How a Traditional Arabic Wedding Really Happens

Married to an Egyptian

Egyptians love women very much. And today a wedding in Egypt with a Russian bride is a common occurrence. As a rule, relationships begin while the girl is relaxing at a resort.

What is living together with an Egyptian man like?

First of all, it is necessary to conclude an ofri-contract with a lawyer; it is signed in the presence of two witnesses (men). The contract is not registered anywhere and does not oblige the parties to anything. But without this document, you cannot appear with a man in public places and, moreover, live with him; if this document is not there, the man will have serious problems with the police.

The ofri contract can be legalized in court, then you will have a document in your hands that officially recognizes the man and the Russian girl as husband and wife. This process will take about 3 months. Then the marriage should be legalized at the Russian Embassy or in Russia.

It is best to conclude a prenuptial agreement that stipulates how the property will be divided and with whom the children will remain after the divorce. You should know that, despite all the agreements and the marriage contract, the issue of children and property under Egyptian law is resolved in favor of the man if he wants it.

Foreign women are not protected in their rights and live in the country without any support from the state and legislation, so before deciding whether to connect your destiny with an overseas groom or not, you should think carefully

After marriage, you will have to change your worldview, reconsider your views on life, accept and follow Muslim rules of behavior in society. A woman in Egyptian society always plays a secondary role and is subject to all traditions, rituals and prohibitions.

Arab bride: the story of a Russian woman who moved to Qatar for love

If four years ago Oksana Arsenyuk had been asked what she knew about Qatar, the girl would have simply remained silent. Living in Moscow and working as a manager in one of the capital's banks, she could afford frequent travel around the world, but she had never been to this Arab country on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

One meeting at the end of 2021 changed everything. Oksana’s story is a continuation of the Wday.ru project about Russian girls living abroad.

Wday.ru information: Qatar is an Arab country located on a peninsula washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. Its interior is an arid desert, while the coastline is covered with beaches and dunes. The country's capital, Doha, is famous for its futuristic skyscrapers and ultra-modern buildings designed in the style of ancient Islamic architecture.

Former UN diplomat, businessman from Doha

— My friend and I flew to Bali, and for the return trip we took Qatar Airways tickets with a long layover in Doha, the capital of Qatar. I wanted to rest at least a little between flights and look at this city,” Oksana recalls. — There were a lot of emotions after the holiday, the mood was great. I myself did not expect how I exchanged contacts during a small talk with one polite man. She returned to Moscow and we began to correspond. Very unobtrusive and easy.

It turned out that he was Lebanese, studied and grew up in Belgium. He was a diplomat at the UN, living between Geneva, Washington and Africa. Then he moved to Abu Dhabi. And at the time we met, he was working in the construction business in Qatar. We talked online for a long time, and then I came to Doha as a guest. We made sure that we feel good together offline too. And they started dating.

Oksana traveled to Qatar as a guest, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Qatar is famous for its futuristic skyscrapers, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

The whole of 2021 consisted of traveling between Doha and Moscow, in between we visited many traditional destinations for couples in love: Seychelles, Maldives. In the fall, I showed my mother Turkey and the Emirates neighboring Qatar - I prepared my parents for Eastern culture. They were wary of my husband for a long time, but he showed himself very well towards my family. Although mom and dad watch Andrei Malakhov’s programs, they ultimately approved my choice.

In 2021, he asked me to marry him. I agreed and started preparing documents. Since my husband and I have different religions (he is Muslim, I am Orthodox), according to the laws of Qatar, registering a marriage within the country is prohibited. And living with a man without official marriage, too. And for pregnancy without marriage, you generally face a prison sentence, and it doesn’t matter whether you are local or foreign. We registered the marriage in Cyprus, and subsequently legalized it in Doha. We don’t have children together until I plan to have them.

Oksana's husband is a businessman and ex-UN diplomat. She doesn’t want to show it, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

The girl had been preparing her family for a long time to meet her future husband, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Marriages with Russian girls are no longer uncommon

I come from Siberia, the small town of Lyantor near Surgut, so Qatar and its oriental atmosphere were very unusual for me and from the first days became a strong inspiration. The country is actively preparing for the FIFA World Cup, which will take place from November 21 to December 18, 2022, and Doha is becoming more beautiful every day. I began publishing photos and stories about the city on Instagram, and gradually the blog began to develop, and they began to order advertising. In addition, Instagram became a great way for me to socialize in a new country; I found most of my friends through it.

Until 2021, obtaining a tourist or business visa for Russians to Qatar was problematic. And today I increasingly hear Russian speech in Doha, however, mainly from citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In these countries, there are recruiting companies that help you find a job in the east.

Oksana says she is meeting more and more Russians in Doha, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

It’s impossible to be on the streets of Doha in summer: it’s very hot, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

And more and more often I see Russian girls walking with Arab men. And there are many cases of marriage with foreigners. There are about 2 million men and only 750 thousand women in Qatar; the gender bias, of course, is very noticeable.

Qatar is a conservative country with strong traditions. Local residents can be easily recognized by their clothes. For men it is a white dress called thob, for women it is a black abaya. I got the experience of communicating with local girls after attending English courses, as well as through Instagram. They love shopping, fashion and travel. Local men are mainly engaged in business or work in government agencies. Despite the fact that Qatar leads the world in terms of GDP per capita, the country is very rich and the government strongly supports locals, Qataris still prefer to work. Not working in Qatar is very boring.

Having moved to Qatar, Oksana decided to become a blogger, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Life on the Pearl

We live on the artificial island of Zhemchuzhina. This is the most beautiful area of Doha, built in the form of a pearl necklace, where in addition to residential buildings there are many restaurants, hotels, beaches, boutiques of famous brands, as well as a lagoon with places for walking and sports.

Most often, when drawing up a work contract in Qatar, the family is provided with an apartment or a certain amount is allocated for rent. Many foreigners live in compounds - this is a separate complex of villas, usually with swimming pools, shops and a children's and sports area on the territory.

The girl lives on Pearl Island, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

It has its own beaches, restaurants and shops, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

The official minimum salary in Qatar is $300 (for workers and domestic staff), with accommodation provided in addition to this amount. A lot depends on the passport - companies have different quotas for different nationalities, the salary of a European and the salary of an employee from the CIS countries in a similar position may differ.

On average, in the service sector, salaries start from $600-700, for engineers, teachers, accountants, salaries start from $2,000, for doctors from $4,000 (plus accommodation, insurance, flights, and sometimes travel expenses). Depending on the position and employer, the social package may include payment for school and kindergartens.

