Romantic Dubai Honeymoon

There is something special about arriving in a new city together, and Dubai makes a spectacular first impression. As the plane descends over the Gulf, the coast unfolds beneath you: the palm-shaped islands reaching out into turquoise water, the long white beaches, and the forest of glass towers with the Burj Khalifa rising high above them all. Flights from most Indian cities take three to four hours, and Dubai is one and a half hours behind India, so even an early-morning flight gives you most of the day to settle in.

At Dubai International Airport, immigration is quick and simple. Your UAE tourist visas are arranged before you fly, so you just show your passports, and the officers take a photograph and an eye scan. Collect your bags and walk out to the arrivals hall, where our representative will meet you with a board showing your names. Your transfer is private, so you can sit back and enjoy the drive without waiting for anyone else.

Buy a local SIM card or eSIM at the airport, so that you can use maps, call a taxi and share photographs with family back home. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but a few dirhams in cash are useful for tips and small purchases.

Your hotel for the next five nights is a beach hotel at JBR or Dubai Marina, the liveliest and most romantic stretch of Dubai's coast. The drive takes about 30 to 45 minutes, along Sheikh Zayed Road, the city's great highway, lined with skyscrapers of every shape. As you near the coast, you will see the towers of the Marina and the long sweep of Jumeirah Beach Residence, with the sea glittering beyond.

Standard check-in is usually from 2 or 3 PM. If you arrive early, leave your bags with the hotel and walk down to the beach or The Walk at JBR for lunch by the sea. Let us know in advance that you are on your honeymoon: many hotels like to welcome newly married couples with a small surprise, and we can also arrange extras such as a room upgrade, a cake or flowers in your room, subject to availability. Hotels charge a small Tourism Dirham fee per room per night, which you pay directly at the hotel.

Spend the afternoon resting, by the pool or on the sand. The beach at JBR is clean, wide and well looked after, with soft sand, calm water and views of Bluewaters Island and the giant Ain Dubai wheel just offshore. The Gulf is warm enough to swim in for most of the year, and from November to March the weather is close to perfect, with sunny days in the mid-twenties and gentle breezes.

In the evening, you are picked up for a dhow cruise along Dubai Marina, the perfect way to begin your honeymoon. Dhows are the traditional wooden boats of the Gulf, which for centuries sailed to the ports of India and East Africa carrying pearls, spices and cloth. Tonight, a beautifully lit dhow carries you slowly along the Marina, a three-kilometre canal lined with some of the tallest residential towers in the world.

Find a table on the open upper deck if you can, where the breeze is cool and the views are best. As the boat glides along, the towers glow above you, their lights reflected in the dark water, and yachts bob gently at their moorings. Look out for the twisting Cayan Tower, which turns through 90 degrees from base to top, and the busy promenade where couples and families stroll after dinner. At the mouth of the Marina, the boat turns near the open sea, with the lights of JBR and Palm Jumeirah stretching along the coast.

Dinner is an international buffet with Indian, Arabic and continental dishes, salads, grills and desserts, and vegetarian food is always available. Soft drinks and water are included, and there is usually live entertainment, such as a Tanoura dancer or soft music. The cruise lasts about two hours, and it is a relaxed, romantic introduction to the city.

After the cruise, you can walk along the Marina Promenade, which is lovely late in the evening, with cafés, dessert shops and street performers along the water, or head straight back to your hotel. Dubai is a very safe city, and the Marina is busy until late, especially at weekends.

Included today: private arrival transfer from Dubai International Airport, beach hotel at JBR or Dubai Marina, Marina dhow cruise with buffet dinner (shared).

Good to know: keep your passports, visas and hotel booking handy for immigration. Tell us about your honeymoon when you book so we can let the hotel know. The Tourism Dirham fee is paid at the hotel. Read our guide to where to stay in Dubai.

There is no need to rush this morning. Enjoy a late breakfast together, perhaps on a terrace overlooking the sea, before your private city tour begins. Because the car and guide are yours alone, the day goes at your pace, with time for photographs, a coffee stop or a walk wherever you like. Your guide will share stories of how a small fishing and pearling village grew into one of the most famous cities in the world in little more than fifty years.

The first stop is the Jumeirah Mosque, an elegant white stone building with two slender minarets, built in the medieval Fatimid style. It is one of the most beautiful mosques in Dubai, and it is especially lovely in the soft morning light. From there, the drive follows the coast to the Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped hotel that stands on its own island just off the beach. At 321 metres, it is one of the tallest hotels in the world, and the beach beside it is the classic place for a honeymoon photo, with the white sail behind you against a deep blue sky.

