From outdoor spaces to indoor ballrooms
On a hunt for your dream wedding venue? We have selected 14 mesmerising destinations in the UAE to make your special day even more unforgettable.
BAB AL SHAMS RESORT & SPA, DUBAI
Celebrate your love at the mesmerising desert palace surrounded by rolling dunes, endless vistas of the desert and awe-inspiring dusk views. With many venues at your disposal, you can very easily plan a wedding for a small group of 100 people to a very large entourage. A dedicated wedding planner will work with you to help curate the perfect celebration suiting your theme, needs and dreams. Culinary maestros will work with you to create an exclusive menu and the master pâtissier is well equipped to bake you a stunning flavoursome cake (for up to 100 guests). As a little touch of fun, they offer a wide selection of cupcakes customised to your wedding theme. The couple gets a complimentary one-night stay and the use of the grounds for up to three hours for a photoshoot.
The details: Packages start from Dhs460 per person for a minimum of 100 guests. Call (04) 8096100 or email BAS.svents@meydanhotels.com
THE W – PALM DUBAI
Why settle for a good day when you can have a great one? The W Dubai – The Palm is all set to give you limitless options for an electrifying wedding experience. Whether it’s rolling out a portable stage, playing a slideshow, enlisting world-class chefs, arranging or rearranging the seating, pop-up wedding arch, decorated buggy, arriving at the venue on a luxury boat – you can have it all. You also get a stay at the suite with breakfast, a green room with floor-length mirrors for those last-minute touch-ups, complimentary dinner on your first anniversary and session at AWAY spa along with a photoshoot in the suite. And all this without even lifting a finger. Be it a celebration for two, two hundred or up to 800 guests, the wedding planners pay great attention to all details big and small. Nothing is out of the realms of possibility.
The details: Wedding package prices begin at Dhs325 per person with a minimum of 100 guests. To book the venue call (04) 2455555 or email wpalmevents@whotels.com
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2
Proposal on the deck at with gold speckled waters at sunset. Check. Decadent rehearsal dinner, Western wedding or Indian sangeet. Check. Chic retro ballrooms. Check. Grand lounges, outdoor terraces or the Queen’s room.The day and the decision is yours and yours only. We’re talking about celebrating your wedding onboard the QE2. Whether you are looking at a guest list of 20 or 250, everything is meticulously arranged by a platoon of planners at your disposal. Our favourite? The glitz and glamour filled the Grand Lounge. There are three sublime curated packages that you can choose from Forever, Eternity and Infinity
The details: If you book a wedding for 200 guests or more you can bring along 10 additional guests and if you book a rehearsal dinner for 20 or more guests, the bride and groom dine for free. Packages begin at Dhs280 per person with a minimum of 120 guests. Call (04) 5268888, qe2.com/events
VIDA EMIRATES HILLS, DUBAI
Whether you dreamed of a large or small wedding reception, with a spacious ballroom (up to 100 guests), stunning outdoor terrace (up to 200 guests), stunning backdrops, wholesome food, trend-led interiors and impeccable service, Vida Emirates Hills is the perfect venue in which to celebrate your day with friends and family. With your booking, they offer a complimentary stay on the night of the wedding as well as a three-tiered wedding cake and a room to prep-up for the bride and the bridal party. Your guests can also take advantage of the two hours of free-flowing spirits.
The details: Packages begin at Dhs300 per person with a minimum spend of Dhs40,000 in the ballroom and Dhs60,000 for the outdoor terrace. Call (04) 4238899, vidahotels.com
RITZ-CARLTON, DUBAI, JBR
Nestled along The Walk, Dubai which is reminiscent of the French Riviera, this beachfront retreat is every inch dreamy. Its Mediterranean façade, sweeping driveway, rose-petal strewn fountains, lush landscaped gardens, wood carvings, turquoise waters and sandy shores all make for great photos. Whether you are looking for an intimate family-only do or a massive 500 guests celebration, their team of wedding planners, renowned chefs and in-house florists will ensure everything is just what and where you want. Their wedding package includes a bridal suite to use for those final touch-ups for you and your girls, a complimentary one night stay inclusive of breakfast and late check-out, a complimentary three-tier wedding cake, a 60-minute spa treatment for both of you and much more.
The details: To book call (04) 3186445 or email events.dubai@ritzcarlton.com
AL MAHA, A LUXURY COLLECTION DESERT RESORT & SPA, DUBAI
This exceptional resort offers an outstanding location for your wedding celebrations. Whether it’s dining by the poolside or enjoying the mystique of the desert with a private ceremony or travelling by camel into the dunes, its all about building on memories and enjoying your day. Larger or more formal receptions with banquets can be held at the Al Majlis Boardroom. The Bedouin-style desert dinner site can host up to 300 guests. Timeless Spa sheltered under date palms has an array of wellbeing rituals and beauty treatments you can choose from. Floral decorations and linens, colour schemes and themed décor, hair stylists and photographers, vintage and luxury cars, camels and thoroughbred horses can all be arranged to make your day perfect, memorable and authentically Arabian.
