The govt foots the bill for their weddings, dowry <the groom pays a dowry> and the expenses for starting a new life...ahhh...and they don't even have to pay taxes on their income !
US$ = 3.75 UAE Dirhams.
-
-
Marriage grant in cash and kind
By Sanaa Maadad
THE Marriage Fund grant of Dh70,000 given to UAE nationals is likely to be replaced with a system under which half the amount will be given to the applicant in cash and the rest paid directly by the fund management to the establishment making arrangements for the wedding, a senior official told Khaleej Times.
"This should not be regarded as cutting down the amount of the fund. The idea is to give the applicant part of the grant in cash to pay Mehr to the girl's parents while the other part of the grant will be in kind for taking care of the wedding arrangements, hotel reservations, or buying furniture for the couple's house, among others," said Jamal Al Bah, Director-General of the Marriage Fund.
The fund currently grants UAE applicants, whose financial status hinder them from getting married, an amount of Dh70,000 in two instalments. One cheque of Dh40,000 is given to the applicant on submission of a copy of his marriage contract along with the application, while the remaining amount of Dh30,000 is granted after the marriage is consummated.
However, with the rising cases of misuse of the facility by some beneficiaries who provide misleading information about either their financial status or their marriage status, the fund decided to change the system.
Out of 4,045 beneficiaries of the Marriage Fund last year, 120 were referred to courts for misleading it and cheating to simply get the money.
The beneficiaries in some cases involved were found to be providing the fund with false documents to show they had consummated their marriage in order to get the second instalment of the grant, while others divorced their wives after receiving the first instalment and before consummating the marriage.
In a few rare cases, it was found that both groom and bride agreed to engage in a fake marriage to get the grant and then split it.
Saying the misuse was not the major reason behind suggesting a change in the grant system payment, Mr Bah said that besides preventing the beneficiaries from cheating, it will enable the fund management to be involved in wedding preparations at all stages.
"In the first place this proposed move will provide beneficiaries with more privileges, because we feel that UAE nationals planning to get married are finding it very difficult to manage in the light of the increasing cost of living.
"We want to help them save more money and utilise the grant properly to achieve its main objective of enabling them to start their family life without accumulating debts," Mr Bah said.
He said when the beneficiaries received the full grant in cash, it was they who selected the hotels at which they wanted to hold the wedding ceremony.
"But when we give them 50 per cent of the grant in cash and the other half we pay directly to selected hotels or marriage halls or even tent companies with which we will have special arrangements for discounted rates and special services, the grooms will save money.
"In some cases the grooms pay more than the grant's amount for wedding ceremonies in hotels, which leave them in need of more money to start their new life and to complete the furnishing of their houses," Mr Bah said.
He said the proposal wpuld be discussed by the Marriage Fund's board of directors, chaired by Mattar Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, only after cabinet approval of the amendement to the Marriage Fund Federal Law issued in 1992.
"The new law is now awaiting approval of the cabinet. Its main feature is that it will give the board of directors more authority and more independence
Expecting the new law to come into force by the beginning of next year, Mr Bah said it will clearly outline the objectives and goals of the Marriage Fund, which has become a strong social organisation, whose aim is not only granting financial aid to nationals getting married, but also to be concerned with every social aspect affecting the stability and well-being of the family.
khaleejtimes.co.ae |
