Two and a half years ago I left London for Abu Dhabi to work as an editor, and I’ve built a rewarding career while living on my own. As a single Muslim woman in my mid‑30s, I often wonder why the path to marriage feels harder for us than for younger, Gen Z friends.
On my most recent birthday, I woke up in my Abu Dhabi apartment feeling grateful for the life I’ve created, yet the question of a halal partnership lingered. I posted on Threads asking, “Muslim women in their 30s dating for marriage. How’s it going?” The conversation sparked almost 30 k views and hundreds of comments, many sharing stories of unserious men, ghosting and compatibility struggles.
Personal reflections on single life in Abu Dhabi
The thread revealed a shared sense of pressure – not just from families but from a cultural script that seems to favour early marriage. Some participants even suggested organising a dinner or support group, hoping a community could help ease the loneliness.
While I continue to focus on health, career and personal growth, the recurring theme is clear: many of us feel a piece is missing, even as we celebrate professional milestones and personal independence.
Insights from the leading Muslim marriage app
To understand the broader picture, I spoke with Shahzad Younas, founder and CEO of Muzz, the largest Muslim marriage app. He explained that the platform is seeing a steady flow of successful matches.
“We have around 500-800 people who leave Muzz PER DAY informing us that they met their partner on the app!”
— Shahzad Younas, founder and CEO of Muzz
He added that Muzz, launched in 2015, is close to reaching one million global successes. The data, he said, shows Muslim women are generally more educated and more serious about finding a spouse than men.
“All the data shows that, generally speaking, Muslim women are more educated and more serious about finding a spouse than men,”
— Shahzad Younas, founder and CEO of Muzz
According to Younas, many men have not kept pace with women’s educational and professional achievements, narrowing the pool of eligible partners. He noted that Muslim men often feel they must work harder and longer to reach a financial and professional position they deem suitable for marriage.
These insights echo the personal stories shared on Threads: while the desire for a compatible, devout partner remains strong, the market of suitable matches feels constrained.
For anyone in Abu Dhabi looking for a weekend plan, a coffee chat with fellow single professionals or a casual meetup organized through community groups could be a refreshing way to share experiences and perhaps widen that pool of connections.