UAE couple thrilled to marry on same day as Kate and William

A Sudanese woman decided not to change her wedding date when she found out it was the same as the royal couple's.

ABU DHABI // Ayah Amin does not mind that many guests at her wedding may be distracted by another couple's nuptials.

In fact, she says, it is a privilege to say her vows on the same day as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

"It is a fairy tale day for princesses," joked the 23-year-old Sudanese bride-to-be, who will have a wedding ceremony at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi just hours after the royals tie the knot today in London.

She and her fiance, Mohamed el Khazin, picked the date just three days before the prince announced his.

When Ms Amin found out from a friend that the royal couple's wedding date coincided with hers, she said she never considered changing it, even if the invitations had not yet been sent out.

"It is a privilege, a nice thing to have," she said. "No one can ever forget our anniversary because they will know what happened on that day."

Some friends and family were relieved that her wedding was late in the day, and they could still watch the royal wedding on television in the afternoon.

"Many people have told us to put a projector screen up of the royal wedding, or try to make ours as royal and prestigious as we can," she said.

While dismissing the projector idea, she said she had been closely following the media frenzy around the royal event, including rumours about the dress and the flowers.

"I'm sure our weddings will have things in common, like selecting roses," she said. "I'm hoping we'll both be treated well by our husbands and that we both become queens of our own kingdoms."

The couple, who are both Sudanese but have lived in the UAE all of their lives, met through a mutual friend about a year ago in Dubai.

While dismissing the projector idea, she said she had been closely following the media frenzy around the royal event, including rumours about the dress and the flowers.

“I’m sure our weddings will have things in common, like selecting roses,” she said. “I’m hoping we’ll both be treated well by our husbands and that we both become queens of our own kingdoms.”

The couple, who are both Sudanese but have lived in the UAE all of their lives, met through a mutual friend about a year ago in Dubai.

Ms Amin was interning at a dentist’s office; Mr el Khazin was working as a dentist in another office.

“When I met him, I didn’t think he’d be the one at all, but the next thing you know, we connected and it kicked off so that we were engaged,” she said. “It has been like a fairy tale.”

About 600 guests will attend the white wedding in Abu Dhabi today, but a larger bridal dance ceremony, part of Sudanese tradition, took place last night. The bride danced in colourful dresses to drums and singing for an audience of about 800 female guests at the Abu Dhabi Health and Fitness Club.

“This part of the wedding will be much different than the prince’s,” Ms Amin said.

She said she would try to watch the royal wedding on television, despite pressing last-minute tasks before she says “I do”.

Watching the royal couple’s kiss will put her at ease, she said. “It will be nice to see how she looks and acts on her big day. It is nice to have this in common.”