place!

Qatar, one of the most popular countries amongst many GCC expats, which is why it is home to so many foreigners. As an important place for immigrants coming to find jobs, the country welcomes foreigners. But, if you are in Qatar and looking for an online wedding, are you legally allowed for that?

This blog will help you understand the best way of getting married online if you are in Qatar.

What must you know about getting married in Qatar

First thing first, you have to keep in mind that Qatar is a Muslim country. It has a Sharia Law for marriage that restricts Muslim- Non-Muslim marriage with a lot of requirements.

On the other hand, an online marriage can be conducted via zoom through remote appearances. However; the marriage needs to be reported at the respective embassies and could take anywhere close to about 2 months to arrive. The process is a bit long and lengthy so expats getting married in Qatar must contact a marriage consultant for a hassle-free marriage.

Other recommendation in addition to getting married online in Qatar

The best way to get married in Qatar is to opt for a destination wedding out of the country. Qatar accepts marriage certificates from Georgia, Seychelles, or other countries even if its Muslim-non Muslim marriage. However, for the complete legal proceedings and documents, you need legal help. 

If you choose Georgia to get married, the process and documentation are easy. Also, Georgia is a beautiful country to get married to. The same is true with Seychelles. Because of the easy documentation and quick approval of marriage, it is perfect for all those in Qatar looking for inter-religion marriage, online marriage, or inter-country marriage.

So, we advise you to hire a marriage consultant that can help you to prepare legal documents, and also with the process of expat marriage to get validation in Qatar.

Expulsion or abortion of a fetus or embryo is not a cakewalk. In U.S 1 in 4 women abort a life during their pregnancy. In 1973 Roe v Wade legalized it nationwide from 50 years. However, the laws by different states helped to stop people to go on with the abortion procedure. On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court decided to officially overturn the 1973 landmark decision of abortion.

In this article we draw comparison between the abortion laws in America Vs Qatar for our expats living here.

Abortion laws in US states

 Senate Bill 8 was passed on 1 Sep 2021. It was a downfall, and lost the battle for many pro-abortion advocates.  In Texas, according to the senate, people won’t be able to terminate or abort the fetus after 6 weeks of pregnancy by any technique. In Arkansas, Montana, and New Hampshire, Senate bill 6 was made for the protection of the unborn child. This act won’t allow the mother to abort the embryo after 22 weeks of pregnancy. While in Idaho, it is prevented based on a finding of the fetal heartbeat. In Oklahoma, the state threat the doctors to cancel their licenses if using termination techniques on their patients. Parents are counseled by the specialist to change their own decision in West Virginia and South Dakota.

Abortion Laws in Qatar:

It is illegal under special conditions. Under Qatar’s penal code, a woman who consents to embryo termination is punished by the government for 5 years of jail. With the Parent’s consent, individuals who perform an unauthorized abortion on a woman may face up to five years imprisonment and up to ten years if it is performed without the mother’s consent.

Historically, abortion was allowed in Qatar society only if the pregnancy was deemed to endanger the mother’s life. Abortions must first be recommended by a medical commission comprising three specialists before they can be performed. 

Furthermore, a law formalized in 1983 states:

“Abortions are only allowed when the baby might have an untreatable disease or mental impairment. The duration of the procedure should be *4 months if it could harm the mother’s health, and both parents must agree to terminate the pregnancy”.

Abortions in Qatar are sometimes performed by women who are pregnant out of wedlock as a direct result of the illegality of giving birth to a child.

Final Verdict on why abortion in the US is illegal?

 According to these laws, abortion is not legal unless in emergency cases. However, the debate over the emotional impact due to abortion is a contentious one. Some women had post-traumatic stress that elevated levels of anxiety and depression. On one side, they can marry the biological father of the child rather than go for an abortion. They can also opt for other options of Georgia, Seychelles, or online weddings if there is a travel restriction for the mother during this time. 

No need to go for an abortion, choose the perfect wedding destination places for marriage with the assistance of our professional team!

According to embassy officials, giving birth to illegitimate child results in a jail sentence on average and is illegal under Qatari law. The majority of unmarried women are stuck in a situation. Some leave the country to avoid prosecution, but some choose to stay in the hope of not getting into trouble with the government. Some are unable to leave because their sponsors won’t issue them exit permits.

Although giving birth outside a wedlock is no longer a punishable offense in the UAE; the same cant be true for Qatar and other GCC countries.

How do they authorize the baby passports in Qatar?

The parents of the newborn can start by making an application to their respective embassy. Additionally, they would also need to provide the following:

• Fee of 20 QAR.
• Passport-size photos of the baby,
• the residence permit of the parents and
• copies of the parent’s passports. 

What after-effects of unmarried women being pregnant out of wedlock?

As per Qatar law, the baby will be considered illegal if an unmarried woman will give birth without marriage. Also, these women may get deported. Besides this, there is also an issue with the registration of birth certificates and passports. Without a marriage certificate, both of the documents can’t be authorised for the baby. 

Recommendations for giving the best piece of advice for couples:

Although giving birth to a child out of wedlock is unacceptable according to Qatar laws. Most expat women settled there due to their jobs, and are in the situation of having an unexpected pregnancy before marriage.

Couples who are prepared to start a family with the added member in their life can consider getting married in one of the many easy wedding destinations such as UAE (at the Abu Dhabi court), Georgia, Seychelles or even online(if travel is an issue). 

Let’s plan your wedding ceremony without any hassle, consult us today!