Prenup: UAE + Spain

Which contract, and where to sign it

UAE: Under the civil regime for non-Muslims (Decree-Law 41/2022) the agreement is fixed at marriage registration or as a separate document; for Muslims the personal-status framework and mahr apply.

Spain: Escritura pública before a notary; before or after the wedding, registered in the civil registry.

Several legal systems are involved — one document will not cover them all. The working construction: an anchor contract in the principal jurisdiction plus mirror texts where the key assets sit, backed by local counsel opinions.

Choice of applicable law

In the EU, fix the choice of law inside the contract (Regulation 2016/1103): the law of either spouse’s citizenship or habitual residence. Without a choice, the regime follows the first common residence — and migrates with you unpredictably.

Spain: under Rome III you can also pre-select the law applicable to the divorce itself — it belongs in the same package.

What you can fix in it

UAE: Property and the financial terms of the marriage; maintenance arrangements remain subject to court control.

Spain: Election and tailoring of the regime, compensation clauses; mind the regional systems (Catalonia and the Balearics run their own rules).

What gives the contract its force

Full asset disclosure annexed to the contract — the main anchor against future challenge.

Independent counsel for each side; one adviser for both is the classic line of attack.

Translations and legalisation: every version with a notarised translation and apostille for its jurisdiction of use.

What to read next

Deep dive: cross-border prenups

Divorce navigator: what happens without a contract

Property division in a cross-border divorce