Wedding invitation wording for Gulf weddings, with examples
Wedding invitation wording you can copy: the formal family invitation, a short modern one, a ladies' night, and the lines on children and photos.
A Gulf wedding invitation has an order guests already know before they read it. A verse or the basmala at the top, then the person inviting, then the couple, then the date and the place, and at the foot a small line about children or photos. Keep that order and a guest understands the card at a glance, even when the wording is short.
Below is wording you can copy and change the names in. Most of it works on a bilingual card too, with the Arabic and the English side by side.
The formal invitation from the family
In the UAE and across the Gulf a wedding invitation usually comes from the parents rather than the couple. The English follows the classic form.
Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Kaabi requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of his son Salem to Meera, daughter of Mr. Ahmed Ali Al Mansouri, on Thursday, 20 November 2026, at eight in the evening, Al Qasr Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
If the bride's family is inviting, swap the order: "at the wedding of his daughter Meera to Salem, son of...". Some families leave the bride's first name off the card and write only "his daughter". Both are correct, and it is the family's call.
These are invitation site designs for weddings. Each opens on a moving scene, then the guest scrolls down to the date, the map and the reply:
A short modern version
When the invitation comes from the couple, it can be much lighter.
Together with our families, we would love you to celebrate with us.
Salem and Meera
Thursday, 20 November 2026, 8 pm, Al Qasr Hotel, Abu Dhabi
One sentence before the names is enough. Every extra line above them makes the names smaller on the card.
The ladies' night
Women's celebrations are often held apart, and the invitation should say so plainly so nobody is caught out at the door.
Umm Salem invites you to celebrate the wedding of her son Salem on Friday, 21 November 2026, at the Yasmin Hall. This is a ladies-only evening.
The small lines at the bottom
These are the lines people ask about most, because each one says something awkward politely. Use only what you need:
- On children: "Adults only, please" or "We kindly ask that children stay home this evening." On Arabic cards you will often see "جنة الأطفال منازلهم", which says the same thing more gently.
- On photos: "We kindly ask guests not to take photos in the hall."
- On replies: "Please reply by 10 November."
- On plus ones: "This invitation is for the named guest only."
Two of these is plenty. Four lines of instructions turn an invitation into a notice board.
Milcha, aqd and henna night
The milcha or aqd is usually smaller than the wedding, and its invitation is shorter:
Please join us for the aqd of our son Salem, after Isha prayer on Wednesday, 12 November 2026, at the family home.
A henna night can be warmer and less formal:
Henna night for Meera. Tuesday, 18 November, after Maghrib. Come and celebrate with us.
Hijri and Gregorian dates
Many families print both dates, especially on a formal card. If you write the Hijri date, check it against the Umm al-Qura calendar, because one day off is enough to have half the guest list calling you. On Azayemna every date shows in both calendars on its own, so there is nothing to work out.
A card or an invitation site
The same wording works for both. A card is one invitation the guest sees whole, delivered to them on WhatsApp and able to carry their own name. An invitation site is a page the guest scrolls, with a countdown, the evening's programme, a map and a reply button. If you have more to tell guests than the date and the place, the site is the better fit.
And these are wedding cards. Press play on any of them to see it arrive:
Pick the design first, then put your wording into it. Each design comes with its own words already written, and you change whatever you like before you send.