The tour then turns inland to Dubai Creek, the historic heart of the city. Long before the towers, this saltwater inlet was where the dhows came in from India, Persia and Africa, and where Dubai's merchants built their houses and souks. In the Al Fahidi district, narrow lanes wind between sand-coloured houses topped with wind towers, the clever traditional cooling system of the Gulf, and small galleries and cafés fill the old courtyards. Across the water, in Deira, are the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk.

If you have time, take a short ride across the Creek in an abra, one of the small wooden water taxis that have carried people between Bur Dubai and Deira for generations. It takes only a few minutes and costs just a dirham or two, but it is one of the most charming experiences in the city, with the old buildings on one side, the modern skyline on the other, and the dhows loading cargo along the banks.

After the tour, you return to your hotel to rest and freshen up. Lunch is at your own choice, and this is a good afternoon for a light meal and an hour by the pool, because the highlight of the day comes later.

In the late afternoon, you head to Downtown Dubai for the Burj Khalifa at sunset. Your ticket is for a sunset, or prime, slot, the most sought-after time of the day, and we book it for you in advance. At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world since 2010, and one of the fastest lifts in the world carries you up to At the Top, on levels 124 and 125, in about a minute.

The view is breathtaking at any time, but at sunset it becomes truly romantic. As the sun sinks towards the Gulf, the whole city turns gold, the shadows of the towers stretch across the desert, and the sea shimmers in the distance. Then, slowly, the lights come on, first along the highways, then in the towers, until the city sparkles beneath you like a carpet of jewels. Step out onto the open-air terrace on level 124 to feel the breeze, and take your time with photographs: this is one of the moments you will remember for the rest of your lives.

Back on the ground, stay for the Dubai Fountain, which performs every half hour in the evening on the lake at the foot of the tower. Water jets shoot as high as 150 metres, dancing to Arabic, Hindi and classical music, lit by thousands of coloured lights. For the best view, stand on the boardwalk by the lake or the bridge near Souk Al Bahar, or book a table at one of the restaurants overlooking the water.

Dinner tonight is your own choice, and Downtown has some of the most romantic restaurants in Dubai, many with terraces facing the fountain and the Burj Khalifa. Indian, Arabic, Italian, Japanese and international cuisines are all here, from casual cafés to fine dining. If you would like us to reserve a special table, just let us know.

Included today: private half-day Dubai city tour, Burj Khalifa At the Top ticket for levels 124 and 125 at a sunset (prime) slot, subject to availability, Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain visit, breakfast.

Good to know: carry your passports or copies for the Burj Khalifa. Sunset slots sell out quickly, so book early; if a sunset slot is not available on your date, we offer the nearest time. Lunch, dinner and the abra ride are at your own cost. Read our Burj Khalifa tickets and Dubai Mall guide.

Wake up to the sound of the sea. This morning is completely free, so take your time over breakfast and then head down to the beach. JBR's beach is one of the best in Dubai, with soft pale sand, calm, clear water and lifeguards on duty, and you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas if your hotel does not provide them. In the cooler months, the water is refreshing rather than cold, and in the early morning the beach is quiet and peaceful, with only joggers and a few swimmers.

If you would like a little more adventure, the beach has water sports such as paddleboarding, kayaking and jet skiing, and there are boat trips from the Marina. Otherwise, simply relax by the hotel pool, read a book together, or take a gentle walk along The Walk at JBR, a long promenade of cafés, boutiques and restaurants just behind the beach. Have a light lunch, because tonight brings a generous barbecue dinner in the desert.

In the afternoon, a 4x4 collects you from your hotel for the desert safari. Pickups are usually between 2:30 and 3:30 PM, depending on the time of sunset, and the drive out of the city takes about 45 minutes. The towers gradually give way to open land, and then to the great red dunes south-east of Dubai, where the sand has a deep orange colour from the iron in it.

Dress comfortably for the safari, in light, loose clothes, closed shoes or sandals, sunglasses and a hat, and carry a shawl or light jacket for the evening. Keep your phone and camera in a bag during the drive, as the fine sand gets everywhere, and take them out at the sunset stop, when the light is at its most beautiful.

At the edge of the desert, your driver lets some air out of the tyres, and the fun begins. Dune bashing is an exhilarating ride over the dunes in a 4x4, climbing the soft slopes and swooping down the other side, while your driver steers expertly through the sand. Hold hands, hold on, and enjoy the thrill. If either of you prefers a gentler ride, just tell the driver, and he will take it easy.

