Wedding planners and hoteliers in Dubai and other parts of the Middle East are expecting a recovery in bookings for Indian destination weddings. Earlier this year, many bookings were canceled during the wedding season due to Iran war concerns. Wedding industry executives told ET that they have started receiving inquiries for the first quarter of 2027. Some local authorities are providing special facilities to make these places more attractive. In Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, the local tourism authority offers benefits ranging from free visas for site visits to free parking for chartered planes carrying wedding parties. The main wedding season in India starts in November and lasts until February-March.

Fears about West Asia subsided

Vaibhav Anju Arora, a Dubai-based wedding planner and co-founder of ‘Ikigai Planners’, said his company has been getting a lot of inquiries for the January-March quarter. He said people took time and were a little scared at first, but now the market has opened up. We are also seeing demand from India and now the UK. There is also local demand from people living in the UAE. Arora said that people who used to choose destination weddings in other countries are now choosing to get married in the UAE. This demand has increased rapidly, especially in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. This number is still very low compared to last year, but has improved.

UAE Wedding Incentive Program

Iyad Rasbey, vice president of destination tourism development at the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said the Indian wedding market is important to Ras Al Khaimah. He said that we are seeing a tremendous increase in inquiries in the first quarter of 2027, especially around the auspicious dates between January 15 and March 15. Ras Al Khaimah has created a Wedding Incentive Program to assist couples and planners from wedding planning to wedding ceremony.

Under this programme, it also offers free visa and airport transfers for up to six guests for site inspection as well as a dedicated planner incentive. Couples can also take advantage of free room or suite upgrades and luxury limousine airport pickup. Perks at the airport include free 24-hour parking for wedding charter flights, a 50% discount on VIP terminal service, free porter service for couples and free parking for wedding guests.

Preparations have also started in Oman

Krupa Khimji, founder of Muscat-based wedding planning and event management company ‘Mosaic Events Oman’, said that the destination wedding segment of Indians in Oman is the largest international wedding segment, although it is likely to decline slightly in the coming season. Local weddings, social events, corporate events, travel and business related events and conferences are all going on, Khimji said.

The hesitancy being seen from international destination wedding clients is not specifically related to Oman, but due to the climate of uncertainty across the Middle East. He further said that Oman is considered neutral and is called the Switzerland of the Middle East.

The number of marriages has certainly decreased, but it is not as if nothing is happening. Khimji is planning a destination wedding event for an Indian client in December, while another investigation for March is nearing completion. He said that another family from Hyderabad has also inquired about arranging a wedding there.

The infrastructure of the Middle East is strong

Devanshi Patel, founder and creative director of Shreem Events, said that considering the current situation, there is some hesitation among customers planning large events and weddings. However, Patel said that the Middle East’s infrastructure is strong and there is potential for recovery once conditions return to normal.

Ahmed Shaban Fernandes, cluster general manager of ‘Dukes The Palm’ and ‘NH Collection Dubai’ said that their hotels are seeing an increase in bookings for Indian weddings for the upcoming season. Saurabh Tiwari, Vice President, IHCL Middle East, Maldives & Sri Lanka said, “We are entering the wedding season with a very positive mindset.

At Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, we are seeing huge interest not only in the wedding day but also in the entire wedding celebration – from mehendi and haldi to music, wedding ceremony and post-wedding parties.