Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, traveled to Mallorca, Spain, over the Fourth of July weekend to attend an Islamic spiritual wellness retreat, according to reporting by national outlets. The trip — including a reported departure from Newark International Airport to Palma — took place as New York City hosted multiple America 250 events marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Rama Duwaji’s trip to Mallorca
Sources cited by Fox News Digital and The New York Post reported that Rama Duwaji was photographed at Newark International Airport before boarding a flight to Palma, Mallorca, where she attended a retreat organized by The Women Sanctuary. The reporting identifies the program as “Plants Of The Quran | 6th Edition,” a scheduled retreat the organizer lists for Mallorca.
Reporting indicates the event was listed as sold out on the organizer’s listing, and descriptions of the program emphasize spiritual reflection and workshops centered on plants mentioned in the Quran. The Women Sanctuary’s event listing, as cited in coverage, frames the program as a mix of workshops, communal meals and guided spiritual sessions for attendees.
Timeline of travel and local events
The published accounts place Duwaji at Newark International Airport on the Monday of the holiday weekend before flying to Palma. That timing overlapped with America 250 activities in New York City, which included public ceremonies and local programming tied to the 250th anniversary observances.
Mayor Mamdani remained in New York during the same period, participating in municipal work and public responses to the seasonal heat wave. The mayor’s office had previously announced expanded cooling centers and extended pool hours as part of the city’s heat response, a separate set of public-facing actions concurrent with the holiday weekend.
About the retreat and program
The Women Sanctuary’s Mallorca offering, reported as “Plants Of The Quran | 6th Edition,” is described by organizers as a focused retreat exploring plants referenced in Islamic texts and their spiritual significance. Program notes cited by reporters list elements such as plant-focused workshops, shared meals and guided reflection sessions; coverage indicates the organizer’s Mallorca dates for that program were marked sold out.
Organizers framed the retreat as intended for participants seeking a wellness- or faith-oriented experience rather than a political engagement. The event listing and promotional materials referenced in coverage emphasize small-group learning and spiritual practice.
Political and public reaction
The trip prompted criticism from some local Republican officials and conservative commentators who questioned the optics of traveling abroad during a high-profile civic milestone. Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola of Queens was quoted in The New York Post criticizing the timing; similarly, Staten Island Councilman Frank Morano told The Post that it was disappointing the mayoral spouse was overseas during America 250 events.
Conservative commentator Arynne Wexler shared photos on social media reportedly showing Duwaji at a United Airlines gate and questioned the timing relative to public guidance from the mayor during the heat wave. Those social posts and commentators’ remarks are opinion-based reactions published by outside sources and are identified in reporting as such.
Security detail and official response
Questions also arose about whether Duwaji was accompanied by an NYPD protective detail while traveling. The New York Post reported that Mamdani’s office told that outlet Duwaji was not accompanied by officers assigned to the couple’s taxpayer-funded NYPD detail. Fox News Digital reported it reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
At the time of the initial coverage, there was no independent confirmation beyond those outlet reports clarifying whether any NYPD personnel provided protection while Duwaji was outside the city. News organizations that covered the trip noted they had sought further comment from both the mayor’s office and the event organizer for clarification.
What comes next
Reporters indicated they would follow up with the mayor’s office and The Women Sanctuary to seek additional context on scheduling and any security arrangements. Further statements from either office could clarify whether the sighting at Newark International Airport reflects routine private travel or involved any official city resources.
Officials and outside commentators may continue to debate the political optics as America 250 activity winds down. For now, coverage relies on photographs and published comments reported by The New York Post and on Fox News Digital’s account that it sought comment from the mayor’s office. Additional primary-source responses, such as direct official comment from Mamdani’s office or a confirmation from The Women Sanctuary, would provide further verification of timelines and participation.
Source attribution: This report is based on coverage by Fox News Digital and reporting in The New York Post, and references the event listing for The Women Sanctuary’s “Plants Of The Quran | 6th Edition” as cited in coverage. Fox News Digital’s article: https://www.foxnews.com/media/zohran-mamdani-wife-skips-america-250-islamic-spiritual-wellness-retreat-spain. The New York Post coverage and The Women Sanctuary event listing were used to corroborate timing, program details and the sold-out status of the Mallorca retreat.