The convoy stops on a high dune to watch the sun go down. This is one of the most romantic moments of the whole trip. Climb a little way from the group, sit together on the warm sand, and watch the dunes change colour from gold to orange, pink and finally deep red as the sun disappears below the horizon. The desert becomes very quiet, and the sky slowly fills with colour. It is a perfect time for photographs, with soft light and nothing but the dunes around you.

As darkness falls, you arrive at the desert camp, built in the style of a Bedouin encampment, with carpets, cushions, lanterns and a stage in the centre. Ride a camel together as it sways gently around the camp, try on traditional Arabic dress for a photograph, or have your hands decorated with henna, a lovely souvenir for a new bride. Some camps also let you hold a falcon, the national bird of the UAE, under the guidance of a handler.

Dinner is a barbecue buffet of grilled chicken and lamb, Arabic mezze, salads, rice, bread and desserts, with plenty of vegetarian dishes. Soft drinks, water, tea and Arabic coffee are included. As you eat, the live shows begin: a Tanoura dancer spinning in glowing skirts, a dazzling fire show, and often a belly dance performance. Sitting under the open sky, with the music and the fire and the stars above, is an experience that feels a world away from the city.

For an even more special evening, ask us about upgrading to a private desert dinner or a VIP safari, with a smaller, quieter camp, a table set just for the two of you and more personal service. It is one of the most popular honeymoon extras we arrange, and it makes a wonderful surprise.

Before you leave, step away from the lights of the camp and look up. Far from the city, the desert sky is full of stars, and on a clear night you may see the Milky Way. You will be back at your hotel by about 9 PM, with sand in your shoes and a memory to treasure.

Included today: evening desert safari with dune bashing, sunset stop, camel ride, live shows and BBQ dinner at a shared camp, breakfast.

Good to know: dune bashing is not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with back, neck or heart problems. Carry a light jacket in winter, as the desert cools quickly after dark. Private dinners, VIP camps and quad biking are optional, at extra cost. See our desert safari and dhow cruise guide.

After breakfast, your private car takes you onto Palm Jumeirah, the extraordinary man-made island shaped like a palm tree, reaching out into the sea from the coast near Dubai Marina. Work on the island began in 2001, when millions of tonnes of sand were dredged from the seabed and sprayed into place, and it is protected from the waves by a long crescent-shaped breakwater of rock. Today, the Palm is one of the most glamorous addresses in the world, with luxury resorts, beach clubs, apartments and villas lining its trunk and fronds.

Your destination this morning is The View at The Palm, an observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower, in the middle of the island's trunk. From about 240 metres above the sea, you get a 360-degree view that you cannot see from anywhere else: the whole shape of the palm spread out below you, with its fronds and the crescent, Atlantis The Palm at the far end, and the coast of Dubai stretching away in both directions, from the Marina towers to the Burj Al Arab and, on a clear day, the Burj Khalifa in the distance.

Inside, an exhibition tells the story of how the Palm was built, with models, photographs and films showing the island rising from the sea. Then take your time on the viewing deck, where floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor area give perfect views for photographs. Morning visits are lovely, with clear light and fewer visitors, and the deck is never as crowded as the Burj Khalifa, so you can find a quiet corner and enjoy the view together.

Your afternoon is free, and Palm Jumeirah has plenty to fill it. Many couples head to Atlantis The Palm at the end of the island, one of the most famous resorts in the world, with its grand arch, its huge lobby and its marine life. The Lost Chambers Aquarium, built to look like the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis, has underground halls and tunnels full of sharks, rays and tropical fish, and it is a beautiful, peaceful place to wander. Next door, Aquaventure Waterpark offers slides and a lazy river if you want some fun, both at extra cost.

If you would rather relax, the Palm is home to some of Dubai's best beach clubs, where you can spend the afternoon on a lounger by the sea, with a pool, music and food and drinks served to you. Day passes are available at many resorts and clubs, and we can suggest one that suits your style, whether lively or quiet. The Pointe, on the crescent facing Atlantis, is a waterfront promenade with restaurants and cafés, and on many evenings a fountain show plays on the water in front of the resort.

For a different view of the island, take the Palm Monorail, which runs along the trunk from the Gateway station near the mainland to Atlantis, passing high above the villas and resorts. It is a short, easy ride and a fun way to get around. You can also take a taxi back to your hotel, as the Palm is close to JBR and the Marina.

