UAE Sponsors Mass Wedding For 250 Palestinian Couples In Gaza
UAE Sponsors Mass Wedding For 250 Palestinian Couples In Gaza
A United Arab Emirates-backed humanitarian initiative has brought together 250 Palestinian couples for a mass wedding ceremony in the Gaza Strip, offering a moment of joy and hope amid the devastation and financial hardship caused by the war.
The ceremony, held on Friday, November 6, was organised under the third edition of the UAE’s Thawb Al-Farah (Garment of Joy) initiative through Operation Gallant Knight 3.
The event featured music, dancing and celebrations as grooms walked to the wedding platform, with UAE and Palestinian flags displayed across the venue. The national anthems of both countries were also played.
A spokesperson for Operation Gallant Knight 3, Azzam Shaath, said the 250 grooms were selected through a public lottery after meeting the initiative’s eligibility requirements.
He explained that the programme was designed to support young Palestinians who cannot afford the cost of individual wedding ceremonies because of their difficult financial circumstances.
“Many young people are in need and cannot afford the expenses of individual weddings due to their financial circumstances,” Shaath said, assuring that the UAE-backed operation would continue supporting Palestinians.
One of the newlyweds, Bahaa Mteir, described the occasion as a welcome moment of happiness after years of suffering.
“It is a wonderful feeling that the UAE has organised a new celebration for the Palestinian people after all the pain, destruction and suffering we have endured,” he said.
The initiative, backed by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, also provides financial assistance and essential household items to help couples establish their homes.
The latest ceremony follows two previous mass weddings organised under the programme, with 54 couples married in Khan Younis in December 2025 and another 300 couples in Deir Al Balah in April 2026.
