Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Jumaa Al Maktoum, the Dubai Women’s Association’s Training and Consulting Department hosted the fourth edition of the heritage wedding yesterday.
This event marks the thirtieth iteration of the “Zaffa Harayir” collective wedding initiative, held annually by the association and celebrated with a festive atmosphere that embodies the essence of Emirati culture and identity.
The ceremony featured the participation of 20 couples, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for this initiative, which serves as a community platform merging joy with a national message.
This edition was inspired by the traditional Emirati maritime environment, reviving elements of coastal life through decor, attire, and folk songs, blending the scents of the sea with the wood of ancient boats, evoking memories of divers. It created a vibrant artistic representation of heritage, strengthening the connection of new generations to their roots and authentic identity.
Khoulah Saeed Al Nabooda, Vice President of the association and Chair of the Training and Consulting Department, emphasized that the “Zaffa Harayir” initiative has become a prominent hallmark of the social events organized by the Dubai Women’s Association. She noted that this fourth edition of the heritage wedding aims to celebrate national heritage in a modern context that bridges the past and present.
She stated that the collective wedding initiative showcases a social and humanitarian model worth emulating, as it carries noble messages to support youth preparing for marriage, alleviate their financial burdens, and promote solidarity and cooperation within the community. Additionally, it helps reinforce family values and encourages marriage based on stable and sustainable foundations.
The fourth edition of the heritage wedding, held at the Dubai Trade Center in Zabeel Hall 1, included four special surprises that added a unique touch to the event. Notably, it featured the simultaneous wedding of ten brides and ten grooms for the first time, highlighting the spirit of community and unity.
The remarkable interest in heritage weddings was evident, with each bride receiving a name derived from pearls, while their dresses mirrored the ocean’s waves in their fluidity, shine, and unique designs. The names of the pearls were written on each bride’s veil, symbolizing love and pride in their ancestral roots.
Khoulah Al Nabooda mentioned that the wedding included various segments, such as the bridal procession with the Ayala troupe, and culminated in a traditional bridal dance.
A Source of Hope
She added that the atmosphere was further enhanced by a traditional marine segment that brought back the sounds of sea captains and divers’ songs, reflecting on the search for precious pearls in the depths of the sea. This artistic performance evoked the era of sailing and pearl hunting, a time when the sea was a source of livelihood and hope, while women awaited the return of men from diving with hearts filled with prayers.
She affirmed that the heritage wedding is a profoundly human experience, blending joy with a sense of belonging. It translates the values of family and social solidarity that the association seeks to instill in Emirati society through all its initiatives and programs, aligning with the community year and supporting Dubai’s social agenda.
This ongoing commitment of the association aims to support youth preparing for marriage, reduce their burdens, and reinforce the values of solidarity and familial unity that form the foundation of this generous nation.
She noted that the concept of collective weddings is one of the most successful projects of the Dubai Women’s Association, as it combines joy with social responsibility while providing youth the opportunity to embark on a new life grounded in cooperation and simplicity, free from exaggerated displays.
Since launching the first collective wedding in 2014, the association has organized thirty editions of this pioneering initiative, accommodating hundreds of Emirati couples.
This initiative has contributed to building stable and cohesive families while reinforcing family unity and Emirati identity, making collective weddings a significant highlight in the association’s decades-long commitment to community service. Over this period, the association has conducted 29 collective weddings, benefiting 594 young men and women, resulting in the birth of 342 children in ten years of this national initiative.