Dubai: the place to be for destination weddings

DUBAI: Dubai is fast emerging as the city of choice for destination weddings, with a growing number of wedding and event planners across the world recommending the city to couples as the perfect venue to celebrate their special day, according to UAE official news agency WAM.

People across the world are increasingly choosing Dubai to celebrate not only weddings, but also milestone celebrations and personal occasions.

The city’s world-class infrastructure, picturesque resorts, luxury hospitality offerings, services, exceptional track record for safety, and diverse tourism attractions have made it the ideal destination for organising memorable social events.

With the availability of highly-skilled wedding and event planners, its distinctive locations, eclectic culinary scene, cultural diversity, and unmatched packages for all budgets, Dubai offers a special experience for wedding couples and guests.

As part of efforts to showcase Dubai as a hub for destination weddings, the city had hosted the fifth edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence (GWE) retreat and forum recently (from January 9-10).

The annual Dubai Global Wedding Excellence (GWE) retreat and forum provides a platform for experts, professionals, and influencers from across the wedding, lifestyle and events sectors to network, share ideas, exchange best practices, and explore new ways to give couples memorable weddings and anniversary celebrations.

The event drew wide participation from industry and destination experts, event and wedding planners and companies specialised in providing wedding facilities and services.

Over 70 international wedding planners, experts, and companies from key source markets attended the event.

The retreat saw strong participation from Dubai’s traditional and emerging markets including countries from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as well as India, UK, and the US.

The event showcased 11 hotel groups in the city including their new and ‘out of the box’ venues, as well as 12 major wedding industry suppliers.

The event also shed light on the array of distinctive wedding locations in Dubai. Hotels that participated in the event included Atlantis, The Palm; Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah; Madinat Jumeriah; Terra Solis; W Dubai The Palm; Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah; Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah’ Sofitel Dubai The Palm; Armani Hotel Dubai; Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai; and The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.

Dubai offers a multitude of stunning backdrops and world-famous landmarks for wedding celebrations, including the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, Museum of the Future and Ain Dubai, as well as a broad portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts.

Moreover, the city offers year-round sunshine, iconic settings, and unique venues for social events. Whether it is a sparkling cityscape, a beautiful sandy beach, a lush green garden, stunning mountain views, or rolling sand dunes, Dubai provides spectacular locales for destination weddings.

Dubai is home to more than 794 luxurious hotels, all of which uphold the highest standards of local hospitality and provide unique ambiences for wedding couples and guests to create exceptional memories.

A global gastronomy hub, the city’s culinary tapestry is enriched by influences from the food cultures of over 200 nationalities, providing innumerable choices that can suit diverse tastes and preferences.

With its strategic geographical location midway between the West and East and rising status as a global aviation hub, Dubai ranks as one of the world’s most connected cities.

Dubai is less than eight hours away from anywhere in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Moreover, Dubai is highly open and accessible with simplified visa procedures and entry requirements.