The official minimum wage in Qatar is $300, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Salary may vary depending on citizenship, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

10 thousand rubles for eyelash extensions

Prices in Qatari stores are high; before the political blockade (in 2017, neighboring countries announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar, explaining this by the emirate’s support for terrorism. - Note Wday.ru), absolutely everything was imported from other countries. Shopping is a big expense, but Doha often has sales. At the same time, the discounts are fair and controlled by the state - retailers cannot change the price tags, every price reduction and increase is recorded and without notification of special authorities, it threatens with a serious fine.

Gasoline is cheap in Qatar - 25-27 rubles per liter. The roads are wide, but not without traffic jams. Doha has a modern metro.

Most of the money in Qatar is spent on shopping, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Exhibitions are regularly held, for example, Doha Jewelry and watches exhibitions, and equestrian competitions Longines global champions tour and Qatar open, tennis competitions.

In the summer, we don’t have the opportunity to walk outside because of the heat (in August it’s an average of 45 degrees), and shopping centers have become a place not only for shopping, but also for meeting with friends and walking. Therefore, even in summer it is better to have a jacket with you, since many rooms are very cold due to air conditioning.

But with the beauty industry in Doha, everything is complicated - I have more than once had to complain to management about undyed hair, a manicure with bumps. I could pay almost 10 thousand in rubles for eyelash extensions... That's why I always look for Russian artists for myself. I am glad to see the presence of international salons with high standards, for example, Aldo Coppola.

Oksana says there are problems with beauty services in Qatar. We have to look for Russian masters, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Dress code without mini and neckline

Qatar is beautiful because it is a common home for people from all over the world, different nationalities and cultures. And besides the official Arabic language, absolutely everyone here speaks English. Tourism is developing, even despite the pandemic, life is in full swing. You can build a career if you have a profession in demand here and speak the language at the required level. For example, an ornithologist from Russia can earn good money in Qatar, because falconry here is part of the national culture. There is even a hospital specially built for the treatment of falcons in Doha. Before moving, it is important to understand the job market and what it offers.

The crime rate in Qatar is one of the lowest in the world. This is due to harsh laws. There are many cameras and security in Doha. Locals often leave houses and cars unlocked.

Residents of Doha, says Oksana, are not afraid to leave their apartments open, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Doha also has large and colorful markets, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Taking photographs of local residents is prohibited; publishing and distributing photos and videos of accidents on social networks is also prohibited. You cannot spit on the road, listen to loud music in a car with the windows down, and revealing clothing is prohibited in certain establishments and areas of the city. In general, there is a certain dress code in Qatar - it is better not to appear in a miniskirt or with a revealing neckline.

Qatar has a hot climate, I walk less often, and I have to limit myself in food so as not to gain weight. The loose dresses that are so comfortable to wear in Doha played a cruel joke on me: in the first year I gained almost 10 kilograms! It took me a lot of effort to regain my previous weight. Here, sweets are a cult, and coffee shops, according to my observations, are one of the most profitable types of business.

In summer you can escape the heat in shopping centers, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Doha has very beautiful markets, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

And this is an open-air cinema, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

During the day, due to the heat, there is almost no one on the street, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Qatar is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Qatar is famous for its skyscrapers, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

Here's where you need to go shopping, photo: Instagram @sunny_camomile

I haven't been to Russia this year. Qatar is completely closed to tourists now, and residents can only get there with special permission from the government. I sometimes miss my Moscow everyday life, but what is happening in my life here is very interesting, and I would like this feeling of novelty to last as long as possible.

How do the bride and groom find out about each other?

All the information that is available to a girl before the wedding is that which she will receive from the groom’s relatives: his mother, sisters or aunts. Sometimes the groom is judged by the impressions made in early childhood. According to Arab law, girls and boys under nine years of age can play together. Every father of the bride considers it his duty to ask the groom if he had the opportunity to see her. He, in turn, must say that he did not see the girl, he only had the honor of hearing about her.

Fathers of brides have one little “trick”. If a parent is not indifferent to his daughter’s opinion and he wants to make sure that she will marry a certain chosen one of her own free will, he proceeds as follows: communicates with the girl’s mother and with herself, while casually stipulating that he wants to arrange a men’s evening, listing the guests , calling the name of the one who wooed, and observing the reaction of women. If it is positive, he directly informs his daughter who is wooing him and asks her opinion about it. Only when he receives approval do preparations for the wedding begin.

In other cases, communication between the groom and the bride before the wedding is also practiced. First, women from two families meet to discuss the upcoming marriage, then men. And after this, the groom can talk with his future wife to make a firm decision.

Sometimes parents agree on an engagement when their children are still very young. They may be less than ten years old when conversations about marriage begin.

Arabic wedding

It is almost impossible for an Arab man to meet his betrothed in person, because in this world it is not customary for a young and unmarried girl to appear in public places unaccompanied. That is why matchmaking flourishes, in which the main role is played by the mothers of the bride and groom. The groom’s mother “looks” for a good candidate for her daughter-in-law herself, and when such a candidate is found, she notifies the family of the potential bride about this and makes the first official visit to find out whether the young people are “suitable” for each other. First of all, of course, young people are tested for compatibility based on social status, upbringing and their families’ view of the world.

If the first stage is passed, the groom's father comes into play. He decides whether to pay a visit to the potential bride's family personally, since such a visit practically means an engagement. Usually at this stage, young people are allowed to see each other, talk and take a closer look at each other; there is no talk of any romances or night walks. The eldest man from the groom's house then asks for the bride's hand in marriage from her father of the bride. It is noteworthy that the groom does not participate in this ceremony; all other men from the groom’s family are present and witness the consent received. Needless to say that the bride is asked about her consent only formally?

But, despite such absentee matchmaking, there are very few divorces in the Arab world. Although divorce does not present any difficulties, before the wedding the groom signs an obligation to pay compensation to his wife in the event of a divorce. The thing is that a strong marriage is a symbol of righteousness, so everyone takes marriage very seriously.

Without preparation you can't go anywhere

After the engagement, preparations for the wedding begin. It lasts at least 40 days, during which the bride and the holiday program are prepared for the ceremony. For all 40 days, the bride is prohibited from going out to strangers (except for relatives and close friends). Her main task is to become the most irresistible during this time, so every morning begins with rubbing in incense and skin care treatments. The bride at this time eats better than any princess; food is prepared especially for her and only from the best products. Of course, at this time the craftsmen sew dresses for the wedding. And, it should be noted that the fabrics used for them are among the most expensive in the world (up to 1000 euros per meter).

