DUBAI // Young couples are being urged to curb "unacceptable" spending on dowries and other wedding costs, following reports of amounts in the hundreds of thousands of dirhams landing newlyweds in debt.
Dr Maitha al Shamsi, Minister of State and the chairwoman of the Marriage Fund, called on Emirati couples to set "reasonable budgets".
"The dowry in itself isn't the only issue here," she said.
"However, we would like to observe that wedding costs must be kept moderate. Some people require vast amounts be spent on lavish ceremonies and this is unacceptable. We advise young men to set aside reasonable budgets for wedding ceremonies."
Some grooms are being asked to give amounts exceeding Dh150,000 (US$40,000) for the mahhar, or dowry. Sometimes the bride can keep the entire amount, but more commonly at least part of the money goes towards covering some of her wedding costs.
"For some people, it is symbolic or it represents merely what the bride needs to buy for her wedding such as the wedding dress and some jewellery," Dr al Shamsi said. "No one other than the bride benefits from the dowry, which she spends on her personal apparel for the wedding."
In the mid-1990s, the problem of excessive dowries reached the highest ranks of the Government, with Sheikh Zayed taking steps to curb spending.
The late President limited the amount that can be given as a dowry to Dh20,000, with a further Dh30,000 set aside in the event that the marriage ends in divorce.
A maximum of Dh20,000 is listed on the marriage certificate, but families often set their own dowry amounts.
However, experts say that it is not only the high dowries that are putting pressure on young couples. The often prohibitive costs of a wedding is leading to domestic strife before they have even moved in together.
The Marriage Fund, which provides marriage grants and sponsors group weddings for Emiratis, has recently started to look into young Emiratis' perceptions of marriage and to stress the responsibilities that come with tying the knot.
The Fund had organised seminars focusing on the costs associated with weddings, discouraging "extravagance", Dr al Shamsi said.
"[It's] so that they don't take on their shoulders what they won't be able to handle," she said. "In the end, marriage is a partnership between two people, and everyone must work towards the success of that marriage."
Aisha al Suwaidi, the director general of the Dubai Women Establishment, believes that overspending on weddings has become a "dilemma".
"Your feelings and values cannot be valued with money," she said. "We need to go back to our roots and values."
According to Ahmed al Hammadi, the general manager of the Youth Centres run by the Sharjah Government, too many young marriages end in divorce because of problems brought on by financial burdens.
The Marriage Fund is also looking into the issue of the high divorce rate. Although there are no official statistics, recent estimates put the rate at over 30 per cent.
"Young people have to be more realistic and not just expect what they see in romantic films," Mr al Hammadi said. "These young people need to learn about marriage and what they want and need, and how they can plan for their life and family. A marriage is not like a car, you can't just change it all the time."
Widad Lootah, a family adviser who has counselled young Emirati couples, also believes that the amount being spent on some weddings is "too high", leading to young couples ending up with massive amounts of debt at the beginning of their married lives.
"Debts have an extremely negative impact, since couples will not be able to live a peaceful life," she said.
However, while some families continue to spend great sums on weddings, others advocate a more reasonable approach. It is also not uncommon to hear of families asking for a symbolic amount or for the groom to perform a Quranic recitation for the dowry.
Some parents have been known to ask for nothing at all. Among them is Abu Rashid, an Emirati father from Ajman, who believes that he is not alone.
"I didn't take a penny when my daughters married," he said. "If my daughter wanted to marry a man in debt she would sacrifice later on."
@Email:zconstantine@thenational.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
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Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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