UAE sponsors mass wedding for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza

A mass wedding for 250 Palestinian couples was held in Gaza City on Friday, November 6, 2026, organised by the UAE's humanitarian mission Operation Gallant Knight 3.

The ceremony

The ceremony took place along the Gaza City beachfront, amid crumbled buildings and rubble-strewn streets. Brides wore white wedding gowns and carried bouquets, while grooms wore dark suits, some with traditional keffiyeh scarves. UAE and Palestinian flags were displayed across the venue, and the national anthems of both countries were played.

Who organised it

The event was organised under the third edition of the UAE's Thawb Al-Farah (Garment of Joy) initiative through Operation Gallant Knight 3. The initiative is backed by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and provides financial assistance and essential household items to help couples establish their homes.

Azzam Shaath, a spokesperson for Operation Gallant Knight 3, said the 250 grooms were selected through a public lottery after meeting the initiative's eligibility requirements. He said 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.

Context

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. The event marked three years of Operation Gallant Knight 3, which was launched by the UAE on November 5, 2023, to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023.

According to figures released by the Emirates News Agency, the operation has delivered more than 136,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid worth about $4.16 billion to Gaza since 2023. The UAE said its contribution accounts for about 46 per cent of all international humanitarian assistance delivered to the Palestinian territory since the operation began.

The UAE's diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr Anwar Gargash, said the programme reflects the country's continued support for the people of Gaza.

"Gaza and its people remain at the heart of the UAE's humanitarian efforts despite the world's many crises," Gargash said.

He added that humanitarian support should go beyond providing food and medicine.

"Bring back a smile and revive hope for a better tomorrow," he said, describing the importance of restoring hope alongside relief efforts.

---

Sources

• bbc.com: Gaza wedding festival sees 250 couples married at the same time
• shorelinemedia.net: A joyful day for 250 couples as they tie the knot at a mass-wedding ceremony in Gaza | Videos | shorelinemedia.net
• thenationalnews.com: Mass wedding in Gaza organized by Operation Gallant Knight 3 - in pictures | The National
• tvcnews.tv: UAE Sponsors Mass Wedding For 250 Palestinian Couples In Gaza - Trending News
• pulse.ng: Gaza Mass Wedding: UAE Sponsors 250 Palestinian Couples | Pulse Nigeria
• thestar.ng: UAE sponsors mass wedding for 250 Palestinian couples in Gaza | TheStar

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.