Arab wedding traditions

Preparations for the wedding do not end there. The last week before the celebration, the bride should stay in a secluded small room and be dressed in simple clothes. The Arabs believe that this way she will look even more beautiful on her wedding day. The groom should not spend the entire week in a dark room, but he must spend the last three days before the ceremony at home, surrounded only by his closest relatives and friends.

An Arabic wedding is a grand event. The wedding ceremony traditionally takes place after sunset. This event can be celebrated for more than one day. On such wedding days, the families of the bride and groom pursue different goals. For example, the groom’s family considers it their duty to surprise relatives, friends and other ordinary residents of the UAE with a variety of treats and delicacies. Tents are even placed on the street, where any passerby can try the wedding food. The girl’s family will “boast” about the decoration of their home. And this is no coincidence, because the ceremony takes place in the bride’s house, and not in a mosque, as some are inclined to mistakenly believe.

Wedding details

Any wedding is a huge amount of trouble. You need to find a place, select staff, think about a holiday meal, agree on a list of guests and send out invitations, find a suitable photographer, choose music. Not everyone likes to do such things; many newlyweds just want to relax and have fun . It is in such cases that it is best to have a turnkey wedding; a team of professionals will take care of all the worries, while the newlyweds will only have to clarify the details and enjoy the holiday.

It is better to start planning the upcoming celebration six months before the expected date.

It is also better to book plane tickets and hotel rooms several months in advance. Having chosen a wedding agency or director, you need to contact him in advance, clarifying the prices and the script of the wedding ceremony.

The best time of year to travel is October-May . During these months, the wedding rush subsides and the weather in the city is warm.

A wedding abroad does not allow for a large number of guests, since the tiring flight, high ticket prices and fear of flying can be a serious obstacle for some relatives and friends. Therefore, such a celebration is perfect for those who want to celebrate a long-awaited event with just the two of them or in the company of a few of their closest friends.

What does a bride traditionally wear to an Arab wedding?

An Arab wedding is a grand event for both the newlyweds and their families, traditionally taking place in the afternoon, after sunset. This is always a magnificent and large-scale celebration, where all close and distant relatives are invited. The total number of guests at an Arab wedding is several hundred, and in some cases even a thousand people.

Currently, an Arab wedding is becoming more and more similar to a modern European celebration, but a lot of ancient customs leave their mark on the image of the bride:

Girls in Arab countries are required to wear a headscarf. The same applies to marriage. Therefore, the headdress is an integral part of the image of an Arab bride.
According to Muslim traditions, a girl first enters into contact with a man only after marriage. Therefore, along with the festive attire for the wedding night, the Arabs select beautiful underwear to please the groom.
It is customary for brides to paint their hands with henna. The so-called “mehendi” designs not only make a girl more beautiful and impressive, but also protect her from evil spirits and attract happiness and love to a newly-made family.

The tradition of separate celebrations at an Arab wedding

Among Muslims, it is not customary for men and women who are not relatives or spouses to spend time together, even in the same room. Therefore, traditionally the wedding celebration is divided into two parts - male and female.

For men, everything is fun - songs, dances and other entertainment. The female half represents the bride and her relatives and friends seated sedately, whose fun is limited only to conversation. As you can see, not only is the image of the Arab bride and the women invited modest, but so is their celebration.

Traditions of modern Egypt

An Egyptian family is created not by the love of the young, but by the conspiracy of relatives. In more secular families, young people choose their soul mate themselves, but the opinion of their parents is still taken into account. As a rule, Egyptian women get married very early, at about 13-14 years old. But not one of them will marry an untenable groom, even if age is very close.

Before marriage, a girl’s life in the family is not sweet, her parents don’t take their eyes off her, because even an innocent kiss on the cheek can ruin a girl’s life. If she allowed something free in relation to herself, she must marry this person or for the rest of her days she will be called a “sharmuta” (prostitute). She will be sent to the countryside for hard work, there she will grow old in complete loneliness, she will have no chance of marriage, family, or children.

Before the engagement, the newlyweds get to know each other only in the presence of relatives and parents; they are under no circumstances left alone, as this could discredit the girl. If they liked each other, a ceremony of matchmaking and bride ransom takes place.

Before the wedding, the groom negotiates the amount of the bride's ransom. This is done in the form of a regular auction, during which the amount of the ransom and gift to the parents for their daughter is determined.

After dating and matchmaking, the engagement does not take place immediately. Parents discuss the following issues in detail:

Does the groom have his own home?
When does he intend to purchase it (if not).
The amount of the bride price is a specific amount; the girl uses it to buy gold and jewelry, which will provide her with financial stability in the event of a divorce.
Dowry size.

In this way, parents find out how wealthy the man is and whether he can support his future wife. The bride is required to equip the kitchen of their future home (dishes, kitchen units, appliances).

Only if the parents managed to agree on all these points is the engagement date set. It should be noted that an engagement is a whole celebration in Egypt, to which many guests are invited and a feast is arranged.

This is how Arabs see a family: shocking facts about dating, weddings and family life in the UAE

Everyone has heard about the untold wealth of Arab sheikhs. But did you know that the greatest treasure for an Arab is his family? An Arab woman is a true keeper of the family hearth and is highly respected by men. And the more children there are in a family, the happier it is considered!

Let's see how an ordinary family lives in the UAE.

Dating facts

The potential bride has the right to refuse the proposal if she does not like the groom in some way. But still, the decision to marry is primarily made by the groom’s family.

Few Arab women marry Europeans, since marrying an infidel could simply result in them being expelled from the country forever. But men from the UAE sometimes marry European girls, but the marriage will only benefit the husband. A woman in such a marriage does not receive citizenship, and in the event of a divorce, the children always remain with the father.

Facts about the wedding

A prenuptial agreement is a mandatory element of an Arab wedding. Instead of the bride, the contract is signed by her two relatives.

After signing the contract, the wedding celebration should take place within a year. Until the wedding, the groom can visit his future wife only in the presence of her relatives. The bride price paid for the bride by the groom's family can reach several hundred thousand dollars, so giving birth to girls is very profitable.

An Arab wedding is a grand spectacle. The treats are very varied and constantly updated. In this way, the groom's family shows their hospitality and wealth to the guests. Since Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol, the strongest drink on the table is coffee. However, this does not prevent the celebrations from continuing for seven days!

Matchmaking

Like many nationalities, a Muslim wedding begins with matchmaking. Most often, modern guys meet girls themselves, choosing a mate, and his family already approves or does not approve of this union. However, there are also families in which the mother or sister of the young man is looking for a bride. When the choice is made, the groom and his family members come to meet the bride, presenting her with gifts. 7 days after such a visit, the girl must agree to the marriage or refuse the guy, returning all the gifts to him.

