Dubai Showcased as a Hub for Global Destination Weddings
As part of efforts to showcase Dubai as a hub for destination weddings, the city hosted the 5th edition of the Dubai Global Wedding Excellence (GWE) retreat and forum from 9 to 12 January, 2023 hosted by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
In line with the efforts aimed at boosting the emirate's stature as a perfect place for living, work and visit, and a global destination for weddings, the event drew wide participation from the global wedding industry. 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.
Laila Suhail, CEO of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships Sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: "We are proud to highlight Dubai’s world class proposition as the city of choice for destination weddings in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the world’s most visited destination. As a global lifestyle hub, Dubai is not only the ultimate getaway for couples looking to experience an unforgettable wedding, but also offers wonderful settings to mark their special occasions such as anniversaries. Apart from couples, families and friends visiting Dubai to attend weddings can also enjoy an array of unforgettable cultural, dining, entertainment and shopping experiences."
Laila Suhail (DET)
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 weddings. Find Dubai wedding planners here.
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. Check out Dubai's Hotels & Resorts here.
People across the world are increasingly choosing Dubai to celebrate not only weddings, but also milestone celebrations and personal occasions. With the availability of highly skilled wedding and event planners, its distinctive locations, eclectic culinary scene, cultural diversity, and unmatched wedding packages for all budgets, Dubai offers a special experience for couples and guests.
"Dubai’s exceptional value offering as a wedding destination was showcased at the Global Wedding Excellence retreat, one of our key vehicles for driving the city’s campaign to raise its profile as the ideal choice for destination weddings. The range of international accolades that the city has received has also contributed significantly to bolstering the city’s reputation as a wedding destination. The city was named the No.1 global destination for two successive years in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. Dubai’s remarkable growth as a preferred wedding destination would not have been possible without the support of all stakeholders. We will continue to work with our partners and event and wedding planners to showcase Dubai as a dream destination for celebrating weddings and milestones," added Laila Suhail.
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 also shed light on the array of distinctive wedding locations in Dubai; 11 hotels participated in the event, namely: Atlantis, The Palm; Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah; Madinat Jumeirah; 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.
This year’s GWE edition also featured founders and leaders of international digital wedding platforms such as Arabia Weddings, Guides for Brides, Beyond Weddings, Weddings Online, and Smashing the Glass. By providing a platform for players across the industry to connect with each other, the event sought to raise the global visibility of Dubai’s wedding offering.
Alison Hargreaves (Guides for Brides), Laila Suhail (DET), Samar Shawareb (Arabia Weddings)
Dubai offers a multitude of stunning backdrops and world-famous landmarks for wedding celebrations, including 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.
Other key industry players that participated in the event included Equifax, Encore, Wild Goose, FnP UAE, LiveInFive, Vidira, Royal Tent, Red Velvet, Soundkraft, Pure Magic and Event Houzz, Pangea, ALR, Party Social and Melrish Studio.
Wedding Planners who participated from the Middle East included: Events by Adam Afara, Dalia Taha Events and Wedding Planner and Il Partito from Qatar; Pinkmoon Events and Xaya from Jordan; Decarma MF Wedding and Event Planning from Egypt; Chandal Group and Royal Weddings by Sara J from Bahrain; Joelle Hassoun Wedding Planner, Cameleon MGT, Rene Nehme Wedding & Event Planner, and Nicole Lebbos, from Lebanon.
Xaid Shehadeh, Lubna Kolaghassi, Vicky Yaghi, Dalia Taha, Samar Shawareb, Rene Nemeh, Joelle Hassoun, Nicole Lebbos
