Dubai Wedding: The Ultimate Guide for
From its breathtaking atmosphere, luxury resorts, impeccable hospitality and world class infrastructure, it’s no wonder that Dubai is emerging as one of the most popular choices for destination weddings. In this guide we’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about getting married in Dubai from the legal requirements, dream venus and picking the best wedding photographer to capture you and your partner's wedding of a lifetime…
Why should you get married in Dubai?
Dubai has everything you could ever want and need for a memorable wedding or elopement - it’s grand, luxurious and high quality - you know your wedding is set to be special if you’re choosing Dubai as your destination.
From world class attractions, dining and shopping to the most stunning resorts to host your wedding celebrations, the level of hospitality and quality you receive in Dubai is unparalleled, making it the perfect choice for a show-stopping wedding that yourselves and each and every guest will remember for a lifetime.
If you’re looking to elope in Dubai then there are some incredible spots for elopements as well from the many beaches on the stretches of sand to the desert - a hugely popular choice - what’s more romantic than reciting your vows amidst the vast stretch of sand at sunset as it turns into a beautiful night sky!?
Legal Information for a Dubai Wedding
In order to get officially married under UAE law in Dubai there are a set of requirements to meet, these are the following that couples must have:
The Bride’s approval
Emirates identification cards
Valid passports and copies
Visa status (with copies)
UAE Residence Visa of either the groom, the bride or the bride’s guardian
Positive pre-marital health screening certificates (this incurs a cost of AED 260)
There are different rules for muslim and non-muslim marriages in Dubai:
Muslim Marriages: Must be conducted at a UAE Sharia Court or through authorised marriage officers and follow Sharia Law. Applications for marriage contracts and payments (AED 200) must be done beforehand. The bride, groom, bride’s father and two muslim witnesses must be present at the wedding.
Non-muslim marriages: Non muslim couples need to have nuptials registered at their relevant embassies in their home country and ensure couples meet the specific requirements and obtain the relevant documents to get married in Dubai. This then needs to be approved by the UAE foreign ministry.
Unless you are a resident or an expat who has a residency visa, it can be quite difficult to get married in Dubai which is why many couples choose to get legally married in their own country first and then have a symbolic ceremony in Dubai conducted by a wedding celebrant.
When is the Dubai wedding and elopement season?
The best months to get married in Dubai are between October and March. You might be thinking, wait? Isn’t this their winter. It is, but Dubai is lucky to not experience any harsh winters, these months offer perfect conditions weather wise without you or your guests getting uncomfortably hot and sizzling in the heat. These months are therefore extremely popular for weddings but here’s a breakdown of the average temperatures per month - so you can see what you and your guests might be able to handle!
Temperatures (High/Low):
Jan: 24/14c
Feb: 25/16c
March: 29/18c
April: 33/21c
May: 38/25c
June: 40/28c
July: 41/31c
August: 41/31c
September: 39/28c
October: 35/24c
November: 31/20cDecember: 26/16c
The best places to get married in Dubai
Nestled in one of Dubai’s most exclusive resorts One&Only The Palm is a tranquil Oasis with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and unparalleled views of Dubai’s skyline that you can enjoy from your own private beach. You can celebrate with up to 100 of your nearest and dearest guests with a range of options for your ceremony from the shimmering fountains or overlooking the ocean, skyline and marina. Guests will fall in love with the exquisite catering, and if that’s not enough then the Guerlain Spa should be the cherry on top of your experience.
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
If you want a fairytale wedding experience in Dubai then the Four Seasons Resort is the perfect option for you and your partner. Have your ceremony on the gorgeous sandy beach, in the soft glow of the setting sun and beside the flickering light of the Resort's iconic fire feature. Each and every moment of your wedding will be memorable from the glamorous atmosphere to sculptures, the exclusive wedding arrival area welcoming your guests, and the grand Dana Ballroom that opens out onto a lush seaside garden – this venue is a dream come true.
Dream of having a wedding with the sea as your backdrop? Your wedding reception on a perfectly manicured green lawn, adorned with numerous circular tables with a beautiful tablescape, flower arrangements and all you have in your eyeline is a beautiful stretch of sand, a stunning ocean and happy guests! This is what you’ll get at The Ritz-Carlton and it will be truly unforgettable. Aside from the gorgeous outdoor spots you have the option of the resort's wonderful restaurants and ballrooms which can be used for your wedding celebrations.
