Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin newly elected mayor of New York City, and artist Rama Duwaji hosted a lavish nikah and engagement ceremony in December 2024 in Dubai, with breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa. Their elegant rooftop celebration merged culture, romance, and grandeur against Dubai’s iconic skyline.
Zohran Mamdani, who scripted history as New York City's first Muslim mayor and its youngest in over a century, married Rama Duwaji in a series of beautifully curated ceremonies reflecting their multicultural backgrounds and personal style. After meeting on a dating app in 2021, the couple’s engagement and nikah ceremony took place on the rooftop of Vida Creek Harbour in Dubai in December 2024.
The venue offered a magnificent vista of the Burj Khalifa, adding to the romance and extravagance of the event. The rooftop was transformed into a blooming garden by LMF Dubai florists using soft ivory roses, lisianthus, and ruscus greenery, creating a serene yet luxurious atmosphere complemented by Dubai’s pink sunset.
Rama Duwaji dazzled in a silver-toned white gown while Mamdani wore a navy blue kurta, blending elegance with cultural tradition. The aesthetic was described by LMF Dubai as “garden romance with lush blooms and delicate greenery,” symbolizing nature’s quiet luxury embracing the couple.
Beyond Dubai, the couple held a civil ceremony in a New York City clerk’s office in February 2025, followed by a lavish three-day wedding celebration in July at Mamdani’s family estate in Uganda. The Uganda event was marked by strict security and high-profile guests, reflecting the couple’s blend of privacy and grandeur.
Zohran Mamdani is the son of celebrated filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, blending rich cultural heritage with a progressive political vision. His wife Rama, a Syrian-American artist and illustrator featured in major publications, has maintained a low profile during his public ascent.
The multiple ceremonies portrayed a modern fusion of tradition, global culture, and personal expression, encapsulating the couple’s unique identity and journey.
Rama Duwaji is a renowned Syrian-American artist maintaining a low-profile during the campaign.
Sources: Hindustan Times, New York Post, Indian Express, NDTV, AOL News, Khaleej Times