United Arab Emirates Civil Registration

Offices to Contact
The following handle current and lost births and deaths, but may not help with genealogical requests.

Ministry of Health and Prevention Muhaisna 2, Sheikh Muhammed bin Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Opp. Etisalat Metro Station- Beside Etisalat Academy)

Customer Service Telephone: +971 800 111 11, +971 4 230 1000 Email: [mailto:info​@mohap.gov.ae info​@mohap.gov.ae]

Marriages are handled by the state courts of each emirate:

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD – Shari’a Courts) Baniyas Najda Street Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 800 2353

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) Musaffah Street 4th Street Al Madina Al Riyadiya, Abu Dhabi Landmark: Near Zayed Sport City P.O.Box: 84, Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 6512222 Fax: +971 2 6512222

Historical Background
Organisation of the civil registration system

1. The Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health is responsible for the registration of births and deaths. The registration of marriages and divorces is covered by the state courts under the Ministry of Justice.

2. Both births and deaths are to be reported to the nearest health center and the information will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for registration and for entering into a database.

3. The registration of marriage and divorce goes through state courts formally and the courts provide the completed registration forms to the Central Statistics Department for compilation and analysis.

There are seven emirates (kingdoms/states) consisting of Abu Dhabi (the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.

For more information about marriages, see Marriage - The Official Portal of the UAE Government.

Coverage and Compliance
1882 Ottoman Census. Includes data on men and possible on women.

1968 First official census conducted by the Council of Developing Trucial States. The UAE government website (https://fcsa.gov.ae/en-us/Pages/Statistics/Statistics.aspx) states that the data includes: gender, age, marital status, and more.

1971 Census for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Nation-wide Census Years 1975, 1980, 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2010.

British Colonial Handbooks Information for officials on the land, people, and politics of the Persian Gulf.