Dubai businessman offers Rs 12.5 lakh marriage grant to Emirati staff, support to double on birth of children

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is a UAE businessman and serves as chairman of the Al Habtoor Group as well as Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance Company.

Dubai-based businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor has announced a financial incentive of Dh50,000 for Emirati employees of the Al Habtoor Group who marry this year, stating that the amount will be increased following the birth of a child within the subsequent two years.

The initiative was made public through a post on social media platform X by Al Habtoor, who is the founder and chairperson of the Al Habtoor Group. He said the decision was motivated by concerns around family formation and demographic sustainability in the UAE.

“I affirm that marriage and growing a family are not merely personal matters but societal and national responsibilities, as nations are built and communities sustained through them,” Al Habtoor wrote.

He added that while government institutions have already taken steps to assist young people at the start of their family lives, broader participation is necessary. “Our governments do not fall short in supporting youth at the beginning of their family lives. But encouraging UAE nationals to marry and grow a family requires practical initiatives from everyone,” he said.

Al Habtoor stated that, under the scheme, any Emirati man or woman employed by the Al Habtoor Group who marries this year will receive Dh50,000 (Rs 12.5 lakh approximately). He further noted that the financial assistance would be doubled upon the birth of each child within the following two-year period, Khaleej Times reported.

“From this standpoint, I pledge to support every Emirati young man or woman working at Al Habtoor Group who decides to marry this year with Dh50,000, and the support will be doubled upon the birth of each child within the following two years,” the post said.

Expanding on the rationale behind the initiative, Al Habtoor said families form the basis of social stability and long-term national development. “It is our collective responsibility to be part of the solution, not mere spectators. A strong family creates a cohesive society and a stronger nation,” he wrote.

He also called on the wider Emirati community, including individuals and institutions, to play a role in supporting young people who wish to marry. “Building families is a shared responsibility, and every initiative, whether small or large, makes a difference in the future of our society and nation,” he added.

UAE nationals are estimated to make up around 15 per cent of the country’s population, which stood at approximately 11.5 million in 2025. Both federal and local governments have implemented a range of policies aimed at supporting Emiratis financially and increasing their participation across public and private sector employment.

These efforts have included collective wedding initiatives intended to reduce costs and encourage marriage. In 2025, a group wedding ceremony involving 101 grooms was held at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, reflecting official efforts to strengthen family stability and social cohesion. A year earlier, Umm Al Quwain hosted a mass wedding for Emirati couples as part of a programme promoting collective ceremonies and easing the financial burden associated with marriage.

Al Habtoor has previously spoken publicly on issues relating to Emirati society, culture and demographics. In October 2025, he urged young Emiratis to marry and expressed hope that legislation could be introduced to encourage marriage before the age of 30. On that occasion, he argued that prolonged avoidance of marriage without valid reasons could have consequences for social cohesion.

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is a UAE businessman and serves as chairman of the Al Habtoor Group as well as Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance Company. According to his professional profile, he has previously held roles including chairman of the Commercial Bank of Dubai, vice-chairman of the Al Jalila Foundation Board of Trustees, and member of the UAE Federal National Council.

He was also the only non-American member of the World Board of Governors of the American United Services Organisation between 1994 and 1997.

According to Khaleej Times, founded in 1970, the Al Habtoor Group is a diversified conglomerate with operations spanning hospitality, automotive, real estate, construction, education and publishing. Headquartered in the UAE, the group employs thousands of staff, including both Emirati nationals and expatriates.