The Al Khokha district of Yemen’s Hodeidah province had its first mass wedding on Monday, organised by Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).
The wedding was the seventh of its type in the province, allowing 200 couples to marry. It took place as part of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed's directive to help more young couples enter into matrimony and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.
The idea behind the mass weddings is to maintain the social and psychological stability of Yemen’s younger populations, so they can contribute to their country's development and reconstruction, said ERC chairman Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed.
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Dr Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General said the dire economic conditions in Yemen were preventing its youth from getting married, so the mass wedding initiative helped to reduce costs and to promote social solidarity.
"The initiative highlights the UAE leadership's awareness of the humanitarian, social and economic conditions in Yemen, as well as its willingness to address the challenges faced by Yemeni youth, to realise their aspirations for a stable and decent social life," he said.
''So far we have held mass weddings for 1,400 couples out of the target of 2,400.”
Mass weddings have already been organised in Hadramaut, Aden and Socotra, while preparations are under way for ceremonies in Shabwa, Dhale and Mocha.
"Despite the difficult conditions in Yemen, these mass weddings are reviving hope and bringing joy," Dr Al Falahi said.