How Does Marriage Work In Egypt?

In Egypt, marriage is a legally recognized contract between a man and a woman, with the only legal marriage for foreigners being a civil ceremony performed at the local court. This is in accordance with Islamic practice, and the minimum age of marriage is set at eighteen. The legal binding of marriage is established through a religious ceremony.

Egyptian marriage is seen through various lenses, including responsibility, children, caregiving, and romance. Traditional Egyptian unions often result from arrangements made based on familial socio-economic standings. Child marriage is particularly common in Upper Egypt, which is rural and has high levels of poverty and low levels of literacy.

Romantic love was an important concept for many couples in ancient Egypt, and the only legal documentation required was a marriage contract. In contemporary Egyptian society, individuals have more decision-making power over whom they marry, but marriage still entails negotiation among family members and may include the use of a matchmaker.

Women in ancient Egypt were considered equals to men in every aspect except occupation. A Muslim man can marry a woman who is Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, while a Muslim woman can only marry a man who is Muslim. Same-sex couples cannot get married in Egypt.

To register their marriage contracts, Egyptian citizens considering marriage from foreigners should meet certain conditions. The marriage agreement in Egypt is made up of two parts: the mahr and the shabka, where the groom must bring two gifts to the girl’s family.

Do you have to be married to share a room in Egypt?

In Egypt, it is illegal for unmarried couples to share a hotel room. Hotels may require couples to show proof of marriage.

What are the rules for marriage in Egypt?

Foreigners can only get married in Egypt in a civil ceremony at the local marriage court. This is in line with Islamic practice. If you want a religious ceremony, you can arrange that separately, but the civil ceremony is the legal marriage. To marry in Egypt, Americans must:

Step 1: Make an appointment with the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy. Address: 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo.

How much does a bride cost in Egypt?

It costs between 500,000 and 650,000 Egyptian pounds to get married in Egypt, with a house costing around 400,000. The bride’s gold gift is between 20,000 and 100,000 Egyptian pounds.

CAIRO: More couples are getting married in Egypt, but fewer are doing so because of the high costs. New figures from Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics show that the number of marriages fell from 912,606 in 2017 to 887,315 last year, down 2.8 percent. With 938,526 weddings in 2016, the data showed a yearly decline of more than 25,000 Egyptian marriages. Dr. Hassan Al-Khouli, a sociology professor, blamed economic and social reasons for the decline, with high youth unemployment in the country making marriage too expensive for many families.In some cities, the cost of getting married can be as high as 1 million Egyptian pounds. Dr. Abdul Hamid Zaid of Fayoum University said the economic situation in Egypt has hit the middle classes hard.

938,526 – Weddings in Egypt in 2016. The data showed a drop of over 25,000 marriages a year. He told Arab News that many couples still want to get married and start families, but lack the money to do so. Soad Hussein, 30, from Cairo, said she spent about 80,000 Egyptian pounds on her wedding supplies and saved for years to fund it. She and her husband held a small street party to celebrate the ceremony last November. Hussein told Arab News, “If I have a daughter, I hope things are easier for her.” The average cost of getting married in Egypt is between 500,000 and 650,000 Egyptian pounds, with a house costing around 400,000. The bride’s gift is between 20,000 and 100,000 Egyptian pounds. In some parts of Egypt, young people are trying to cut the cost of marriage by cutting out or scaling back expensive traditions.

Who pays for an Egyptian wedding?

In Egyptian culture, the groom and his family usually pay for the wedding. This includes the wedding ceremony, reception, and celebrations. The groom provides the bride with a gift, called the mahr, and pays for the wedding venue, catering, entertainment, and other wedding-related costs. However, modern Egyptian weddings can vary. Some families may be more flexible about covering wedding expenses. Sometimes the bride’s family helps pay for her clothes or parts of the wedding.

How many wives can an Egyptian man have?

Polygamy. In Egypt, a man can marry up to four women at once. The husband must tell his previous and future wives. In 2000, a law was passed that lets a man and a woman agree in writing that the husband can’t have more than one wife.

