AMAF Organizes First Mass Wedding in Dubai's First Endowment Hall

45 Grooms from Dubai Government Sector and AMAF Minors Enter into Matrimony

Dubai-UAE: 22 September, 2013: The Awqaf and Minor Affairs Foundation (AMAF) concluded the successful mass wedding of 45 bridegrooms at its first endowment hall in Dubai.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

The group wedding on 20 September drew the participation of individuals from various government departments, including Dubai Customs, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Police. The grooms included AMAF-raised minors that have achieved marriageable age. The participating grooms each received cash gifts of AED20,000 from the Al Baraha Quran Learning Centre, main partners for the event.

His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, graced the ceremony that was attended by His Excellency Hussein Qamzi, Chairman of AMAF, His Excellency Tayeb Abdulrahman Al-Rais, Secretary General of the Foundation, as well as a number of representatives of government departments and families of the grooms.

Speaking on the occasion, Tayeb Al-Rais said: “AMAF is grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his continuous support to the youth of the country. We also thank His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed for his gracious presence at the ceremony. The keenness of the UAE leadership in supporting such community events enables the UAE youth to create cohesive and stable families.

“AMAF's primary objective in hosting such initiatives is to help young UAE nationals cope with the excessive cost of weddings. We also wish to give minors who have been raised under our care a head-start in leading normal lives and building enduring marriages. Through such efforts, we aim to contribute to the UAE's ambition of shaping stable future generations.”

The ceremony was conducted in an endowment hall that AMAF has set up in collaboration with Al Baraha Quran Learning Centre. Located in Al-Mezher area, the dedicated venue spans 40,000 square feet and includes three sections with a capacity to accommodate about 700 people. The proceeds of the AMAF-managed asset will be used in supporting future endowment projects run by the organization.

Obaid Al-Helo's wife, Director of Al Baraha Quran Learning Centre, reiterated the importance of mass weddings in promoting solidarity and deepening religious convictions among the youth. She added that such ceremonies helped inculcate a respect for traditions in young people.

AMAF is considered the primary reference for endowments in Dubai and the authorized body for the welfare of minors. The Foundation operates according to the guidelines of best practices in corporate governance and is reputed among the community, endowers and private institutions across the globe for its transparent operations. These include the issuance of periodic reports to endowers and guardians of minors. AMAF comprises a highly-qualified management and specialized human resources team, most of whom are UAE nationals.