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.
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Sheer grandeur
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A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