You might have noticed that in Dubai, things aren’t done by halves and the W Dubai is no exception from gorgeous wedding spaces to captivating outdoor areas. Escape is the second largest event space on The Palm if you’re after a bigger celebration with up to 500 guest capacity! There are various breakout spaces for exquisite cocktail receptions and moonlight dinners by the beach!
Bringing the glamorous Versace world into one place the Palazzo allows everyone to experience the Versace lifestyle with all its grandeur. From the artwork, marble, mosaics, architectural elements and more, it makes a perfect backdrop for those looking for a wedding full of glitz and glamour. Whether you have your wedding ceremony indoors or outdoors at the Palazzo, it’ll be breathtaking either way. From a wedding breakfast in a marble floored, chandelier lined ceiling ballroom to a waterfront wedding with landscaped gardens.
Probably Dubai’s most iconic resort, and most definitely world famous, Atlantis The Palm is nestled perfectly between the Arabian and the stunning Dubai skyline, this venue is really one for the books. You can exchange vows on a sun-kissed private beach or have your reception in an underwater wonderland, nothing is impossible at Atlantis. Your guests will have the time of their life with a whole host of attractions such as the relaxing spa, restaurants such as Hakkasan, Ossiano and En Fuego with dishes prepared by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and the world’s largest waterpark and the Atlantis project.
We offer wedding photography and videography in Dubai and are here to help you create your dream wedding so you have the most incredible day. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so we can chat about all things weddings and help you start your journey!
How to plan a Dubai wedding or elopement
Now that you’re getting a feel for locations, venues, potential dates for your marriage and how to sort out the legal side of things, here is a speedy checklist for you to refer to so that you can plan your Dubai wedding. Following these steps ensures you can organise everything that needs to be done for your wedding and enjoy the process as you go along…
Dubai Wedding Checklist
12-18 Months Before your Wedding
Plan your budget: Decide how much you want to spend overall and factor in costs such as your travel and accommodation, your wedding venue, catering, photographers and videographers, entertainment ect
Choose your location and venue/ the date for the wedding: Consider this with your budget, number of guests and the style of wedding you want
Organise your guest list: Start writing down who you want to be there on your special day and consider your location/venue numbers and travel arrangements - people are coming from afar so be sure that it’s people you 100% want to be there at your wedding and it’s feasible for them to get there
Book accommodation and travel: Once the ball is rolling and you have a venue and date secured and your guests know about the wedding, it’s time to book your travel and accommodation - will you stay at the venue you're getting married at, or if you’re getting married on the beach will you stay at a hotel? If flying, make sure you have booked your flights to arrive a couple of days prior and get transfers booked to your destination.
Plan your ceremony: What time will the ceremony be? What decorations do you want? What food and drinks do you want to be served - will you have an all-inclusive package or source out some interesting local vendors? What music and entertainment will you have? What will the wedding attire be? These are all important things to consider when planning your dream ceremony.
Send out your save the dates: Once everything is set in stone, you can send out your save the dates with information about the wedding venue, the ceremony itself and all the details, the surrounding location and information to help your guests sort their travel and accommodation. It’s a good idea to start a group chat so everyone can discuss where they are staying and help one another out.
12 Months Before your Wedding
Purchase your wedding dress and attire, accessories and gifts for the bridal party
Research and book hair and makeup vendors
Confirm transport arrangements for yourself and guests during their stay
Prepare a welcome pack for guests with information about the area
Start sorting all the legal information and documents
6 Months Before your Wedding
Confirm final guest numbers
Purchase flowers and decoration for the ceremony and reception
Confirm catering and cake services
Plan pre and post wedding activities for you and your guests
Finalise details
1 Month Before your Wedding
Make a packing list and start packing what you need
Get all treatments done e.g. hair, eyebrows, lashes, nails
Finalise details with all your vendors
Planning a wedding can seem like a very big task which is why a lot of people tend to opt for a wedding planner to help guide them through the process. We’re able to provide some tips and recommendations for sorting out a wedding planner and why it might be beneficial to have one. For a more in depth version of this checklist, read our complete wedding planning timeline.
And finally…
Time flies when you’re wedding planning! With our checklist and list of venues, you should have everything you need to plan your dream wedding in Dubai so that by the time your big day arrives you’ll be ready to have the time of your lives and make incredible memories with all your loved ones.
Having a wedding in Dubai will be a truly stunning and unforgettable experience, so enjoy every moment and make sure it’s everything you want it to be.