9. Marriage Ads
In Dubai, it’s not uncommon to come across ads seeking grooms for young women. These “Grooms Wanted” ads are part of a larger tradition where parents are keen to arrange marriages for their daughters. While the concept might seem foreign to Western cultures, especially given the young age of the brides, usually around 25, it’s deeply rooted in Emirati customs.
In this city, dads or other important family members usually arrange the marriages. A man can even have up to four wives if he treats them all equally. This might sound unusual to people from Western countries, but it’s a long-time practice in the UAE. The most a family might pay as a dowry, or wedding gift, is about $13,613.