The news that many couples have been waiting for: restrictions for gatherings, weddings & events in the UAE are set to ease, allowing larger weddings to reach guest lists of up to 300 people.

Making table arrangements for the big day may have just gotten a whole lot easier for our budding brides & grooms in the UAE looking to get married in Dubai and the surrounding Emirates. On Sunday 8^th August 2021, The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority released new rules concerning coronavirus restrictions, whilst the country saw its lowest daily case numbers since late May.

Many rules for weddings and private gatherings have been steadily easing since the start of the year, where others remain firmly in place. Back in May this year, Dubai increased wedding guest list capacity from 50-100ppl and jumped from 10- 30ppl for private gatherings. With the latest developments released by NCEMA to affect the whole of the UAE, we expect many venues to welcome bigger events as long as their space allows for it.

NEW RULES FOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS, WEDDINGS & EVENTS IN THE UAE

• Wedding halls and other events can operate at 60 per cent capacity at a maximum of 300ppl
• Hotels can run at full capacity
• Up to 10 people can sit together at a cafe or restaurant
• Cinemas, recreational facilities, galleries and museums will be allowed an 80 per cent operating capacity.

Note: Masks are here to stay and all wedding guests will be expected to wear them except when seated or eating.

Although the likes of a good-old dabke or conga-line are still somewhere out there in the distance for weddings in the UAE, the new capacity allowances will undoubtedly relieve many from the hard task of axing +1’s and facing difficult conversations surrounding wedding invites. Just as well too! Whilst UK expats celebrate the UAE moving from the UK’s red list to amber, British brides and grooms can finally wed in the UAE expecting their loved ones to fly in & join them.

COVID has undoubtedly changed the wedding landscape the world over. Not least by grinding them to a halt but also shifting trends from big-bashes in favour of an intimate family soiree, or scrapping the guests all-together and opting for a not-so-far-away elopement. Bride Club looks forward to seeing how the evolution of Dubai wedding trends pan out given the latest developments to hit the industry.

If you’re planning a UAE wedding, we’d love to hear how and if at all, the new guest list capacity changes your decision making. Or perhaps you’d parked your dream wedding in the hopes for a return to ‘normal’ and will now reconsider… Bride Club would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

Remember to follow us on Instagram via @brideclubme for the latest updates and developments, along with all things Weddings on our website – the UAE’s premier online information resource, for UAE based brides-to-be and brides from afar looking to get married in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Search our vendor club for vetted and approved vendors and venues, or Whattsapp our FREE concierge 05858BRIDE for our venue and vendor matchmaking service.

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