They say that it's good luck for it to rain on your wedding day, but brides and grooms around the world often want blue skies as a backdrop for their wedding photos, rather than grey clouds and umbrellas.
According to a new survey, Dubai is the perfect place to plan a warm-weather wedding, thanks to its long days, almost-guaranteed sunshine and rare bouts of rainfall.
British wedding inspiration website Strictly Weddings complied weather data to rank the global destinations that could be relied upon for sunshine on a couple's big day.
With a score of 9.31 out of 10, Dubai came out on top, thanks to its average temperature of 28°C, average of 10 daily sunshine hours and average monthly precipitation of 0.0 millimetres.
"Dubai is home to some of the most picturesque and romantic resorts in the world, making it a popular destination for couples getting married," the study finds.
In second place is Palm Springs in California, which scored 8.51 out of 10, with an average temperature of 24°C, 11 daily sunshine hours and monthly precipitation of 1.2mm.
Ibiza in Spain was named the third-best location. The Balearic island has an average temperature of 19°C, 10 hours of sunshine daily and monthly precipitation of 8mm. The island scored 7.13 out of 10 overall.
The top five were rounded out by two North American destinations, Honolulu, Hawaii and Los Cabos, Mexico.
The only African destination on the list is Marrakesh, Morocco, which was named the sixth best location for a warm-weather wedding, followed by another popular North American holiday destination, Montego Bay, Jamaica in seventh place.
Bridgetown, Barbados; Cancun, Mexico also make the list.
The second European destination on the top 10 list is Santorini, Greece, which came in 10th place.
Top 10 wedding destinations with the best weather:
- Dubai, UAE
- Palm Springs, California, US
- Ibiza, Spain
- Honolulu, Hawaii, US
- Los Cabos, Mexico
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Bridgetown, Barbados
- Cancun, Mexico
- Santorini, Greece
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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