3,000 marriage grants worth 209 million dirhams in the “Year of the Family”

Statistics showed that the number of marriage grants expected for the current year amounts to 3,000 grants, while a member of the Federal National Council, Sheikha Saeed Al Kaabi, called for replacing the age requirement for obtaining a marriage grant by examining the social and psychological readiness of the young man as a criterion for eligibility.

In detail, official statistics reviewed during the Federal National Council session to discuss the general budget of the Federation for the fiscal year 2026 showed that the total number of marriage grants expected in 2026 amounts to 3,000 grants, for which an amount of 209 million dirhams was allocated, compared to 4,563 grants last year, worth 319 million dirhams, and 3,000 grants in 2024, for a total of 213 million, and 3,199 grants in 2023, at approximately 223 million dirhams, while the number of marriage grants in 2022 reached 2,844 grants, with a total of 200 million dirhams. The statistics attributed the increase in the number of grants in 2025 to the presence of some arrears, which required strengthening the grants budget by 109 million dirhams.

Member of the Federal National Council, Sheikha Saeed Al Kaabi, presented a parliamentary proposal to replace the age requirement for obtaining a marriage grant by examining the social and psychological readiness of the young man as a criterion for eligibility, in order to align the legislation related to granting marriage with the applicable legal framework, noting that the age requirement for eligibility for the marriage grant is 21 years, while the law allows marriage at 18 years, and this creates an unjustified gap between the law and reality, and between the young man’s desire to build his life and the tools that are supposed to support him.

She said: “The issue is not financial, but rather an issue of compatibility and societal interest. How do we allow a young man to legally marry at the age of 18, and then tell him that you will not receive a marriage grant until the age of 21?” Noting that this delay may push young people to borrow, or postpone marriage, which conflicts with the state’s goals of supporting family stability.

She added: “The logical and just way out is to adopt an objective and practical alternative, such that examining the social and psychological readiness of the young person is a criterion for eligibility, instead of the age requirement,” noting that this measure achieves complete consistency with the new personal status law, and supports young people at the right moment, not after three years of waiting, in addition to strengthening the state’s goals in building stable and confident families capable of starting their lives without unjustified obstacles.

The conditions for the marriage grant, amounting to 70 thousand dirhams, include that the husband’s age not be less than 21 years, and the wife’s age not less than 18 years of age at the time of marriage, and that the husband’s net monthly income be less than 25 thousand dirhams, and that the application be submitted within a period not exceeding six months from the date of the marriage contract, and a commitment to complete the “preparation” program, and that he must not have benefited from any marriage or group wedding grant previously, or have been married previously.

Modify the terms

The Minister of Family, Sanaa bint Mohammed Suhail, confirmed that the conditions for eligibility for marriage grants are under study, and will be amended and announced after obtaining the necessary appropriations. She indicated during her response to a parliamentary intervention regarding the monitoring of recurring challenges that hinder a wide segment of young people from benefiting from initiatives that support marriage, such as marriage grants, due to the conditions and standards, that the Ministry is working to redesign the experience of those about to get married, especially with regard to requesting marriage grants, while emphasizing the importance of preparing programs for those about to get married to be linked before and after the grant. A period extending over the first five years of marriage.

abayoumy@ey.ae