As a tradition in the United Arab Emirates, the setting of the wedding date marks the beginning of the bride’s preparation for her wedding. Although the groom is also put through a series of preparations, the bride’s preparations are naturally more elaborate and time consuming.

In preparation for her wedding, she is anointed with all sorts of traditional oils and perfumes from head to toe. Her body is rubbed with cleansing and conditioning oils and creams, the hands and feet are decorated with henna, and the hair is washed with extracts of amber and jasmine. She is fed only the best of foods and her girlfriends prepare the best dishes, which they share with her. Traditionally, she is not seen for forty days except by family members as she rests at home in preparation for her wedding day. Fine pieces of jewelry, perfumes, silk materials, and other necessary items are presented to her by the groom, from which she creates her elaborate trousseau called addahbia.

The festivities usually take about one week before the wedding night. Nowadays, although most weddings are celebrated in less than one week, they are just as elaborate and ceremonial, if not more.

A few days before the wedding is the henna night, which is a very special night for the bride since it is a ladies’ night only. Another traditional element of the Emirati customs is the Arabian kohl or eyeliner. The bride, as well as many other Emirati women, like to line their eyes on almost all occasions. 

After her eyes are lined, her hair is perfumed, and her hands and feet are decorated with henna, the bride is ready for her wedding night. The back-to-back feasts and celebrations involve both men and women, who usually celebrate separately. Although the celebrations and customs differ somewhat in different areas, the general traditions, most of which are still adhered to, are the same throughout the country.

In 1992, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, a Marriage Fund was set up in order to limit over-spending on weddings and celebrations. The fund was aimed at encouraging the Emirati men to marry Emirati women, assisting in covering the expenses of both the wedding and the setting-up of a family, increasing the birth rate, and discouraging men from marrying foreigners.

The Fund provides between Dh 60,000 and Dh 70,000, depending on certain criteria, to young Emirati nationals. In tandem with this, the government has launched a campaign aimed at persuading Emirati fathers to accept lower dowers for their daughters. It has also built special wedding halls where receptions can take place without incurring the expenses associated with expensive hotel receptions.

Under the directives and instructions from President His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan to curb soaring wedding expenses which burden the youth, the UAE’s Cabinet approved a letter from the Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister outlining a draft law defining dowers, the money paid by a groom to his bride, under Islamic Law, at Dh 20,000. Divorce compensation is set at Dh 30,000, and wedding parties should not exceed one day.