If the bride gives a positive answer, the groom's relatives come to visit her again. On this day, a married relative of the guy puts a ring on her ring finger, thereby showing that now this girl will soon become a wife. The bride's family prepares a festive dinner, the main dish of which is national shurpa.

After matchmaking, representatives from each family gather to discuss the details of the wedding: from the date and location to the number of guests and menu. According to the traditions and customs of Muslims, the groom's side pays for everything, as in the case of a Turkish wedding. Typically, such an event costs from $5,000, not including gifts for the bride and her relatives. Therefore, even though polygamy is allowed in Muslim countries, not all men decide on it, because they must not only pay for the wedding, but also adequately support their wife and common children.

Newlyweds can see each other before the wedding only in the presence of other people. They are not allowed to hold hands or touch each other; they can communicate, but only on important topics. The girl should be dressed in a closed dress so that the groom can see only her face and hands, judging by which the guy and his relatives form their opinion about her appearance and health.

Beauty is shown only to the husband!

In the UAE and other eastern countries, almost all women wear a burqa so as not to be branded as ladies of easy virtue. Women in Muslim countries dress according to the commandments of the Koran. During menstruation, only the face and hands can be left bare. Nowadays, a large number of Muslim women wear a hijab headscarf on their heads and cover only their body, legs and arms. But among friends and with their husbands, they look more relaxed. They often perform belly dances for their husbands. But when a stranger appears, you should definitely wear a headscarf. Girls from wealthy Muslim families often behave and dress like in Europe, but these concessions are minimal, their way of life remains special.

The burqa was first worn by wealthy Muslim women to prevent them from being killed or robbed. From this came the tradition of hiding behind loose clothes. The younger generation wears not only black robes, but also colored outfits. Even when going to swim in the sea, girls put on a burqa, but not black, but in calm shades - soft blue, greenish, etc., but not red.

Indian bride and groom image

Indian brides are extremely beautiful and their outfits are very rich. According to tradition, a wedding sari in India is made of cotton, silk, chiffon in various shades of red or golden. For Hindus, red has long symbolized purity and innocence. Indians consider white to be a mourning color.

The bride's sari is decorated with elegant embroidery, fringe, rhinestones, and luxurious accessories. The wedding sari is supported by a golden belt. The blouse is sewn either plain, to match the color of the sari, or golden, made of brocade. It is also decorated with embroidery and beads.

Around the girl’s neck is a gold necklace, passed down from mother to daughter. The bride is also decorated with gold earrings, bracelets on her arms and legs. Bracelets come with ornaments, enamel, and carvings. Jewelry for weddings in India is expensive, and costume jewelry is used very rarely.

According to all traditions, an Indian bride has one distinctive wedding decoration - a large earring in the wing of her nose, from which a chain extends to her ear, as shown in the photo.

Adhering to an ancient tradition, for the first time at a young girl’s wedding, a bindi is painted with henna - a red dot on the forehead, symbolizing a married woman in India. Bindi comes in different shapes - round, oval and even triangular. Wedding makeup emphasizes the special depth of the girl’s eyes and her eyebrows with clearly defined hairs.

Hair is traditionally styled in a beautiful wedding hairstyle, decorated with flowers and gold jewelry. Punjabi girls and women are extremely modest and shy, their hair is always tied up, among them it is considered the height of indecency to walk with loose hair. In India, only girls of easy virtue or a wife alone with her husband can afford this.

The groom in India also looks very smart. According to tradition, his tight trousers and white and red wedding frock coat are embroidered with gold embroidery. A beautiful red sash girds him. On his feet are shoes with curved toes, embroidered with beads. The head is crowned with a wedding turban made of bright fabric. All this is embroidered with beads, beads, embroidery, glitters and shimmers in the sun. In some parts of India, there has long been a tradition of covering half the face of the groom with pendants made of beads or flowers.

An Indian wedding is not just a holiday or a tradition, it is a merger of two large families, and therefore it is celebrated with special pomp and observance of a huge number of wedding rituals. It is not so easy to study them all. In the video below you can admire the beauty of an Indian wedding:

Accessories for the Arab bride

Despite the rather closed Arabic wedding dresses, oriental brides look attractive and fabulous in them. The integrity of the bride’s image is given by additional elements inherent in Muslim culture, which add some zest and luxury:

The hijab is considered an integral addition to wedding dresses for Muslim girls. It is a headdress made of several layers of fabric. Modern brides bring stylish changes to this traditional headdress, complementing it with various kinds of embroidery, stones, lace, or combining the hijab with a veil.
Jewelry. The wedding look of an Arab bride is distinguished by a large number of jewelry: rings, bracelets, tiaras with precious stones.
Bouquet. This attribute is not mandatory, but more and more often Arab brides decorate their image with a small bouquet. It is usually made from classic flowers of white, cream or soft pink.

Bridesmaid dresses

The most popular dresses in the world are snow-white dresses, however, Muslim brides prefer dresses in bright colors: blue, light blue, gold, coral, pink, etc.
Often the tone of the dress is matched to the color of the eyes. The fabrics from which wedding dresses are made are, as a rule, expensive and, in no case, translucent. It can be thin silk, openwork lace, satin. To make a veil, high quality chiffon or tulle is used. By the way, these fabrics can be used when sewing the second layer of a wedding dress.

The styles of wedding dresses can be very diverse: both lush and tight-fitting. The main requirement is a completely closed top.

The uniqueness of the outfit is given by the original embroidery with beads or gold threads, done by hand, as well as a large number of expensive stones, which are also used to embroider the wedding hijab.

Despite the severity of the dresses of Arab beauties, the brides of the East look luxurious and fabulous. Additional accessories that correspond to the Muslim culture add special sophistication to the bride's image.

A mandatory element of a wedding dress is the hijab. This is a kind of headdress that covers a girl’s hair, forehead, ears and neck and consists of several layers of fabric. As a rule, it is made in the same tone as the dress. Modern Muslim girls combine it with a veil, making the bride’s image more elegant and stylish. The hijab is complemented with expensive embroidery and precious stones.

The bride always wears a lot of jewelry: rings, bracelets, tiaras, sparkling with a variety of stones (they are worn on the hijab, it looks very beautiful and original). At the same time, the jewelry fits perfectly into the created image.

An indispensable attribute of a wedding dress is a small bouquet. As a rule, it is made up of classic flowers (usually roses) in light shades.

Oriental wedding makeup is interesting, without which it is impossible to imagine the image of an Arab bride. The main emphasis is the eyes, which are brightly highlighted (lined), while girls do not use bright blush, and lipstick can be either a rich color or a neutral one. In general, the bride's makeup is bright, but done very carefully.