Palm Jumeirah also looks wonderful from the sea, and many couples choose to see it again from a yacht on their free day tomorrow.

In the evening, The Walk at JBR is a lovely place to spend your time. This long promenade, just behind the beach, comes alive after sunset, with couples and families strolling, street performers, cafés and restaurants with tables outside. Next to it, The Beach is an open-air area of restaurants and shops right on the sand. Watch the sun go down over the sea with Bluewaters Island in front of you, then choose from the many restaurants for dinner, with cuisines from all over the world.

If you would like to make tonight extra special, we can arrange a candlelit dinner on the beach or at a rooftop restaurant, with views of the Marina or the sea, or a private yacht cruise from the Marina, sailing past the towers and around the Palm as the city lights up. These are among the most popular romantic extras for honeymooners, and they can be added when you book or during your stay.

Dubai's evenings are warm and pleasant for most of the year, and the beachfront is safe and lively until late, so there is no hurry to head back to your room.

Included today: The View at The Palm ticket with private transfers, breakfast.

Good to know: carry your passports or copies for entry. Atlantis attractions, beach club passes, yacht cruises and candlelit dinners are optional, at extra cost. In public places, holding hands is fine, but more open displays of affection are frowned upon. Read our Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis guide.

Today is completely yours, a whole day with no schedule, to spend together exactly as you wish. Some couples sleep late and spend the day by the sea, while others fill it with new experiences. Here are some ideas, and our team can book any of them for you, either before you travel or during your stay.

For an unforgettable start to the day, take a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the desert. You are collected from your hotel very early, usually between 4 and 5 AM, and driven into the desert, where the balloons are inflated in the dark. As you lift gently into the sky, the sun rises over the dunes, painting them in shades of orange and gold, and you may see camels, gazelles and Arabian oryx moving across the sand below. The flight lasts about an hour, and most trips include a falconry display and breakfast in the desert afterwards. You are back at the hotel by late morning.

If you love the sea, a yacht cruise is one of the most romantic ways to see Dubai. Private yachts sail from the Marina, past the towers of JBR and Bluewaters, around the Palm and out towards the Burj Al Arab, and you can choose a sunset cruise with dinner, a morning cruise with a swim stop, or simply an hour or two on the water. Shared yacht tours are also available if you prefer something more affordable.

For pure relaxation, book a couple's spa treatment. Many of Dubai's hotels have beautiful spas, and you can choose from massages, facials and traditional treatments such as the hammam, a steam bath and scrub inspired by Turkish and Moroccan traditions. Afterwards, spend the afternoon by the pool or on the beach, then watch the sunset from a terrace with a cool drink in hand.

If you enjoy shopping, today is the perfect day to explore Dubai's markets and malls. In Deira, across the Creek, the Gold Souk has hundreds of shops glittering with gold jewellery, from simple chains to elaborate wedding sets, and Dubai's gold is known for its purity and fair prices, which are set daily by weight. Bargaining over the making charges is normal. Next door, the Spice Souk is fragrant with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and frankincense. For international brands, Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates have everything, and Mall of the Emirates also has Ski Dubai, an indoor ski slope where you can play in real snow, even when it is hot outside.

For a taste of something different, you could visit Al Seef, a waterfront district along the Creek built in the style of old Dubai, with sand-coloured buildings, wooden balconies, small shops and cafés by the water. It is a lovely place for a late-afternoon stroll and coffee, and it is much quieter than the malls. Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a beautiful recreation of a traditional Arabian market, with winding lanes and waterways and views of the Burj Al Arab, is another romantic spot, especially in the evening, when the lanterns are lit and you can take an abra ride through the canals.

Adventurous couples can try a helicopter tour over the city, a skydive over the Palm, or a seaplane flight along the coast. These are expensive, but they offer a view of Dubai that few visitors ever see, and for many couples they are the highlight of the honeymoon. Others prefer a day trip to Abu Dhabi, to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the BAPS Hindu Mandir, or to Hatta, in the Hajar Mountains, for kayaking on the turquoise Hatta Dam.

You could also simply stay close to your hotel. The Marina and JBR have everything you need within walking distance: the beach, cafés, restaurants, shops and the Marina Promenade, and a slow day of swimming, reading and long lunches can be the most relaxing of all.

