Zayed Al Thani School Grade:7 Strand: Reading

Pupil’s Name: ___________________________________ Section: ……..

Traditional Emirati Weddings
A couple getting married is called for such celebration in the UAE. It was an
old custom that women from the families of the bride and the groom walked
from house to house in the neighborhood to invite all the families to attend the
wedding. The ceremony was a chance for the whole district to celebrate the
wedding and they were all involved in someway to help get things ready for the
feast. While the preparations are made, the Al Ayyala traditional band performed
music in front of the bride’s house. The bride was usually hidden for the public
for 40 days.
Weddings were usually very long events. Celebrations went on for days
where guests were served breakfast, lunch and dinner. Traditionally, the men
performed Al Radha or dance, and the women from the bride family displayed
the Zihba.
A Traditional gift was the giving of money, the Nuphoor. This present was
meant to bring good luck for the couple, so that they could start their marriage
well. Another symbol of good luck was the bride Hennah; painting on her hands
and feet. At the celebrations Men and women were seated separately. These
celebrations used to take place under a black goat skin tent, but these are very
expensive, so are less often used in modern weddings. Usually the bride only
met the groom when he came to fetch her after the celebrations.
In modern society it is easy to forget this customs, especially as modern
weddings following this form could cost a great deal of money that could be used
to buy a house or educate the children. It’s nice to remember these traditions
and the community celebrations even if we use only part of the tradition in our
modern weddings.
A)- Read the text and answer these questions.
1- The text is about……………….
a. men and women in the Emirates
b. traditional dances in the UAE.
C. traditional weddings in the Emirates.
d. Emirati traditional songs.
2- How did the women invite the families to old traditional weddings?
a. They walked from house to house.
b. They used to ride a camel to invite the neighbours.
C. They used to phone their neighbours.
d. They used to send invitation cards.
3- They used to invite ……………
a. their neighbours only
b. the women only
C. the men only
d. all the families in the district
4- The Ayyala was performed ……………..
a. in the bride’s house
b. in the groom’s house
C. in front of the bride’s house
d. in front of the groom’s house
================================================
B)- Short response answers:
1- How many days had the bride to hide from the public?
____________________________________________________________
2- Why were traditional weddings very long?
____________________________________________________________
3- Why did the guests give the bride a gift/ “Nuphoor”?
____________________________________________________________
4- Why do you think men and women were seated separately?
____________________________________________________________
C)- Longer response answer.
Q. Why is it difficult to follow the traditional wedding celebrations nowadays?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Zayed Al Thani School Grade: 7 Strand: Reading
Pupil’s Name: ___________________________________ Section: ……..
Traditional Emirati Weddings
In the past when an Emirati young man wanted to get married, he used to
send his mother or sisters to see the bride in her father’s house. Then the bride
and the groom would send the women to invite all the families to come to the
wedding. The wedding was a very happy event for the whole district. They used
to take part in the ceremony. They men used to gather in front of the bride’s
house. They used to sing the traditional song ; Alayyala. The bride was unseen
for forty days.
The ceremony could last for many days. The bride’s father used to serve
breakfast, lunch and dinner for many days. The men used to perform Alradha or
the traditional dance. The women displayed the Zihba.
The traditional gift was to give money or Nuphoor. It was a sign of good
luck for the bride and the groom. The bride used to paint her hands and feet with
Hennah. Men and women did not see each other. They used to sit separately
under a tent made from the goat skin. The tents are very expensive, so people
use modern tents these days. The bride and the groom did not meet until the
end of the celebrations.
Traditional Emirati weddings were very expensive. Many people started
to forget these customs because they cost a lot of money. Some Emiratis believe
that it is better to use the money to buy a house or educate the children. I think
that it is better to use only part of the tradition in our modern weddings.
A)- Read and match.
1. bride a. present