The Arab bride is always the center of attention, and her outfit is fabulous and mysterious.

By mixing European and Arabic styles, you can create a completely unique wedding dress. The important thing is that many brides can change several dresses in both European and Arabic styles in one evening. It's quite popular now.

Gypsy wedding customs

Gypsy wedding traditions and customs have developed historically a long time ago and are passed on from generation to generation.

Despite the fact that the gypsies are considered a wild nation, unwavering adherence to traditions is an important part of life for them

The wedding portal Svadebka.ws has selected for you the most interesting gypsy rituals present at every wedding:

Bride ransom. Before the ceremony, the groom must bring gifts to the bride’s house and pay a ransom to the bride’s parents for the “loss” of his assistant in the house, thereby showing his wealth and willingness to provide for his future wife.
Fraternization. This ritual consists of the physical union of the newlyweds - the bride and groom usually make small incisions or pierce a finger, after which their blood is mixed into one common blood, symbolizing the conclusion of a new relationship.
Taking out honor. On the second day of a gypsy wedding, after the feast, the husband and wife retire to spend an important stage of the actual union - the wedding night. The main responsibility for a young woman is to preserve her virginity for her husband. As proof of this, after the union of the newlyweds, a shirt or sheet with traces of blood is brought out for the viewing of relatives. If there are no traces, then the wedding, according to the customs of the gypsies, can be considered terminated.

It is worth noting that gypsy wives do not work. In the family, the man is considered the main one, who earns money to provide for his family. Women keep order in the house, raise children and create home comfort.

First wedding night at an Arab wedding

The first wedding night also involves observing traditions. After the Arab wedding, the newlyweds are left alone. The newlyweds read namaz, the husband says the basmala prayer to protect his wife and future children from evil. The husband treats his beloved with sweets and drinks, after which a moment of intimacy ensues. After it, the young people must perform ablution.

The first wedding night among Muslims does not necessarily imply intimate relations. The first sexual intercourse can occur months after the wedding, when the husband and wife get to know each other well enough.

An Arab wedding is an original and interesting event, which at every step is accompanied by the observance of unique traditions and rituals, the portal www.svadbagolik.ru is sure.

Outdated wedding customs

Many wedding rituals and traditions have long been outdated and seem simply incredible. With the rapid development of the modern world, most of them have lost their relevance and look truly strange from the outside.

Unusual ancient traditions at a wedding:

Matchmaking. Wedding customs and traditions in ancient Rus' were more strict, and often the bride, as is traditional at a Turkish wedding, was not asked at all about her consent to get married. The matchmaking could take place at the most unexpected moment for the family, when it was unprepared to receive guests. The matchmakers and the groom arrived on a horse-drawn cart, decorated with bells and bright ribbons so that the future bride could hear her groom. The matchmakers talked with the bride's family at a sumptuous table, presented the parents with expensive gifts, showing their serious intentions about their daughter. On the same day, the girl’s parents had to give their answer.
Vytie. Among the ancient wedding rituals and customs is the so-called howling, or crying of the bride before the wedding. For this ritual, a special vytnitsa was invited to the house, a woman who sang plaintive songs, under which the future bride shed bitter tears, saying goodbye to her home and family.
Bride ransom. Redemption in ancient Rus' represented the passage of a real obstacle. First, the groom tried to go into the village, then through the gate, and only later into the house of his betrothed. The whole ceremony took place in a large company of relatives and fellow villagers, who created obstacles for the groom, who, in turn, could pay off with a coin.

Among the ancient customs one could also find:

bridesmaids;
hen-party,
handshake;
wedding;
tradition of the first wedding night.

How a young man and a girl become a couple

The future wife does not see her betrothed before the wedding. All the information that she may have is only that which is told by her closest relatives. Most often, the mother or aunt who was present at the matchmaking informs about the future husband.

Often what a groom is like is judged by his childhood, since up to the age of 9 boys and girls can play together. At the matchmaking ceremony, the bride's father always asks whether the groom has ever seen his future bride. He, in turn, must answer: “no, but I had the honor to hear about her.”

The father can ask his daughter's opinion, but not directly

He will simply tell you that a men's dinner is planned, list everyone present, talk about the matchmaking and pay attention to the reaction of the daughter and mother

The bride and groom can meet before the wedding, but only if the groom's family insists on it.

After the matchmaking, men's evening, the bride and groom may be allowed to talk. And the groom, in turn, will be able to make the right decision.

Interesting! Arab sheikhs and their mistresses

Loud arrival of the groom for the bride

The bride learns in advance that the groom will arrive soon. And this is not surprising, because before the start of the holiday, the groom and his guests noisily arrive at the house of the future wife in a motorcade of cars. Cars are driving slowly. Many guests walk and dance while traditional Arab drummers beat their drums loudly. It is interesting that a Muslim wedding is a noisy and fun event, but many rituals accompanied by the reading of prayers are always quiet and sacred.

Traditions on the eve of the wedding day

The variety of wedding traditions is impressive: each custom has its own meaning and is accompanied by certain actions. The beauty of Indian songs, dances, the rustle of fabrics, an abundance of flowers and incense, delicious national dishes - Indians spare no expense and effort in organizing the celebration.

Meeting with guests

A wedding in India is a special celebration; people spend a long time preparing for it and spending a lot of money. If the family is wealthy, from 15 to 20 thousand dollars are spent on the wedding. 700-800 guests are invited, who need to be provided with housing and food for many days, because the wedding with all the preludes lasts more than a week.

According to a long-standing tradition, four days before the wedding, all her relatives come to the girl’s home and build a wedding canopy in the courtyard, decorated with garlands of flowers, coconuts, bananas, and bright lights. Residents of India call such a canopy a “pandal”. A large bowl of rice is placed in the middle under the canopy, a large coconut palm flower is placed on top of the rice - a symbol of happiness, lights are burning around the bowl.

Mindy's Bachelorette Party

The Mindi ceremony involves decorating the bride's hands and feet with national ornaments using henna. According to the wedding tradition in India, girls’ designs are applied on the palms and above, covering the arms up to the elbow. As a result, something like peculiar gloves emerges. After this, gold rings and bracelets are put on the girl’s hands. The hands and feet were not chosen by chance: the lines of a person’s destiny are drawn on the hands, and all seven chakras are reflected on the hands and feet. What it looks like is shown in the photo.

The girl’s relatives and friends try to make the wedding patterns as dark as possible: according to tradition, it is believed that then the future husband will love her more deeply. The procedure lasts almost the whole day: while painting the bride, young girls and experienced women talk to her about what marriage promises, how to behave correctly with her future husband, and how to build a happy family. Therefore, it is believed that the more complex the drawing, the more time it took to complete it, the more secrets of married life the bride learned.

