Al Zaffa is classified as intangible cultural heritage because it embodies the essence of inherited practice, transmitted orally and through action, and remains vibrant despite changing times.

More than a celebratory display, al zaffa reinforces values of kinship, unity, and mutual respect between families. It marks the moment the bride transitions from her family home to the marital home, whether an independent residence or part of the groom’s family household.

There are several well-known forms of al zaffa in Emirati society:
• Morning Zaffa (Zaffat Al Duha): A procession of female relatives and neighbors escorting the bride to the marital home during mid-morning the day after the wedding celebration. The procession is accompanied by drums, traditional performing arts, and joyful chants.

• Wedding-Night Zaffa: Immediately after the celebration ends, the bride is taken from her family home or the venue to the marital home in a procession that includes relatives and friends from both sides.

• Zaffa in Coastal and Certain Urban Traditions: A practice that continues among some tribes until today, the bride is escorted to the groom but remains hosted in her family’s home for seven days in a specially prepared space. After this period, she is taken to the marital home in a procession befitting the occasion, where she is received warmly with feasts, performing arts, and chants attended by relatives and neighbors.

The bride is prepared for al zaffa by wearing the kandoura and thoub. Her braids are styled, saffron is applied to the front of her hair, her eyes are lined with traditional kohl, and in some families, she may wear the burqa, along with the shayla and abaya. She is perfumed and incensed with high-quality oud and fragrances before leaving with the groom to the family home or their marital residence. The groom typically wears a white kandoura, ghutra, and agal, and carries a bamboo cane.