24 couples to tie the knot in UAQ

Hundreds of UAE couples are set to tie the knot this year in mass weddings ordered by President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in a drive to encourage national marriages and cut wedding expenses.

The first mass wedding, involving 24 local couples, will be held in Umm Al Quwain on Thursday under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

It will be attended by Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and organised by the Marriage Fund.

A bigger event will be staged in Al Ain in mid-July and it will include 50 couples from the Bani Kaab tribe. It will be patronised by Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, who was praised by Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and Chairman of the Marriage Fund, for supporting such events.

"There will be two other mass weddings in Al Ain for the Al Awamer and Al Rawashed tribes," said Jamal Al Bah, the fund's director general.

"We are organising such events because they serve our goals in cutting expenses and achieving family stability."

Fund officials said at least 10 mass weddings will be staged this year. Around 2,500 UAE couples married in mass weddings last year.