At 7.30am on October 21 last year, Reema and James Sperring were signing their marriage papers in Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, with only the bride’s grandmother and father as witnesses.
“Even though I wanted to keep it low-key, they insisted on coming,” says Reema, 34, who had taken Thursday and Friday off work for a staycation at The Abu Dhabi Edition to mark the occasion.
On the day, the couple woke up early, got ready and took a taxi to the court. Reema was wearing white trousers, a smart blouse and Gucci trainers, while James, 36, donned blue chinos and a white shirt. “We were feeling both nervous and excited,” she says. “We met my family there and, once we were officially married, we went back to the hotel for breakfast.”
Later on, the now husband and wife had lunch at LPM Restaurant & Bar on Al Maryah Island, popped into Coya, then met up with James’s sister and brother-in-law for brunch the next day, followed by a Zoom session with his parents.
“I love how we celebrated,” Reema says. “At the end of the day, we wanted our day for ourselves without the pressure of a big, expensive wedding. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Nowadays, this is referred to as eloping, no longer a word reserved for those running away and getting wed without parental consent.
Today, it means a small or intimate destination wedding, and while it might not be a new concept, it’s a trend that’s rising not only in the UAE, but also around the world.
According to Google, global searches for “elopement” are now the highest on record, and it’s particularly popular among millennials. On Pinterest, 66 per cent of searches for “elopement ideas” over the past year are from people aged 25 to 34, 88 per cent of which are female.
Emma Pearson, a journalist and contributor to The National, was 33 when she and her husband got married barefoot on a riverbed in Sabi Sands, a South African nature reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park, with the reverend, game drivers and “a couple of giraffes that crashed” the wedding as its only guests. She was wearing a white jumpsuit she’d bought in Zara for Dh1,000.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of pouring myself into a massive poofy dress and prancing round a stately hall in front of a load of people I barely know or like,” she says. “I’ve been to so many weddings where the bride has been too stressed to have a good time, plus I hate being the centre of attention.
“Weddings are so expensive, and I would rather spend that money on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to an incredible destination, which is what we did.”
And she says it’s one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
“Afterwards, we went on a game drive and came across a pack of lions, who prowled past our safari jeep just inches away from us. That was a really special moment and a pretty decent start to married life.”
Requests for this kind of wedding have increased significantly in the last year, and we believe it will continue to do so, particularly for western couples
Mark Khawaja,
creative director, La Table Events
As they made their way back to the lodge they were staying in for the night, it started pouring with rain. “That’s meant to be a blessing in South African culture. It was a fitting end to a very memorable day, and I’ve never been happier to flaunt the drowned rat look,” says Pearson.
Not everyone does it entirely on their own, though. Take Graham Cassidy, 46, and his now wife Dearylen Secong-Cassidy, 40, who got married in Abu Dhabi’s civil court on a Friday morning dressed in a custom-made suit and full wedding dress, and then invited 35 people for a small reception in a private room at Home by McGettigan's in City Walk, Dubai.
“It was a joke of mine to the staff: ‘If I ever get married, I am having my wedding party here,'” says Graham.
“We were very lucky as the stars aligned. Family were going to be here on the day given to us [by Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court], their trip was planned before our wedding date, the venue was available, our favourite singer Shanice was available and the management of Home by McGettigan's were thrilled to host their first-ever wedding party.”
All in all, they spent about Dh40,000 for their “dream wedding”, he says, the most going on two Cartier wedding bands. They then splashed out Dh20,000 more on a trip to Georgia, where they’d planned to get married before they realised they could do it in Abu Dhabi.
“We still believe it was the right decision, and some guests who are residents in Dubai said our simple wedding was the best they have been to in the UAE.”
Mark Khawaja, creative director of wedding and event management company La Table Events in Dubai, says requests for this kind of wedding have “increased significantly” in the past year, particularly among western couples. He’s had to discover new and intimate venues all over the UAE for such small receptions, some of his favourites being Turtle Bay at Saadiyat Rotana Abu Dhabi, Ajman Saray hotel and Emirates Palace altar garden.
He says his clients, who tend to have about 20 guests, ask for “absolute privacy”.
“Even the wedding would have very light jazz-style entertainment just to create a subtle ambience and a single photographer. Some even request if he can try to be invisible,” says Khawaja.
While there are many reasons people choose to have a small wedding, the pressure of having the “perfect” ceremony is starting to put younger couples off, not to mention how much time the planning takes and the amount of money it costs.
In the UAE, the introduction of the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has had an impact, as it offers UAE residents the opportunity to sign papers without having to book a venue or travel. It has received more than 16,300 requests since the marriage law was introduced in 2021 and more than 6,000 couples have married there in the first six months of this year.
“I think the idea of having these elaborate, ‘social media-friendly’ weddings causes a lot of stress and pressure,” says Reema. “Well, that was the case with me.
“Plus, weddings are so expensive. We'd rather spend the money on a lifelong investment or some awesome holidays creating forever memories.”
Her husband, James, also believes finance is a big factor. “The cost of living has been going up, and I don’t think people are as interested in having a big wedding anymore.”
UAE resident Sally Menassa, who got married in 2021 with about 20 friends and family members in Cyprus, believes the pandemic has a lot to do with it. “I feel Covid set a standard that people are still following,” she says. “The average wedding size is going down and I believe this is cost-based.”
Pearson adds: “I think these days people are less inclined to do things to please other people. Typically, people are a bit older when they get married now compared to our parents' generation and know their own minds a bit better.
“Also, people are more financially savvy these days. Who wants to pay for a four-course meal for your second-cousin’s wife’s sister who is probably going to complain about the food, anyway?”
Khawaja says no couple should feel like they must have a “grand show” because of cultural norms. “Everyone should have the exact wedding they are comfortable having, since, in the end, it is all about the memory, and it should remain a beautiful one for the couple.”
Pearson agrees. “I am not against tradition. I love a good wedding, and if it’s what a couple wants, then I think that’s amazing, but it wasn’t for me.
“I think couples should do whatever they want to do. You’re only going to do it once – hopefully, anyway.”
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20and%20Alex%20Pastor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGeorgina%20Campbell%2C%20Mario%20Casas%2C%20Diego%20Calva%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
South Africa squad
: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Poacher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERichie%20Mehta%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nimisha%20Sajayan%2C%20Roshan%20Mathew%2C%20Dibyendu%20Bhattacharya%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