Remember that Dubai's weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, and popular experiences such as yacht cruises, balloon flights and beach clubs fill up quickly then, so booking ahead is a good idea. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber make it easy to get around, and the Dubai Metro links the Marina with Mall of the Emirates, Downtown and the Creek.

Whatever you choose, end the day with a special dinner. Dubai is one of the great food cities of the world, and you can dine on a rooftop with views of the Burj Khalifa, on the sand at a beach restaurant, or at one of the city's celebrated Indian restaurants. This is your last full evening, so make it one to remember.

Included today: breakfast.

Good to know: the balloon flight, yacht cruise, spa, helicopter tour and day trips are optional, at extra cost, and are best booked in advance, especially from December to March. Carry a copy of your passport when you go out. Read our Dubai shopping guide and our ideas for day trips from Dubai.

Your last morning in Dubai has arrived, and it is worth starting it slowly. If you are early risers, walk down to the beach while it is still quiet and watch the light change on the water and the towers of the Marina, or take a final swim in the warm, calm sea. Then enjoy a long, relaxed breakfast together, looking back on the highlights of the week: the dhow cruise, the sunset from the Burj Khalifa, the dunes, the Palm and the free day you spent exactly as you pleased.

Checkout is usually at 11 AM or noon. If your flight is later in the day, ask the hotel to store your luggage, and spend a few final hours on The Walk at JBR, at the beach or at a mall near your hotel. Late checkout is sometimes possible, subject to availability and usually at extra cost, and it is worth asking, especially if you have an evening flight. Many hotels are happy to help honeymoon couples where they can.

Before leaving your room, check it carefully: the safe, the bathroom, the wardrobe and under the bed. Passports, phones, chargers, jewellery and sunglasses are the items most often left behind. Keep your passports, tickets and any bills for valuable purchases, especially gold and electronics, in your hand luggage. Pack perfumes and other liquids in your checked baggage, as the usual limits apply to hand luggage.

Dubai is a wonderful place to find gifts for family and friends back home. Popular choices include boxes of dates, some stuffed with almonds or covered in chocolate, Arabic sweets such as baklava and kunafa, camel-milk chocolate, oud perfumes and bakhoor incense, saffron from the Spice Souk, and small models of the Burj Khalifa. Many of these are also sold at the airport, so you can pick up anything you have forgotten.

At the agreed time, your private driver collects you from the hotel for the drive to Dubai International Airport. Allow plenty of time, especially at weekends and during holiday periods, when the airport is very busy. Check which terminal your flight leaves from before you set off: most international airlines use Terminal 1, flydubai uses Terminal 2, and Emirates uses Terminal 3.

If you have shopped in Dubai, you may be able to claim a VAT refund on eligible purchases. Look for the tax refund counters or self-service machines in the departures area, scan your passport and the tax-free tags from your shopping, and the refund is credited to your card or paid in cash. It only takes a few minutes. Remember, too, that Indian customs has limits on duty-free goods, gold and electronics, so declare anything over the allowance when you land.

Once you are through security, Dubai International has excellent restaurants, lounges and one of the largest duty-free areas in the world, a final chance to buy perfume, chocolates or a souvenir of your honeymoon. Find a quiet spot, look through your photographs together, and enjoy the last moments of your trip.

Leave a little time at the airport for the moments in between. Dubai International is open around the clock, and even late at night its restaurants, cafés and shops are busy. If you would like more comfort before your flight, lounges can be booked by the hour, with food, drinks, showers and quiet seating, a pleasant way to end your honeymoon.

As the plane lifts off and the city falls away below, you may see the Palm and the Burj Khalifa one last time. Many couples return to Dubai for their anniversaries, for the Dubai Shopping Festival or for a family holiday years later, and it is a city that always has something new to discover. Dubai also combines beautifully with the Maldives or Mauritius for a longer honeymoon, and with Abu Dhabi or Oman for a second visit.

When you are home, we would love to hear about your trip. Your feedback helps us improve our honeymoon packages, and your photographs and stories often inspire other couples planning their own journey. If you enjoyed your holiday, a short review on Google means a great deal to our small team.

Thank you for choosing Dreamland Vacations to plan your honeymoon. We wish you a lifetime of happiness together, and our team will stay in touch until you are safely home. When you are ready for your next journey together, we would love to help you plan it.

Included today: private departure transfer to Dubai International Airport, breakfast.

Good to know: choose a flight that leaves at least 3 hours after you reach the airport. Late checkout is subject to availability and may cost extra. Read our guide to the best time to visit Dubai for your anniversary trip.