Recently voted Britain’s favourite holiday destination, Dubai is a sun soaked city-state on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Part of the United Arab Emirates, the city is known for its luxurious hotels, hyper-modern high rise buildings, man-made islands and great shopping. A fantastic honeymoon destination for couples who want to kick back, relax and indulge, Dubai offers sun, sea and almost unbridled luxury. If you’re thinking of spending those first blissful post-wedding weeks in this sun-drenched destination, there are a few things you need to know before you jet off. Keep reading to find out more.
1. Weather
If you’re hoping to get a honeymoon tan, Dubai is the perfect destination. The desert city is scorching hot throughout the year, with rain and clouds only making fleeting appearances in the ‘winter’. If you want your honeymoon to be hot but not unbearable, plan your Dubai adventure in the European winter months as this coincides with the dryer and (slightly) cooler season in the Middle Eastern city. The period between November and March is the best time to visit, with conditions in the summer time even hotter and more humid.
2. Visas and travel time
A number of airports around the UK offer non-stop services to Dubai. Flight time is around seven hours for direct routes while journeys with stopovers can vary dramatically in length. The national airline of Dubai is Emirates, while Etihad is based in nearby Abu Dhabi. Some other airlines also offer direct services to the emirate.
If you’re a UK passport holder, you’ll be able to get a visa on arrival in the United Arab Emirates. This will entitle you to stay in Dubai for up to 30 days. So unless you’re planning a “megamoon”, this should be more than enough.
3. Public displays of affection
One thing that’s very important to be aware of before you jet off for your honeymoon in Dubai is that the state is run under sharia law. This means that displays of affection are not allowed in public. As @OysterHotels says:
“As Dubai is a Muslim city, kissing, cuddling, and even holding hands in public are not only frowned upon by many, but actually illegal.”
Other things that are illegal in public in Dubai include drinking alcohol and giving someone the middle finger, even in emoji form.
4. Costs
Dubai is not one of the world’s cheapest destinations so if you’re on a budget you might want to choose somewhere else for your honeymoon. However, if you’ve got money to burn, you can have a fantastic time in the city with endless excellent restaurants, high end shopping malls and luxurious hotels to explore.
5. Things to do
Many of the people who head to Dubai do so purely for the weather. When the sun gets too hot, head to one of the city’s many water parks, swimming pools or beaches to cool off. Dubai is home to a fantastic choice of restaurants, shops, hotels and manmade attractions so if you want to indulge in a little retail therapy and enjoy a few unforgettable meals, this is the destination for you.
Find out more about planning the perfect wedding and the perfect honeymoon by taking a look around our site today.