The details: Call (04) 2033826 or email reservation.Almaha@luxurycollection.com
BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH, DUBAI
If you are not restricted by budget and want your dream wedding to be really special, then Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is for you. The 18th century Viennese Opera House décor at the Al Falak Ballroom is as fancy as they come. And, their summer wedding package offers a wide range of tailored options. There is the personalised menu, bespoke wedding cake, table setups, floral centrepieces, dance stage and more – all taken care of by your wedding planner, so stress not. The package includes a complimentary one night stay inclusive of breakfast in your suite, late check out, a guided photoshoot at signature locations and a complimentary one-way transfer within Dubai. And, brides, just to ensure that your big day has you completely refreshed and rejuvenated Talise Spa, has an exclusive offer for you – prior to your big day for Dhs2,395 you can avail of a 60-minute Swedish massage, a 30-minute body scrub, 30-minute express facial, pedicure and manicure.
The details: This package is for a minimum of 130 guests and begins at Dhs480 per person. Call (04) 3017163 or email BAAEvents@jumeirah.com
ANANTARA THE PALM, DUBAI
Whether you are looking to get married under clear azure skies with views of the blue Arabian waters exchanging your vows with your toes in the sand, on the poolside terrace or with a lavish banquet in the ballroom, the team of planners from Anantara The Palm will work with you to seamlessly tailor an exclusive package with all your needs taken care of. The offer also includes a two-tier wedding cake, 60-minute Anantara massage and you and your new husband will also stay in the Premier Lagoon Access room on your wedding night.
The details: Packages begin at Dhs395 per person and are available for up to 200 guests. Call (04) 5678999 or email resdubaipalm@anantara.com, Anantara.com
JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS DUBAI
Whether you are looking for something small and simple or extravagantly over the top, JW Marriot Marquis is ready for you. The Dubai Ballroom can gather up to 1,000 guests while you can take advantage of the spacious outdoor pool deck overlooking the Burj Khalifa for an alfresco reception. Dream weddings just don’t happen, they are meticulously planned. And the experienced team will help organise and execute every detail – big and small – to ensure you have a day that meets and exceeds all expectations. And a little pampering goes a long way in enjoying your day, so why not, indulge in some at the Saray Spa? Maybe a bachelorette party or just some pre-wedding indulgence for both of you?
The details: For bookings call (04) 4142000 or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com
MEYDAN HOTEL, DUBAI
Are you a racing enthusiast? Even if you are not, how do wedding photos with the Meydan racecourse against the Dubai skyline sound? Whether indoors or outdoors the Meydan Hotel will help you craft an exceptional wedding day. The grand Meydan ballroom can seat about 250 guests while the Meydan Grand Stand can cater for up to 3,000 guests.
The details: Call (04) 3813333 or email info@meydanhotels.com
ST REGIS ABU DHABI
Why not say ‘I Do’ at the grand St Regis Abu Dhabi, where Arabian hospitality merges with more than a hundred years of bespoke St Regis tradition. The Al Mudhaif ballroom with its soaring windows, handcrafted ceilings and crystal chandeliers set the scene for a magical day and can accommodate up to 650 guests. You also have access to the bridal suite adjacent the ballroom for any last-minute touchups. For a smaller gathering, the Abu Dhabi The Nation Riviera with its manicured lawns (for over 1,000 guests) provides the backdrop for the most intimate of days. Your wedding planner will work closely with you to ensure the flowers, cuisine, table settings and every other minute detail is just as you like it.
The details: Packages are seasonally priced and begin at Dhs300 per person or more. To book call (02) 6944444. There’s also a 15 per cent discount for weddings taking place on any available Saturday in 2019.
THE RITZ-CARLTON ABU DHABI, GRAND CANAL
See your dream turn to reality amid the Venetian-inspired hotel grounds overlooking the canal and Grand Mosque. With a dedicated team of experts taking care of planning, co-ordination, customised menus, linens, florals and everything else, you can have all the time to devote to yourself and your love. Their indoor and outdoor venues are designed to host up to 1,000 guests and include a luxurious wedding hall, a sprawling lawn, the olive garden and the canal-front beach. You will also get a bridal suite for use on the day, a one-night stay in a suite with a cosy breakfast, late check-out and complimentary valet parking for all your guests.
The details: Package rates begin at Dhs285 per person. Call (02) 8188888 or email edgar.martinez@ritz-carlton.com
HILTON RAS AL KHAIMAH RESORT AND SPA
This sprawling hotel boasts 1.5 kilometres of private sandy white beach, swaying palm trees, turquoise waters and unapologetic sunset views. If that is not what you are after there is the poolside and three spectacular banqueting rooms to consider. Dedicated wedding specialists custom-design your big day with you while packages include options of a DJ, live band or making a grand horseback entrance.
The details: For bookings call (07) 2288844 or email events.rak@hilton.com
LE MERIDIEN AL AQAH, FUJAIRAH
Hajar mountain backdrops, blue twinkling waters of the Indian Ocean and landscaped lawns are just some of the vistas that await at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah. Whether you are looking to have an Arabic, Indian or European theme, their team of professional planners will not leave any detail to chance. For an intimate beach wedding with warm sand between your toes, the private beach is a go-to. For a larger outdoor celebration, the poolside lawns set amongst lush gardens and illuminated trees is ideal and the Hajar lawn can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, while the ballroom caters for up to 600 guests. Want to make a stylish arrival? Choose to arrive by seaplane or on the resort’s helipad. The wedding package includes a one night stay in one of their executive suites including breakfast and dinner. Dinner will be in a restaurant of your choice on your first wedding anniversary, complimentary health club membership and a host of discounts on food and beauty treatments await as well.
The details: Packages begin from Dhs140 per person. Call (09) 2449000
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