The best shopping. The best hotels.
It is probably because it is so easy to get into and around in that the United Arab Emirates (or UAE) is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations & leading wedding destination in the Middle East. Add to this some of the best tax free shopping in the world, beaches lapped by the tropical waters of the Arabian gulf and you have a destination close to holiday heaven.
UAE is a loosely knit federation of seven independent Sheikhdoms or emirates, each with its own ruler. They are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qawain, Ajman and Fujairah. English is widely spoken and the standard of living is very high.
Some of the finest hotels in the Middle East are, in fact, located in the second city and the most popular holiday destination; Dubai. It also helps that many of the hotels are located right on the beachfront and swimming pools are practically a requirement.
Dubai is also a great shopping destination. The duty free shops at the airport are legendary and often given as the reason for missed flights. Meanwhile, in Dubai city itself, goods are also duty free and the shopping can be completed in a more relaxed manner. For the whole of March there is an annual shopping festival where the objective is, you guessed it, to shop as much as you can.
Weddings in Dubai are romantic with the desert, and they can be truely unique. All types of weddings are accomodated in Dubai - from a couple eloping to a grand event. Like Dubai - anything is possible & everything can be done.
With sunshine all year round you should pick the time of year that temperatures suit you most to get married in Dubai.
Fantastic hotels do offer complete services for weddings in Dubai - often to suit all tastes.
Getting married in Dubai is not as difficult as it may sound. Costs to fly you and your family & have a supurb hotel & wedding are sometimes significantly cheaper than organising a wedding at home.
The city’s hotels, caterers, photographers and entertainers try to recreate the type of wedding the bride and groom would expect in their home country - but with a backdrop of desert, beach and palm trees.
Muslim, Christian and Hindu wedding ceremonies can all be accommodated, subject to certain conditions and the correct paperwork being in place. Differing regulations apply for civil weddings depending where you are from.
It should be noted that neither partner can be Moslem for a non-religious ceremony.