Mixed marriage. Egyptian law allows mixed marriages between Egyptians and foreigners. Foreigners can only get married in Egypt in a civil ceremony at the Civil Marriage Registry Office in Cairo or Alexandria. You can arrange a religious ceremony separately, but it is the civil ceremony that establishes the legal marriage.

Do Egyptian marry more than one wife?

Polygamy. In Egypt, a man can marry up to four women at once. The husband must tell his previous and future wives. In 2000, a law was passed that lets a man and a woman agree in writing that the husband can’t have more than one wife.

Mixed marriage. Egyptian law allows mixed marriages between Egyptians and foreigners. Foreigners can only get married in Egypt in a civil ceremony at the Civil Marriage Registry Office in Cairo or Alexandria. You can arrange a religious ceremony separately, but it is the civil ceremony that establishes the legal marriage.

Are marriages in Egypt arranged?

15 Egyptian wedding traditions. 6 Egyptian Wedding Traditions Before the Wedding. #1: Je Peniot. In Egypt, weddings are usually arranged based on the families’ finances. In the West, Egyptian couples usually meet through: The couple must ask their parents for permission before they can get married. The engagement contract is called the “Je Peniot.” It is not a sacrament, so it can be dissolved.

Can a woman divorce a man in Egypt?

To start a traditional divorce, women must get legal help, show they were hurt, and go to mediation. A woman must prove she can’t live with her husband. Discrimination in Egypt’s divorce system starts before a woman files for divorce. It starts with marriage. Many women in Egypt are married without their consent. Egyptian marriage contracts may provide for certain rights and equal access to divorce, but many women are not informed of their right to negotiate such conditions. If a woman wants to end her marriage, she still can’t. Men can get divorced without going to court, but women have to go through a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive process to end their marriages. Women must choose between a long, fault-based divorce that lets them keep their money (if the government can make the man pay alimony and child support) or a quick divorce where the woman gives up her rights (khula).

Getting married. The Ma’zun didn’t ask if I wanted to add conditions to the marriage contract. I wasn’t there. My dad did. In Egypt, marriage is a contract between two people of legal age. The minimum age for marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women. Before marriage, the groom must pay the bride an advance on the dowry. The rest of the dowry (the deferred dowry or mu’akhar) is paid on divorce or death.

What was the basis for marriages in Egypt?

Marriage was about property. Religious and state doctrines didn’t affect marriage. Unlike other economic documents, marriages weren’t registered. Once a couple lived together, they were considered married. As the story of Setne says, I married Naneferkaptah that night. The pharaoh sent me a present of silver and gold. He slept with me that night and liked me. He slept with me again and again and we loved each other (Lichtheim 1980: 128). How similar is this ancient concept of marriage to what we think of today?

What age do Egyptian men marry?

List of countries by age at first marriage: Egypt: 31.028 Equatorial Guinea: 26.123.3 Eritrea: 29.124.9 Eswatini: 30.528.5 This list is based on recent surveys and doesn’t cover history. The currency of information varies by country. Most people marry before the average age of first marriage because the age distribution is skewed towards older ages. The median age is a more precise way of showing when most people marry. Most sources only report the average age at marriage.

Oceania Note: these countries report the median age, not the mean. All countries in italics have their data in the mean, not the median.

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Those surveyed were aged 25-29. ^ Median ages are rounded. ^ West Bank only. ^ a b Those surveyed were aged 25. ^ a b c Those surveyed were aged 20-49. ^ Those surveyed were aged 25-49.

Why is the divorce rate so high in Egypt?

To solve Egypt’s high divorce rate, we must look at the factors that affect marriage, like social norms, laws, education, the media, and any laws or social views that favor men. “We must examine masculinist attitudes.” “We must also get rid of the social stigma that divorced women face.”

“Men and women have rights and duties in marriage. No one should take over the other’s rights or overburden them with extra duties.” “A marriage where both partners are equal is healthy,” Sadek said.

This article also appeared in the 3 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.