About HalalZawaj

We believe marriage should begin with intention

HalalZawaj was born from a simple but powerful belief — that every Muslim deserves to find their partner the halal way, among people who truly understand them.

We are the first Muslim matrimonial platform built specifically for East African communities — Ethiopian, Eritrean, Somali, Kenyan and Ugandan Muslims living at home and across the diaspora worldwide. From Stockholm to London, from Toronto to Dubai, from Nairobi to Mogadishu — HalalZawaj connects Muslims who share the same faith, the same roots and the same values.

We built HalalZawaj because we saw our communities using general matrimonial sites that did not understand our cultures, our languages or our way of life. We wanted something better. Something halal. Something ours.

With over 11,000 members and 1,200 marriages and counting — Alhamdulillah — HalalZawaj is growing into the trusted home for East African Muslim marriage worldwide.

How HalalZawaj began

HalalZawaj was founded after seeing the struggles faced by Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Somali Muslims in the diaspora. Young Muslims living in London, Minneapolis, Stockholm, and Dubai were caught between two worlds — modern digital life and deeply held Islamic values around marriage. Existing platforms either felt too casual, too Western, or simply did not understand the specific cultural needs of Horn of Africa communities. The wali role was ignored. Privacy was an afterthought. Family involvement was not supported. We decided to build something better. Something halal by design — from the ground up.

What makes us different

From the very first line of code, HalalZawaj was designed around Islamic principles. Every feature was asked a simple question — does this honour the Islamic way of finding a spouse? The wali CC feature was not added as an afterthought — it was one of the first features we built. Profile photos are private by default — because modesty is not a setting, it is a value. Connection requests require genuine intention — because this is a marriage platform, not a browsing app. We also built HalalZawaj to feel like home for Ethiopian, Eritrean, Somali, Kenyan and Ugandan communities specifically. We understand Habesha culture. We understand Somali family traditions. We understand what it means to be a Muslim from the Horn of Africa living in the West or the Gulf — navigating faith, identity, and the search for a righteous spouse.

Alhamdulillah, the results speak for themselves

Since launching, HalalZawaj has facilitated over 1,200 marriages across our core communities. Members in London have found spouses in Nairobi. Families in Minnesota have connected with families in Gothenburg. An Eritrean sister in Dubai found her husband through a profile she almost skipped. Every single marriage is a reminder of why we built this. Every message from a new couple saying Alhamdulillah fills our team with gratitude and renewed purpose. We are not just a platform. We are a community. And inshAllah, we are just getting started.

Accessible to every Muslim in our community

We also believe that HalalZawaj should be accessible to every Muslim in our community — whether they live in London or Addis Ababa, Stockholm or Mogadishu. That is why we offer special Home Country pricing for members based in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea. Because geography should never be a barrier to finding your halal match.

Built for your community

To our Ethiopian Muslim brothers and sisters — whether you are in Addis Ababa, London, Washington DC, or Riyadh — HalalZawaj is your platform. We understand Habesha culture, we speak your language, and we share your values.

To our Eritrean Muslim brothers and sisters — from Asmara to Stockholm, from Jeddah to Toronto — you are home here. We understand the Eritrean diaspora experience and we built HalalZawaj with you in mind.

To our Somali Muslim brothers and sisters — the largest Horn of Africa diaspora in the West — HalalZawaj was built for you. We understand Somali family values, the importance of the wali, and the beauty of a halal marriage rooted in faith.

Nabad iyo caano. Selam. Peace be upon you all.

Our Values

Faith First

Everything on HalalZawaj is built around Islamic values. From the Wallahi Wabillahi oath on registration to Wali involvement in conversations — deen comes first, always.

Verified & Safe

Every profile is manually reviewed by our team. We verify identities to ensure every member is genuine, sincere and here for the right reasons.

Built for Our Communities

We speak your languages. We understand your cultures. Ethiopian, Eritrean, Somali, Kenyan and Ugandan — HalalZawaj was made for us, by us.

11,000+
Members Worldwide
1,200+
Marriages Alhamdulillah
5
East African Communities
7
Languages Supported
80+
Countries Represented

The people behind HalalZawaj

Jemal A.

Founder and CEO

Born in Ethiopia, I now live in Sweden. I built HalalZawaj after watching friends and family struggle to find halal marriage options that respected their faith and culture.

“And of His signs is that He created for you mates that you may find tranquility in them.”— Quran 30:21

Amina H.

Head of Community

I'm from the Somali diaspora in Minneapolis. I lead all community engagement, member support, and the wali guidance programme. I ensure HalalZawaj feels like home for every member.

“The best of you are those who are best to their families.”— Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Dawud T.

Head of Trust and Safety

I'm Eritrean-Swedish with a background in online safety. I oversee all moderation, verification, and member safety systems to ensure HalalZawaj remains a trusted and halal space.

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or remain silent.”— Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Our Communities

HalalZawaj proudly serves Muslim communities from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda — and their diaspora communities across Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, the UAE and beyond.

We Speak Your Language

HalalZawaj is available in English, Arabic, Amharic, Somali, Afaan Oromo, Tigrinya and Kiswahili — because your matrimonial journey should feel like home.

EnglishالعربيةአማርኛSoomaaliAfaan OromooትግርኛKiswahili
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وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا

"And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves" — Quran 30:21

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Questions, feedback, or want to share how HalalZawaj helped you? Reach us at hello@halalzawaj.org or through our Contact page.