Dubai’s initiative to promote marriage among young Emiratis has taken shape with the introduction of the ‘Dubai Weddings’ incentive package by the Community Development Authority. The program, announced on January 15, aims to alleviate financial burdens for citizens planning to marry in the emirate, thereby fostering family stability.
Aligned with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the ‘Dubai Weddings’ initiative addresses challenges faced by couples preparing for marriage. It strives to provide solutions, initiatives, and support to ease concerns and encourage the establishment of robust families, ultimately enhancing family unity and stability. 
The incentive package includes cost reduction measures for weddings, offering planning services and access to modern, fully equipped halls in various Dubai areas such as Al Barsha, Al Lisaili, Hatta, and soon Al Twar Hall. Couples participating in the program will also benefit from an awareness campaign and family counseling, covering aspects like marriage planning, family management, and financial affairs.
Hessa bint Issa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, emphasized that the program focuses on enhancing family and social stability, with the goal of increasing the number of Emirati families in society. She expressed the hope that the initiative would initiate a new era of societal awareness, emphasizing the importance of building happy and stable families within supportive financial and social conditions. The aim is to shift attention away from non-essential aspects of wedding celebrations, which can impose additional burdens on young individuals and contribute to delayed marriages.
Hessa stated, “The immediate goal is to provide financial and social support to young people to encourage them to get married. But we aspire for the program to also contribute to creating a positive model for wedding celebrations and changing stereotypical ideas related to exaggerated celebrations. This will help a larger segment of young men and women to marry at an early age, contributing to the increase of Emirati families in society.”
Sheikh Mohammed recently launched the Dh208 billion Dubai Social Agenda program, with a key objective of doubling the number of Emirati families in the emirate within a decade. The Dubai Social Agenda 33, approved by Sheikh Mohammed on January 14, outlines projects for 2024 under the overarching theme ‘Family: The Foundation of Our Nation.’ These projects include the allocation of 3,500 plots of land and 2,300 ready-to-move-in houses valued at Dh5.5 billion to be distributed among citizens in Dubai, reflecting the ruler’s commitment to supporting citizens for the welfare and well-being of their families. Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed directed the naming of the new housing project area for citizens as ‘Latifa City.’