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1,411 Emirati couples tie the knot, 418 babies born through Dubai Weddings initiative
Launched in early 2024 to help Emiratis with their wedding celebrations, the initiative has grown into a wider family support programme across Dubai
- PUBLISHED: Mon 24 Aug 2026, 9:18 PM
- By:
- WAM
The 'Dubai Weddings' initiative has helped 1,411 Emirati couples start families, with its wider support programmes offering young citizens financial, housing, educational and counselling assistance before and after marriage.
Launched in early 2024 to help Emiratis with their wedding celebrations, the initiative has since grown into a broader family support programme involving several entities across Dubai.
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According to the latest figures from the Community Development Authority (CDA), as of August 2026, awareness and guidance programmes reached 3,519 beneficiaries, while 2,898 weddings were held through the initiative. These included 1,411 weddings for women and 1,487 for men.
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The programme has also recorded a 99.3 per cent beneficiary satisfaction rate, highlighting strong engagement with the services offered to young Emirati families.
Aside from wedding celebrations, the initiative provides support aimed at helping couples prepare for married life and manage the practical challenges that come with starting a family. The ‘Start It Right’ programme has reached 2,591 beneficiaries through preparatory sessions, while financial stability courses have benefited 677 participants.
Workshops under the ‘How to Build Your Home’ programme reached another 251 beneficiaries as of the end of March.
The initiative operates under the wider Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Family Programme, which links wedding support with pre-marital awareness, financial and housing assistance, as well as family counselling.
"The initiative has evolved beyond facilitating wedding celebrations into an integrated model that brings together the efforts of institutions and entities across Dubai to provide social and educational support before and after marriage, contributing to the long-term stability and wellbeing of Emirati families and advancing the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33," said Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director-General of the Community Development Authority.
The support also continues after the wedding. The ‘Nawat Dubai’ initiative, which grew from Dubai Weddings, provides newly married couples with support over five years, with particular attention to the challenges that can arise during the first two years of marriage. So far, 120 families have benefited.
Dr Ahmed Al Hashemi, CEO of the Social Regulation and Services Sector at the CDA, noted that the initiative’s application process and service journey are aligned with Dubai’s seamless digital transformation.
“We have ensured that applicants can access the initiative directly through the DubaiNow app, making the process easier and providing young Emiratis with a seamless and efficient digital experience. Beneficiaries can also access the CDA’s fully equipped wedding venues in Al Barsha, Al Twar, Al Lisaili and Hatta, alongside 27 supporting initiatives covering training, counselling, housing and financial solutions," Al Hashemi said.
The initiative has received five local and international awards for its approach and social impact.