West Asia looks to tie the knot with India

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Key points

• Indian destination weddingsDubai destination weddingsWest Asia weddingsRas Al Khaimah weddingsdestination wedding bookings 2027Dubai wedding plannersOman destination weddingsIndian wedding season 2027destination wedding incentivesluxury weddings in UAE.
• (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.).
• Dubai-based wedding planner Vaibbhav Anju Arora, cofounder at Ikigaii Planners, remarked his business was getting a lot of requests for the January-March quarter.
• Wedding industry executives ET spoke with remarked they kicked off getting inquiries for the first quarter of 2027.
• Indian destination wedding bookings in Dubai and other West Asian destinations are showing signs of recovery after cancellations earlier this year against the backdrop of Iran war worries.

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Band, Baaja, Back? West Asia looks to tie the knot with India.

Band, Baaja, Back? West Asia looks to tie the knot with India. ET BureauLast Updated: Sep 26, 2026, 01: 03: 00 AM IST.

Indian destination wedding bookings in Dubai and other West Asian destinations are showing signs of recovery after cancellations earlier this year against the backdrop of Iran war worries. While destinations such as Ras Al Khaimah are offering incentives including complimentary visas, airport transfers and charter flight benefits to attract Indian couples, wedding planners are reporting rose enquiries for January-March 2027.

After a string of cancellations during the marriage season earlier this year against the backdrop of worries over the Iran war, wedding planners and hoteliers in Dubai and elsewhere in West Asia are hoping for a revival in bookings for Indian destination weddings. Wedding industry executives ET spoke with remarked they kicked off getting inquiries for the first quarter of 2027. Some local authorities are chipping in with sweeteners to create the destinations more enticing. In the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, the local tourism authority offers complimentary visas for site visits to free parking for chartered aircraft bringing wedding parties. Meanwhile, the peak wedding season in India starts in November and lasts until February-March.

Dubai-based wedding planner Vaibbhav Anju Arora, cofounder at Ikigaii Planners, remarked his business was getting a lot of requests for the January-March quarter. "People took their time and were a little scared initially, but now the market has opened up, " he remarked. "We are seeing demand from India and now even from the UK." Live Events.

There is additionally local demand from UAE residents. "Individuals who would normally prefer destination weddings in other countries are choosing to have their weddings in the UAE itself. That demand has surged, particularly in Q4 of 2026 and Q1 of 2027, " Arora remarked. "The volumes are still way lower than last year, but have picked up now." The Indian wedding market is an significant one for Ras Al Khaimah, stated Iyad Rasbey, vice president, destination tourism development, at the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. "We are seeing a strong increase in inquiries for Q1 of 2027, especially around the auspicious dates between January 15 and March 15." Ras Al Khaimah has designed a wedding incentive programme to backing couples and planners from the planning stage through to the wedding. For qualifying weddings generating 150 or more room nights, the programme offers complimentary visas and airport transfers for site inspections for up to six guests, along with dedicated planner incentives. Couples can additionally benefit from complimentary room or suite upgrades and luxury limousine airport pickups. At the airport, benefits include 24-hour free parking for wedding charter flights, a 50% discount on VIP terminal services, complimentary porter service for the couples and free parking access for wedding guests. Though the upcoming season is projected to be softer, stated Krupa Khimji, founder of Mosaic Events Oman, a Muscat-based wedding planning and event management firm, in Oman, the Indian destination wedding segment remains the largest international wedding segment. "Local weddings, social events, corporate events, leisure business and conferences are all continuing. The hesitation we are hearing from international destination wedding clients is less regarding Oman specifically and more concerning uncertainty around the wider West Asia, " noted Khimji. "Oman is perceived as being neutral and is considered the Switzerland of West Asia. There has been a reduction in the number of weddings but it's not a situation where there is nothing, " she continued. Add Now!

For now, west Asia looks to tie the knot with India remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.