Dubai Wedding

Having flown with Virgin Atlantic we landed in Dubai and the heat hit us when we got off the plane – it was 37 degrees! However, it was September and had expected it to be quite warm as this is one of the hottest times of year for Dubai.

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is located in the heart of the desert, just a 40-minute drive from the city of Dubai and only 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport. It is an enviable location.

The resort is low-rise, in the middle of the desert surrounded by gently sloping dunes and natural desert landscape. It provided the perfect setting for a wedding as it is quite idyllic. The literal translation of ‘Bab Al Shams’ is ‘gateway to the sun’. It is built in the style of an Arabic fort and is surrounded by an oasis.

Whilst checking-in we were greeted with a lovely cold towel and a cold mint juice before being shown to our deluxe room. This consisted of a king size bed with a sitting area in the corner, large bathroom with luxury toiletries and outside was a private patio area with table and chairs.

The pool area is well laid out with plenty of sunbeds and parasols. There’s an infinity pool looking out to nothing but the desert along with a swim up bar. Staff offered guests a cold towel, cold face spray and ice lollies which, believe me, was something we all looked forward to every day.

There are 3 restaurants to choose from (Masala, Al Forsan & Al Hadheerah) offering Arabic delights, Indian Cuisine, buffet or a Pizzeria as well as a choice of bars. My favourite was the Al Sarab rooftop lounge with amazing views out to the desert. It is the ideal spot to watch the sun set. The hotel also offers activities as well as a complimentary camel ride in the desert which I was persuaded to do (when in the desert I suppose it’s a must).

After spending 4 days at this beautiful hotel we moved onto Le Royal Meriden Hotel for our final 3 days of the holiday.

Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa is set in landscaped gardens overlooking Dubai's famous Jumeirah coastline, located 25 minutes from the city centre. Although a large property, it never felt overcrowded and its impressive facilities cater for both couples and families. A stay here is not complete without a visit to Caracalla Spa and Health Club which has been designed in the style of ancient Rome's most luxurious public baths.

Unlike the Bab Al Shams, this is a very contemporary hotel in style. Yes we were fortunate to be upgraded to a club room. This meant we had a choice of 3 restaurants to eat in on our half board basis and access to the club lounge. There is a lot of building work still going on in Dubai but we had a sea view looking out to the famous Palm. The grounds around the hotel are vast so there is plenty of sunbeds either around the 3 pools, within the gardens or on the beach.

We did venture out every night and a must see is the fountain display at the Dubai Mall – this was amazing and is in time with music. All the malls in Dubai are huge and worth a visit, however I didn’t think anything was a lot cheaper than what you can get at home. We also visited the Atlantis Aqua Park which was great fun, with plenty of food outlets and shade (if needed).

Thursday evening is the start of the weekend (Dubai weekend is Friday and Saturday) so the JBR is a must for petrol heads as everyone comes out to show off and pose in their sports car. We felt very comfortable and safe walking around Dubai and there are plenty of taxis around.

I loved Dubai and would definitely go back.

If you have any questions about Dubai then please do give me a call.