According to the traditions of India, a bride with patterns applied is no longer appropriate to leave the house until the wedding; her home is decorated with bright festive garlands of flowers, light bulbs, and foil. After the wedding, the young wife does not do any housework until the patterns disappear completely.

Sangeet pre-wedding dinner

There is a tradition among the people of India: fifteen days before the wedding begins, Hindus perform a ritual of worshiping Ganesha, the god of wealth and abundance. Representatives of both families ask Ganesha to facilitate the wedding and remove all obstacles to it.

Sanjeet is a purely female pre-wedding ceremony, one of the most joyful and fun in India. Hospitable women from the bride's family invite women from the groom's side to dinner. The whole friendly company wishes the bride family happiness and prosperity with songs, dances, and toasts. The festive table prepared by the bride's relatives is replete with delicious dishes. Dinner lasts a long time, the women have fun from the heart.

Gaye Kholud ceremony

This is a tradition of praising the color yellow, which in India is considered a symbol of the sun, signifying marital fidelity. It begins at the groom's home: ceremony participants paint their foreheads with yellow paint, and then sprinkle yellow powder on each other. Afterwards, you must inform the deceased relatives that their descendant is getting married. This is done by the groom's father, listing all his ancestors, as if inviting them to witness a significant event.

Having completed the ritual at the young man’s house, the entire procession heads to the girl’s house, where “gaye kholud” is repeated from the beginning.

Arabian night, magical east: wedding traditions of Arab countries

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Studio Blue Leaves

“Henna Night” is a stunningly beautiful ancient Muslim ritual, which today has become a fashionable trend for young people and other faiths. Laylat Al Henna is usually held on the eve of the wedding ceremony. This unique Arabic “bachelorette party” is truly a demonstration of beauty, outfits and decorations in front of each other.

Men are not allowed to attend this ceremony of preparing the bride for the wedding.

On this night, the bride is given a precious ligature of ornaments that carry a secret meaning , and her palms and feet are painted with the finest brushes. In order for the patterns to bring happiness, several conditions must be met: the designer must be a woman happy with her marriage and a special mirror, which will subsequently be another symbol and guarantee of love and prosperity for the bride.

There are also two beliefs associated with wedding patterns.

First: the darker the bride’s henna design, the more her future mother-in-law . Therefore, the girl tries not to remove the dried henna until the morning, since the longer the paste stays on, the darker the design will be later. And second: the groom’s initials are woven , and at the beginning of the first wedding night the groom must find them. Since the newlyweds usually saw each other for the first time at a wedding, the search for initials was supposed to break the ice of stiffness . If the groom did not find the first letters of his name on the girl’s hands or feet, then in the morning he had to give a rather large gift.

The wedding ceremony takes place in a mosque or at home in accordance with all the instructions of the Holy Quran. It is possible with the consent of the bride and her parents (guardians) to the marriage, and necessarily stipulates the size of the mahr - gift to the future wife. In case of widowhood or divorce, at the request of the husband, the mahr remains with the wife. Witnesses to the conclusion of a marriage contract are usually two Muslim men and, as a sign of this, they put their signatures next to the signatures of the father of the bride and her husband.

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Stylist Anna Melostnaya

I especially want to talk about the ancient tradition - bakhur.

Bakhur is used to give the room a pleasant smell, and in honor of the significant event of a wedding and meeting of guests, special care is taken in the selection of exquisite incense. After all, according to Arab beliefs, they will drive away evil spirits and bring peace and joy to the house .

A real and high-quality bakhoor should consist only of natural ingredients, which make it unique. Pinches of wood are soaked in essential oils or extracts of various aromatic substances. Created specifically as a wedding gift, bakhur is considered a revered gift and can be very expensive. It can also be included in the bride's dowry and serve as a heirloom at home.

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Photographer Igor Gerasimchuk

Wedding celebration

According to Muslim customs, during the wedding feast, the couple and, accordingly, the guests are separated . Traditionally, the celebration is held in two different halls. A wedding feast for women involves rich treats, but the most important thing is a luxuriously decorated room where the women's part of the wedding will take place. Today, halls of expensive luxury hotels are usually rented, and then skillful designers and artists decorate the hall to the taste of the newlywed . The whole set of such decoration looks great together with the podium for the bride in the form of a throne, which can be decorated in an oriental or European style, but its decoration must be in harmony with the bride’s outfit.

The newlywed appears in a beautiful outfit, embroidered with crystals, flowers, birds and gold and becomes a real queen of the holiday.

Women in their hall can not cover their heads, have fun and dance, joyfully celebrating the holiday, because men are strictly prohibited from entering.

Only at the end of the evening the groom, father and witness come to the women's hall to pick up the bride . Ladies are notified of their arrival in advance in order to have the opportunity to put on a hijab. So the bride officially leaves her father's house and comes to her husband's house.

“He who gets married has gained half the faith ,” says the Koran, and this ancient wisdom is undeniable.

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Wedding agency for two

Whatever the wedding, it becomes the beginning of your joint journey into the future . Don't miss also the important tips that Natalya Balayan gives about meeting your parents and how not to be nervous on your wedding day .

If you have questions, contact positive psychologist and art therapist Natalia Balayan by mail : [email protected] or via Instagram: @natalia_balayan.

Attitude towards the female half

The traditions of the Arab people give a special place to women. A woman in the east is the keeper of family happiness and hearth. An Arab woman should not feel needy, and her husband is obliged to give her gifts and jewelry.

In response to such respectful attitude, a woman should behave modestly and reservedly. It is forbidden to show naked parts of the body in public, and when going out, a woman must be accompanied by her husband or an older relative.

There is a special day for Arab women. Once a week, all water parks, beaches, beauty salons and fitness centers are open only to the fair half.

Here's What Really Happens at a Traditional Arab Wedding (Photos)

You will not get into an Arab wedding without an invitation. If you forgot it at home, the guards standing at the entrance may easily not let you through. Of course, if the organizers of the celebration themselves do not take you inside. In addition, you need to read invitations carefully. There may be: “Please, no children.” Or “No cell phones.”

Let's find out more about how weddings take place in Qatar. A traditional Qatari wedding is held in the huge hall of an expensive hotel. But that is not all. Two halls are available for rent. Sometimes in the same hotel, and sometimes in different parts of the city. As you already understood, one hall is intended for women, the other for men. Only once does a man enter the women's hall: the groom, accompanied by the bride's father and brother, enters the women's hall to pick up his future wife.

