Online matchmaking companies in India are becoming evermore popular as the population becomes increasingly engaged with the internet. Weddings are a recession-proof industry in a country where tradition and high-tech seem to co-exist with little trouble, writes Anuj Chopra
In 1996, Anupam Mittal encountered a traditional marriage broker in New Delhi lugging around a briefcase full of wedding profiles, horoscopes and Vedic birth charts of various potential brides and grooms.
He went from house to house, trying to arrange a match. Every visit that resulted in a wedding earned him a tidy commission.
The marriage broker got Mr Mittal thinking: how many houses is it possible for a broker to visit each day? How much paperwork can he possibly carry around in his briefcase? Was the choice of potential spouses restricted only to his limited pool of clients? What if someone's soul mate lived not in this city but in Timbuktu? Enhancing scalability and overcoming the spatial and geographical limitations was possible only through one medium: online matrimonials.
That is how shaadi.com was born, some 15 years ago.
The web portal - which currently has 20 million users and is responsible for more than 2 million weddings so far - was last year listed among the top 20 digital brands in the country by Brand Equity and the Nielsen company.
Marriages, as the old cliche goes, are made in heaven. In India, these days, they are increasingly made in cyberspace. The perfect bride or groom could just be a mouse click away.
Several matrimonial portals - a curious mix of tradition and technology - have proliferated in recent years. They are a slight deviation from online social networking and dating websites, focused squarely on finding potential wedding partners using the vast reach and relative privacy of the web.
For a nominal fee, subscribers can rummage through databases and choose profiles that match their choice of age, religion, caste, profession, family background or even complexion. Many of them offer astrological services, and post-wedding services such as arranging honeymoon packages.
Almost 10 million weddings take place in India each year, according to the 2001 census. They are typically colourful and rambunctious celebrations. Some of the high-end weddings cost as much as US$500,000 (Dh1.8 billion), with many splurging on Middle Eastern belly dancers, European jugglers and Bollywood actors to entertain guests.
Indian weddings, although a seasonal industry, are estimated to be worth 1.25 trillion rupees (Dh103.87bn) a year. It is a recession-proof industry, growing at an annual rate of 25 per cent, according to Technopak Advisors, a management consultancy based in Gurgaon.
It has created a demand for a new set of professionals - the wedding planners, video makers and photographers, set designers and even telemarketing agents who liaise with and send reminders to guests.
With India's wedding boom, web matchmaking business has also grown. The industry is worth at least $63 million and is growing in double digits annually, according to a 2008 report by EmPower Research, a media and business research company in New York.
The communications company MSL Group Asia says some 10 per cent of India's internet users have at some point accessed a matrimonial website.
This category is the 12th most popular search on the internet in India, says a 2008 survey by the online research consultancy JuxtConsult, based in New Delhi.
The survey, conducted across 10,000 households from 31 cities, revealed India's 25 to 35 age group forms the largest subscriber base in the online matrimonial market - almost 40 per cent. The 19 to 24 age group makes up 34 per cent of all clients. The survey also revealed India's southern states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu formed 44 per cent of the subscriber base.
Several niche matrimonial websites have come up in recent years. One is dedicated to the remarriage market for people who are divorced, separated or widowed. h1bmarriages.com is dedicated to professionals with H1B US work visas and Indians residing overseas. Another is for those who are opposed to the practice of demanding dowry from families of brides.
But two market leaders - Mr Mittal's shaadi.com and bharatmatrimony.com, founded in 1997 by the entrepreneur Murugavel Janakiraman - together control 70 per cent of the online matrimony market between them, according to JuxtConsult.
With their impressive growth potential, matrimonial websites have become the darling of venture capitalists. Mr Mittal's internet company People Interactive, which operates shaadi.com, secured investments of $18m through leading venture capitalists Sequoia Capital and Intel Capital in 2006.
Robert Tucker, the author of Innovation Is Everybody's Business, recently named shaadi.com as one of India's "most innovative" companies. Such enterprises "have a culture of innovation and they can be expected to launch products which would have a global appeal," he says. "They have the potential to bring innovative products to the market."
The potential for growth is explosive, he says, given India's internet penetration is growing.
Some 80 million people in India have access to the internet, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. That number is expected to climb to 240 million by 2015.
With 811 million-plus mobile phone subscribers - and nearly 14 million new subscribers being added every month - India is the world's fastest-growing mobile market after China. With the advent of 3G services last year, many of mobile users are expected to be online in the coming years. The global audit and advisory services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers says India's mobile subscriber base is expected to cross 1 billion by 2014.
JuxtConsult says 44 per cent of India's online traffic uses the web only for social networking.
But there are a number of challenges. Subscriber fees, more than digital advertising, is the main source of revenue for most matrimony websites. Membership plans are charged mainly on the basis of the duration for which the profile is posted, various personalisation features and access to verified phone numbers.
But matrimonial portals that provide free membership such as desispark.com threaten to lure away subscribers.
Many in India are not computer savvy, some matrimonial services have set up bricks-and-mortar offices, which increases operational costs. With low credit card penetration - less than 20 million people in India use plastic money - many have to rely on alternative collection channels for payments, which also increases costs.
Cases of online fraud and fake profiles is also an area of concern.
But the biggest limitation is the very nature of the matchmaking business. Subscription is ended once a partner is found, which essentially means the service is typically a one-time transaction.
Gourav Rakshit, the business head of shaadi.com, says the firm is constantly innovating services to counter that limitation.
The company is now considering entering the lucrative post-wedding segment - wedding planning, catering and cards distribution.
business@thenational.ae
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
More on Quran memorisation:
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Squads
Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa
India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
MATCH STATS
Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)
Red cards: Joao Moutinho (Wolves); Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