2. groom b. woman/ girl

3. modern c. young man

4. gift d. new
B)- Read and circle.
1- The guests could have ……………
a. one meal. b. two meals. c. three meals.
2- Nobody can see the bride for ………
a. 14 days. b. 40 days. c. 41 days.
3- The groom used to …………..
a. go and see the bride in her father’s house.
b. send his father to see the bride
c. send his mother or sisters to see his bride
C)- Short response answers:
1- What did the men do in front of the bride’s house?
____________________________________________________________
2- What gifts did the guests give to the bride and the groom?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Longer response answer.
Q. Why are traditional weddings very expensive?
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Ghaythi Boys’ School Grade: 5 Strand: Reading (L)
Pupil’s Name: ___________________________________ Section: ……..
Traditional Emirati Weddings
In the past, when an Emirati young man wanted to find a wife, he used to
send his mother or sisters to see the bride in her father’s house. Then the bride
and the groom would send the women to invite all the families to come to the
wedding. The wedding was a very happy event for the whole district. They used
to take part in the ceremony. They men used to gather in front of the bride’s
house. They used to sing the traditional song ; Alayyala. The bride was unseen
for forty days.
The ceremony could last for many days. The bride’s father used to serve
breakfast, lunch and dinner for many days. The men used to perform Alrada or
the traditional dance. The women displayed the Zihba.
The traditional gift was to give money or Nuphoor. It was a sign of good
luck for the bride and the groom. The bride used to paint her hands and feet with
Hennah. Men and women did not see each other. They used to sit separately
under a tent made from the goat skin. The tents are very expensive, so people
use modern tents these days. The bride and the groom did not meet until the
end of the celebrations.
Traditional Emirati weddings were very expensive. Many people started
to forget these customs because they cost a lot of money. Some Emiratis believe
that it is better to use the money to buy a house or educate the children. I think
that it is better to use only part of the tradition in our modern weddings.
A)- Read and match.
1- A traditional Emirati wedding

2- Two grooms

3- Emirati bride

4- Traditional dance
B)- Read and do. True √ or False. x
1- People feel happy at weddings. ( )
2- The Nuphoor was a gift given to the bride only. ( )
3- Men and women did not sit together in the wedding celebrations. ( )

C)- Read and circle.

1- The guests could have ……………
a. one meal. b. two meals.
2- Nobody could see the bride for ………
a. 14 days. b. 40 days.
3- The groom used to …………..
a. go and see the bride in her father’s house.
b. send his mother or sisters to see his bride

C)- Short response answers:

1- What did the men do in front of the bride’s house?
____________________________________________________________
2- What gifts did the guests give to the bride and the groom?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
D)- Longer response answer.
Q. Explain how modern weddings are different from traditional weddings?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Introduction :

As a tradition in the UAE, 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.
Wedding preparations :
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 for 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.
Festivities :
The festivities usually take about one week before the wedding night. During that week, traditional music,
continuous singing, and dancing take place reflecting the joy shared by the bride’s and the groom’s family.
Nowadays, although most weddings are celebrated in less than one week, they are just as elaborate and
ceremonial, if not more.
Henna night :
A few days before the wedding night is the henna night or Laylat Al Henna which is a very special night for
the bride since it is a ladies’ night only. On this night, the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with henna,
which is a dark brown paste made from the henna plant. When left on the skin for some time, the henna leaves
a dark red stain.The henna night is a time for all the bride’s sisters, female family members, and girlfriends to
get together and sing and dance. All female family members and guests also decorate their hands with henna.
The henna is not used for decorative purposes only but it serves also as a hair and skin conditioner as well as a
medicament for some wounds, when mixed with special ingredients.
Other customs :
Another traditional element of the UAE customs is the Arabian Kohl or eyeliner. The bride, as well as many
other UAE women, like to line their eyes on almost all occasions. Famous for their beautiful, large, and black
eyes, the UAE women have used the Arabian kohl for many years.
Taken from a black stone known as Al Athmed which is brought from Saudi Arabia, the kohl is prepared
through different methods and stages. First, the stone is heated until it disintegrates and then it is processed in
water and Arabian coffee or sometimes henna leaves (depending on the method used) and it is left for forty
days to process. Finally, it is ground into a fine powder and it is ready to be used as an eyeliner for the eyes.
Used by women of all ages, the Arabian eyeliner is also known to be useful for the eyes.
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 different areas of the country may have slightly differences in their
celebrations and customs, the general traditions are the same throughout the country most of which are still
adhered to.
Marriage Fund & State efforts :
In 1992, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a Marriage Fund has been
set up in order to limit over-spending on weddings and celebrations. The fund was aimed at encouraging the
UAE men to marry UAE 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 to Dh 70,000 depending on certain criteria to young UAE nationals. In
tandem with this, the government has launched a campaign aimed at persuading UAE fathers to accept lower
dowries. 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, on the 29th of September, 1997
approved a letter from the Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister outlining a draft law defining dowries, the
money paid by a groom to his bride, under Islamic Law, at Dh 20,000, divorce compensation at Dh 30,000,
and wedding parties should not exceed one day.
Conclusion :

As far as this topic is concerned , we notice that wedding customs in UAE signify the importance of this
occasion , starting from pre-wedding preparations to weeding night . The traditions of it inherited from one
generation to another .
Despite of differences in the living standards with progress of time , the social culture still being preserved and
treated as a heritage that should not be ignored .
The state efforts to facilitate marriage and encourage youth to it , found a great appreciation from all social
classes . and many harvested the fruits of this great social project .