Mobile phones, photography and video shooting are prohibited in the women's section. Phones are confiscated at the entrance and given back at the end of the ceremony.

The ceremony usually begins with prayer, around 8 pm. Guests continue to arrive, are seated, and are treated to small snacks served by beautifully dressed maids. Particularly wealthy families serve expensive chocolate. You probably don’t need to mention that there is no alcohol at Muslim weddings.

There is live music in the men's section. What happens there is shown on wide screens in the women's section. But! Men are not shown what happens in women's rooms. That's why…

Arab women in Qatar dress very modestly and are rarely seen without a traditional dress called an abaya. Some wear a niqab every day, in which only their eyes can be seen.

But at weddings they dress up like it was the last time! Women dress in beautiful shiny dresses. They appear in all their glory! Just imagine these oriental beauties in incredible dresses! It is not for nothing that men say that if Arab women did not wear closed clothes, there would be a lot of accidents on the roads.

Beautiful make-up. Expensive shoes. Carefully styled hair. Everything looks expensive and rich.

While some are sitting at tables and having a nice conversation, others are “dancing.” But this is not dancing in the usual sense. Unmarried girls walk, sway, and go on stage. This is done so that the potential mother-in-law can see the future wife for her son. Very often, young people “meet” in this way at other people’s weddings.

Usually in the women's section there is a photo zone where the photographer takes pictures of the guests and, of course, the bride.

By 10–11 pm the bride comes out. The lights dim and the bright lights focus on the hero of the occasion. Live music changes to something gentle and romantic. Brides in this event usually wear white dresses with or without a veil over the face.

The wedding dresses of Arab brides often look like a work of art. If jewelry, then only from diamonds. The bride slowly walks back and forth across the stage, smiles and waves to the guests, then sits down in her assigned place, where her sisters and mother are already waiting for her. The bride's exit lasts about 20 minutes.

Light dancing and conversations continue. Then one lady stands on the platform and showers the bride with banknotes.

About an hour later they announce that the groom is on his way. At this time, all the women return to their seats and hastily pull on their abayas. Just imagine, all the shining splendor turns into modestly dressed women in seconds. The groom then enters, surrounded by his closest male relatives. He sits down next to the bride, who sits with her head bowed and practically does not utter a word.

In some ceremonies, the cake is brought in at this point, and the bride and groom cut it with a sword.

Then the relatives say a blessing, and the groom takes the bride to her room. This is often the most expensive and luxurious room in this hotel.

When the bride and groom leave, the celebration continues on an even greater scale. The tables are laden with delicious dishes. At 4–5 o'clock in the morning, guests begin to disperse under the houses.

This is how the wedding day goes for the bride and groom. Do you agree that there are a lot of differences from our weddings?

Original link: https://marketium.ru/rsap-auts-arabskaya-svadba/

Thoughts and positions published on the site are the property of the authors, and may not coincide with the point of view of the editors of BlogNews.am.

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How is the wedding celebrated?

And that's not all that an Arab wedding is about. The customs are quite original. Newlyweds can celebrate both together and separately. Often the bride and groom practice the latter option. Accordingly, the bride celebrates with women, and the groom with men. Even if these two holidays take place in adjacent halls, their guests do not collide with each other at all.

Women in their hall do not have to cover their heads, pleasant music flows from everywhere, dancing goes on, the treats never end, and all the girls can have a great time on this day. The most beautiful and elegant among all is the bride. In the middle of the hall stands her throne, which really looks like a royal one.

The groom's holiday is no less fun. With only one obligatory condition - no alcohol. There is prohibition in the United Emirates, and the Abadites don’t even smoke tobacco. But nevertheless, the celebration is luxurious, and the guests do not deny themselves anything. This is an Arabic style wedding.

If men and women celebrate this celebration separately, at the end of the evening the groom with his father and witness comes to the women's hall. The ladies are notified of his arrival in advance, as they must have time to cover their heads. The festivities continue. At the end of the ceremony, the groom takes the bride to his place.

How a Traditional Arabic Wedding Really Happens

You will not get into an Arab wedding without an invitation. If you forgot it at home, the guards standing at the entrance may easily not let you through.

Of course, if the organizers of the celebration themselves do not take you inside. In addition, you need to read invitations carefully. There may be: “Please, no children.” Or “No cell phones.”

Let's find out more about how weddings take place in Qatar. A traditional Qatari wedding is held in the huge hall of an expensive hotel. But that is not all. Two halls are available for rent. Sometimes in the same hotel, and sometimes in different parts of the city. As you already understood, one room is intended for women, the other for men . Only once does a man enter the women's hall: the groom, accompanied by the bride's father and brother, enters the women's hall to pick up his future wife.

Mobile phones, photography and video shooting are prohibited in the women's section . Phones are confiscated at the entrance and given back at the end of the ceremony.

The ceremony usually begins with prayer , around 8 pm. Guests continue to arrive, are seated, and are treated to small snacks served by beautifully dressed maids. Particularly wealthy families serve expensive chocolate . You probably don’t need to mention that there is no alcohol at Muslim weddings.

There is live music in the men's section . What happens there is shown on wide screens in the women's section. But! Men are not shown what happens in women's rooms. That's why…

Arab women in Qatar dress very modestly and are rarely seen without a traditional dress called an abaya. Some wear a niqab every day, in which only their eyes can be seen.

Beautiful make-up. Expensive shoes. Carefully styled hair. Everything looks expensive and rich.

While some are sitting at tables and having a nice conversation, others are “dancing.” But this is not dancing in the usual sense. Unmarried girls walk, sway, and go on stage. This is done so that the potential mother-in-law can see the future wife for her son. Very often, young people “meet” in this way at other people’s weddings.

Usually in the women's section there is a photo zone where the photographer takes pictures of the guests and, of course, the bride.

Light dancing and conversations continue. Then one lady stands on the platform and showers the bride with banknotes .

In some ceremonies, at this moment the cake is brought in , and the bride and groom cut it with a sword .

Then the relatives say a blessing, and the groom takes the bride to her room. This is often the most expensive and luxurious room in this hotel.

This is how the wedding day goes for the bride and groom. Do you agree that there are many differences from our weddings?

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Nikah ritual - wedding among Muslims

An obligatory stage of the wedding celebration is the marriage ceremony in the mosque. Muslim weddings are called nikah. The imam or mullah conducts it, reading prayers, during which the young people and all those present sit silently, with their eyes downcast.

