NEW YORK // Mohammed is 40 and professionally successful, but still single. He is seeking a Muslim wife but his construction business leaves him little time to socialise or attend mosque. He believes a bride from his native Pakistan would be unlikely to fit into life in the US or to be his intellectual equal.
So he found himself on Sunday afternoon at a matrimonial singles event with about 12 men and 17 women brought together by MillanUS, a company that provides introductions for young professionals and whose motto is "Muslims Marry Muslims".
"I've been busy and I didn't find the right girl," said Mohammed, a pseudonym because he, like most other singles at the event, did not want to give his real name. He would consider a Muslim convert as a wife but he did not want a woman from Pakistan for fear he would have to "babysit" her in the US.
These matrimonial events aim to find a balance between strict, arranged marriages in which the couple barely know each other and western-style dating, which many Muslims consider religiously inappropriate and immodest.
As a group, young American Muslims have achieved professional success and status but the cost of this often includes the lack of a close-knit community that in other countries would help them find a suitable spouse.
Tariq is 27 and works in Manhattan as a banker. "I work and socialise in a very different background to my family and where I'm the only person with my background," he said.
Family members are also encouraged to attend the matrimonial events. Last Sunday, they sat at tables to one side of a large ballroom beneath glittering chandeliers in a New York hotel. The singles sat at separate tables for men and women but then they were ushered to sit on chairs arranged in a large circle.
The men and women were shy and nervous. They were dressed smartly but casually. Some of the women wore flashing jewellery and a couple had headscarves. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks were laid out to one side.
Farrah Mohsin, the 23-year-old unmarried daughter of Jamal Mohsin, who founded MillanUS, was the master of ceremonies. She encouraged the singles to drink because "you'll be doing a lot of talking!"
Each person gave his or her name, occupation, place of residence, country of origin and interests. Their jobs ranged from banking to nursing; they lived as far afield as California; they came from countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan; and they enjoyed activities ranging from reading to skydiving.
Miss Mohsin then threw out some questions, starting with: "Why do you want to get married?"
"It says in the Quran that when girls and boys mature, they should get married. Allah says so," said one woman. "Faith is a major factor," said another.
"There is a 50 per cent divorce rate in this country. Is marriage really 'till death do us part'?" asked Miss Mohsin.
"Some people get married for the wrong reasons and marriage is not for everyone," one man said.
The circle of singles then broke up to take refreshments before one-on-one talks, during which the men circulate, spending a few minutes talking to each of the women, who stayed seated.
"Is it speed dating?" says the website of MillanUS. "No, it emphasises Islamic marriages rather than relationship between Muslims."
Sameer, who works in marketing, was born in Pakistan and lives in San Francisco, said: "My parents still live in Pakistan. They are also trying to find a wife for me but times have changed and America is not as appealing to people from my country anymore.
"I didn't tell my parents that I came here. I would just tell them if I meet someone with potential. I don't want to raise their expectations and I am also too shy to tell them."
Mr Mohsin, a financial adviser, founded MillanUS four years ago after receiving many requests for introductions from fellow Muslim professionals. Millan in Urdu and Hindi means "get-together" and the company's introductions, which are also conducted online, have resulted in 26 marriages.
To attend an event or to join online, men must be aged between 23 and 43 and women between 20 and 40, be Muslim of any sect or ethnicity, and have a college degree from a US or overseas university. People who are divorced or widowed can participate.
Shahnaz, 22, looked glamorous in a blue shalwar kameez. After she finishes her bachelor's degree, she wants to study medicine and hopes to find a husband who will support her in her career. "I'd like to meet Mr Right, a proper soulmate," she said. "He would really understand Islam and my rights. There's no secret formula to marriage and both parties have to put in a lot of effort."
During the event, singles were encouraged to fill in cards with their names and contact information. "Don't ask anyone for their info, just give them your card," said Miss Mohsin.
At the end of the day, Sameer seemed a little disappointed. "To be honest, I expected a few more people," he said. "The chance of meeting someone you really like among 17 people is really low."
But he did give his card to two women. And many marriages have resulted from far less.
sdevi@thenational.ae
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
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
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
THE SPECS
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
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