According to local media reports, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that Muslims residing in the country are permitted to sponsor two wives simultaneously.
However, there are certain terms and conditions set by the ICP that the sponsor must meet.
The UAE’s digital government states that Muslim expatriates who meet the requirements can obtain a residence visa for two wives and their children. To sponsor a wife, the expat must provide evidence of an existing marital relationship by submitting a marriage certificate that is either authenticated in Arabic or translated into Arabic by an accredited translator. Additionally, an expat father can sponsor his unmarried daughters regardless of their age and his sons until they turn 25. Individuals with special needs can also be sponsored without any age restrictions.
Residence visas for stepchildren can be provided, subject to conditions set by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), which may include a deposit for each child and a written no-objection certificate from the biological children. To avoid fines, a father must obtain a residence permit for newborns within 120 days of their birth.
The necessary documents for the sponsorship process include an application form (available online or through registered typing centers), copies of the wife and children’s passports, pictures of the wife and children, clearance certificates for wife and children over 18 years old, a copy of the husband’s employment contract or the company’s contract, a salary certificate from the employer showing the husband’s monthly salary, a certified marriage certificate, and an attested tenancy contract.