It is important that a Muslim wedding can only be performed if the following conditions are met:

The newlyweds are not close relatives.
Marriage has no time limit.
The consent of the bride and groom is required for marriage.
The marriage union is publicly announced.
The groom pays mahr to the bride.
A wedding in Islam is impossible without the presence of at least two witnesses from a number of pious Muslims (two men or a man and two women).
During the ceremony, the bride's guardian (father, paternal uncle, brother), as well as the parents of both families, must be present in the mosque. If they fail, they must notify the mullah in advance of the wedding and give their consent to the marriage.

Nikah lasts about an hour. At the end, the newlyweds exchange rings, most often not gold, but silver. Why is this particular metal used to make wedding rings among Muslims? According to Islamic law, a man cannot wear gold, thereby decorating himself, this is considered a sin. He must show his wealth in a different way, so his wedding ring can only be made of silver or platinum. But a Muslim woman can wear gold jewelry, which her husband gives her in abundance during family life.

One of the most unusual wedding traditions is that during a Muslim wedding, the groom must voice the amount of the gift to the bride - mahr (jewelry, real estate, etc.), which he will have to pay her during her life or in case of divorce. Thus, he shows that his intentions are serious.

At the end of the nikah, the newlyweds are given a certificate in which the names of the bride and groom, as well as the size of the marriage mahr, are written down.

In addition to the traditional wedding, which is held in a mosque, modern newlyweds also register their marriage with officials and even enter into a prenuptial agreement regulating the financial aspects of the family union in the event of divorce.

Nikah is an analogue of a wedding among Christians

Nikah among Muslims is something like a wedding among Christians. Moreover, without a marriage “in heaven” it is almost impossible to officially register the relationship. Religious customs play a paramount role at an Arab wedding. The ceremony is performed by the imam. The bride and groom sit in front of him and between two witnesses. After reading the prayers, the newlyweds give their consent to the marriage.

After the wedding

After the wedding, the newlyweds should retire, but in most tribes the wedding night is a solemn moment, witnessed by the older women present in the room where the newlyweds went, and the tribesmen waiting outside.

In other tribes, the date of the wedding night may remain a secret to the groom, or this event brings together several couples who have just gotten married and want to be alone. In another village, the bride must resist as if she were fighting for her life.

She does not have the right to immediately give in to the groom. Their wedding night begins with real struggle. The tribesmen are sure that such a night is a real lesson, where newlyweds learn from each other the art of lovemaking. In Namibia, only the natural father has the right to tell the newlywed what she should do and how she should behave on her wedding night.

In this video you will be told about all the traditions and customs of an African wedding:

The customs of African peoples and tribes are still alive today, although most newlyweds strive to celebrate a wedding in a European style. Newlyweds refuse to take part in a group wedding night, put a cowhide helmet on their head, thickly greased with animal fat, and make love in front of old women. Modern brides and grooms prefer beautiful wedding dresses and chic suits rather than beads and feathers. What interesting things happen in African tribes at a wedding feast? Those who have traveled and know quite a lot about it can tell about this.

Family traditions: this is how the most ordinary Arab family lives in the UAE

We all know about the untold wealth of Arab sheikhs. But let's take a look at how an ordinary Arab family lives in the UAE?

Family comes first in the UAE. An Arab woman is the keeper of the family hearth and is respected by Arab men. It is believed that the more children there are, the happier a family is.

ACQUAINTANCE

The decision to marry is made primarily by the groom's family. Women's rights in Muslim countries are equivalent to men's, so a potential bride has the right to refuse the proposal if she does not like the groom.

Arab women almost never marry Europeans—for marrying an infidel, she will simply be expelled from the country forever. Men from the UAE sometimes marry girls from Europe, but even here everything is structured in such a way that marriage does not benefit anyone except the man. For a woman, this marriage will not be a pass to obtain citizenship; children, if family life does not work out, will be taken away and left in the country.

True, a marriage with a rich Emirati is in many ways a pleasant thing while it lasts. After all, according to the law, even if the wife is the second, third or fourth, each has her own separate house, a generous allowance, and the share of attention should be equal to each of the “beloved” women.

Today, not every Arab can afford polygamy. Although Islam allows up to four wives, the main reason for such monogamy is the lack of funds to maintain a harem. Therefore, the classic UAE family, consisting of one husband, several wives and a harem, is the privilege of sheikhs and wealthy people.

WEDDING

If for European newlyweds a marriage contract is only now beginning to come into fashion, then for Arab countries such a contract is a mandatory element of the wedding. Instead of the bride, her two relatives sign the marriage contract.

The wedding celebration itself, after signing, can take place within a year - before that, the groom can see his future wife only in the presence of her relatives. For the bride, the groom's family pays a bride price, which can reach several hundred thousand dollars, so it is profitable to give birth to girls.

An Arab wedding is a truly grandiose spectacle. The table is bursting with treats, which are constantly renewed in order to show the guests their hospitality and abundance. Since Islam prohibits alcohol, there is nothing stronger than coffee on the holiday table. But this does not prohibit the wedding from taking place for up to seven days.

FAMILY WAY

The popular belief about discrimination against Arab women turns out to be somewhat exaggerated. In any Arab family, a woman must obey her husband, but she always takes part in solving important issues.

It is a myth that married women in the Emirates live like in prison. Yes, they are almost invisible on the street. Those that exist are in black.

In fact, a married woman can wear whatever she wants: a miniskirt, jeans, and shorts (they are generally great fashionistas there, they can spend hours in stores, choosing cutting-edge outfits and fabrics) - but on top she must wear a black a silk cape to the toes, and cover her face with a black scarf. Only fingers, feet and eyes are visible. And even then, black capes are rare.

Engagement

During the engagement, a young man comes to the bride with a gift. These are usually jewelry. He gives her four wedding rings and a necklace. It is believed that the more expensive the gift, the richer the groom. In addition, he must provide the bride's parents with evidence that he has his own home or name the exact time when he plans to buy it.

After the betrothal ceremony, the newlyweds are allowed to meet, walk the streets, go to the movies and cafes, but, most often, they are still accompanied by relatives from the bride’s side. All this is done so that no one doubts the girl’s piety. Before marriage, young people do not have any intimate relationships, touching or kissing.

If a young husband discovers during his wedding night that his wife is not a virgin, he drives her away in terrible shame. The girl’s family bears a stain of dishonor, which is very difficult to get rid of. In ancient times, a girl could be taken out into the desert and killed. And the unfaithful wife was dragged to the square, where the crowd stoned her to death. Of course, such atrocities have not survived in modern society, but here women’s piety is still treated very strictly.

You should immediately add a drop of ointment to the ointment! Many urban Egyptian women lead a completely European lifestyle, but do it secretly from their parents and relatives. And as soon as a suitable groom turns up, they go to the doctor and have an operation to restore virginity, after which they prepare for the wedding.