Six of the most popular UAE wedding venues - catering to your budget

Wedding venues in the UAE can be costly but with venues catering to parties of 50 and others up to 6,500, there are choices to suit all budgets.

The Yas Viceroy offers wedding packages starting at Dh36,000. Ravindranath K / The National

From breezy beachfront hotels to the grandeur of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, UAE wedding venues cater to a wide range of tastes – and, of course, budgets. Here are six of the most popular UAE wedding venues, according to wedding experts, and a rough guide to what they charge. Actual prices do of course vary widely according to the number of guests, catering arrangements and level of customisation required.

1. Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

This hotel, situated alongside Abu Dhabi’s F1 track, offers wedding packages starting at Dh36,000. Its ‘Dream Wedding Package’ – for Dh180 per person – includes a choice of menu, soft drinks, a one-night stay in the hotel and a dedicated wedding specialist to help you plan your big day.

2. Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Dubai’s colossal hotel complex can cater for weddings with as few as 30 guests, to as many as 4,500 in the Madinat Arena. Costs vary according to how personalised the wedding is, with packages starting at Dh250 per person for food and beverages.

3. The Ritz Carlton JBR, Dubai

This hotel offers both beachside weddings and traditional indoor receptions. Its traditional wedding package costs Dh250 per person, with the minimum spend depending on the area booked. These include the Sunbird Lawn (with a minimum spend of Dh15,000), Loulou’a ballroom (Dh20,000) and Gulf Lawn (Dh56,500).

4. Dubai World Trade Centre

Some of the UAE’s biggest and most lavish wedding receptions have been held at its vast exhibition centre. The Dubai World Trade Centre can accommodate up to 6,500 wedding guests, with packages starting at Dh150,000 including food, flowers, and stage, sound and lighting facilities.

5. Emirates Palace

Abu Dhabi’s vast Emirates Palace hotel offers bespoke weddings and the costs vary from event to event, according to a spokesman. Its website advertises packages with ballroom rental charges ranging from Dh60,000 to Dh120,000, and menu packages from Dh350 to Dh550 per person, with a minimum of 500 guests.

6. Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah offers three core wedding packages – although these can be customised with a variety of add-ons. The ‘silver package’, which includes a three-course set menu and unlimited drinks, costs Dh320 per person, with a minimum of 100 guests. The ‘diamond package’ – including a welcome reception, canapés, four-course menu and five-tier wedding cake – costs Dh490 per person.