Decision to grant vast area of Ras Male' to Eagle Hills Chairman, following his participation in a Jewish wedding ceremony where he was seen offering prayers, is a direct affront to Palestine
9 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ހުކުރު 07:51Public outcry and concern from religious scholars have intensified following the decision to award the Ras Male' project to UAE billionaire Mohamed Alabbar, after footage surfaced of him participating in a Jewish religious wedding ceremony. Many critics view granting such opportunities to individuals perceived as undermining Palestinian rights as a betrayal of the Islamic Ummah, leading to growing calls for the government to reverse the decision in the interest of national integrity.
Mohamed Alabbar, the prominent Emirati businessman and founder of Emaar Properties, has recited a traditional Arabic prayer for a newlywed couple, selected from the seven customary supplications offered to bless a marriage. | Gulf news
Prominent Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar is facing a fresh wave of intense criticism and public backlash on social media over a video showing him offering a prayer at a Jewish wedding held in Abu Dhabi in 2022.
The ceremony, held at the Hilton Yas Island, was attended by 1,500 guests from fifteen countries. The wedding celebrated the union of the UAE’s first resident Rabbi, 29-year-old Levi Duchman, and 27-year-old Lea Hadad, who is of Moroccan descent.
The ceremony took place shortly after the second anniversary of the formal normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel, following the 2020 Abraham Accords which also included Bahrain and Morocco.
Amidst these events, the greatest outcry and criticism from the Muslim community was directed at Mohamed Alabbar, the prominent Emirati businessman and chairman of Eagle Hills—the company recently granted a 99-year lease for land in Ras Male'. The backlash followed his participation in the ceremony, where he stood beneath the chuppah and offered prayers for the couple in Arabic.
Prominent foreign rabbis and leaders of the UAE’s Jewish community played a central role in leading the prayers and blessings during the ceremony. Mohamed Alabbar, the head of Eagle Hills, recited one of the seven traditional wedding blessings in Arabic.
At the time, many voiced their outrage, asserting that it was unacceptable for a businessman from an Arab-Islamic nation to participate and offer prayers at such a major religious event. They argued that his presence served to embolden the Zionist ideology responsible for the ongoing bloodshed of Palestinian Muslim brothers and sisters.
Discussions have resurfaced on Maldivian social media following the government's agreement with the UAE-based company Eagle Hills to develop the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina" in Ras Male'. The public has been expressing concerns, seeking the truth behind the agreement and questioning the background of the company's chairman, Mohamed Alabbar. Several religious scholars have also weighed in on the matter. Sharing photos of Alabbar on social media, they have described the situation as a deeply concerning and dangerous issue. They allege that Alabbar has actively participated in Jewish religious and social events, including a high-profile Jewish wedding where he reportedly assisted in reciting prayers in Arabic.
Granting such significant opportunities within the Ras Male' project to such an entity is an insult to our suffering Palestinian brothers and sisters. Furthermore, as this constitutes a grave betrayal of the Islamic Ummah and Palestinian rights, this decision must be rescinded immediately.
Such actions risk drawing the grievances and prayers of the innocent, suffering Palestinian people upon the Maldivian public, potentially leading the nation toward the same harrowing circumstances they endure today. Concerns were also raised that if such opportunities are facilitated, it could allow for the settlement of Zionists in the country under residency visas. This, the statement warned, could result in Maldivians facing a plight as dire as that currently experienced by the people of Gaza.
The 2022 ceremony was attended by more than 20 leaders from various faiths represented in the UAE, including the Catholic and Buddhist communities. The event also hosted over 20 high-ranking diplomats from nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Finland. The wedding festivities continued for a duration of seven days.
While the UAE government portrays such initiatives as symbols of religious harmony and coexistence, many across the Islamic world view them as a dangerous political and cultural maneuver aimed at normalizing ties with Israel and sidelining the Palestinian cause. Critics further emphasize that the active involvement of influential Arab figures, such as Alabbar, in these activities represents a profound betrayal and a source of deep sorrow for the entire Muslim Ummah.
