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A gazelle on a dune at sunset in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
A gazelle on a dune at sunset in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve · Photo: Florian Kriechbaumer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai coast seen from the International Space Station
Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai coast seen from the International Space Station · Photo: NASA / Tim Kopra, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Dunes and shrubs of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, seen from above at dawn
Dunes and shrubs of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, seen from above at dawn · Photo: Florian Kriechbaumer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Honeymoon in Dubai in 8 days

8 days · Newlyweds, couples celebrating an anniversary · November to April

Eight days for two in Dubai, in three settings: three nights at Bvlgari Resort on Jumeira Bay island, two nights in a pool villa at Al Maha in the heart of the desert reserve, then two nights at One&Only The Palm. With a sunrise balloon flight and two restaurants holding two Michelin stars, one in each beach hotel.

from 5,520 € per person

Price collected on 19 October 2026. Based on 2 adults, listed hotels and activities, full board at Al Maha; flights, transfers, meals outside Al Maha and any per-night tourism tax not included. Indicative price, taxes included, to be confirmed with your request.

Itinerary

  1. Days 1–4 Jumeira Bay, Jumeirah · 3 nights — Bvlgari Resort Dubai
  2. Days 4–6 Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve · 2 nights — Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
  3. Days 6–8 Palm Jumeirah · 2 nights — One&Only The Palm

Activities included in the indicative price

  • Burj Khalifa: levels 124, 125 and 148 · 78 € per person

    Public price collected on: Civitatis — accessed 19 October 2026

  • Sunrise hot-air balloon flight · 245 € per person

    Public price collected on: Civitatis — accessed 19 October 2026

Three settings for a week for two

A honeymoon in Dubai comes down to a contrast: sea and desert, less than an hour's drive apart. This trip arranges it in three parts, each in a hotel that is a world of its own: an island, a villa in the dunes, a beach resort in the style of an Andalusian palace. Journeys are short and days are free.

The best time is November to April: highs of 24 to 34 °C and a sea of 22 to 28 °C. Balloon flights only run from October to May.

Part one: the Bvlgari island

The hotel

Bvlgari Resort Dubai occupies Jumeira Bay island, linked to the Jumeirah shore by a 300-metre bridge, 25 minutes by car from Dubai International Airport (DXB). It has 101 rooms and suites and 20 villas, a 46-berth marina with its Yacht Clvb, a beach club, the Serpenti Beach Clvb, and a 1,700 m² spa with a hammam and a 25-metre indoor pool. Rates were found from about €1,345 a night for a double room in March 2027, with any per-night tourism tax on top.

Three days without leaving the island

The Bvlgari lends itself to days without a plan: beach in the morning, spa in the afternoon. In the evening, two starred restaurants are in the hotel: Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Italian cuisine with two stars in the Michelin Guide Dubai 2026, and Hōseki, with one star. Half a day is enough to leave the island and go up Burj Khalifa: the level 148 observatory, with its lounge and Arabic sweets, was found from about €77 per person; go up in the late afternoon to watch the sun set over the Gulf.

Part two: the dunes of Al Maha

The villa

Al Maha is the only hotel in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), 225 km² of protected dunes that are home to about 400 Arabian oryx. The hotel is about 45 minutes from the airport, off the Al Ain road. Each of its 42 villas has its own private pool facing the dunes. Stays are full board, with two activities per person per night: a wildlife drive to see the oryx, camel riding, falconry, horse riding, archery or a nature walk. Al Maha also offers dinner in the dunes, dinner on your villa terrace and a floating breakfast in the pool. Rates were found from about €1,880 a night in March 2027, full board and activities included, with any per-night tourism tax on top.

The balloon flight

The sunrise hot-air balloon flight takes off over the desert from the Al Ain road. Pick-up is before dawn, between 3 am and 5 am local time depending on the season. The flight listed in this trip, transfer and a drink included, was found from about €245 per person. The best night to schedule it is your second at Al Maha: you are back for breakfast.

Part three: One&Only The Palm

The hotel

One&Only The Palm is an intimate beach resort on Palm Jumeirah, facing Dubai's skyscrapers. Its rooms, suites and villas are spread between a Manor House and low-rise Andalusian-style residences. It has a private beach, three pools including the adults-only Safina, and the only Guerlain spa in the UAE. Rates were found from about €1,300 a night for a double room in March 2027, with any per-night tourism tax on top.

Yannick Alléno's table

Keep the last evening for STAY by Yannick Alléno, in the hotel itself, awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide Dubai 2026.

Dubai's great tables

The 5th Michelin Guide Dubai, published on 6 October 2026, lists 20 starred restaurants. The top six:

RestaurantStarsAddress
FZN by Björn Frantzén3Palm Jumeirah, Crescent Road
Trèsind Studio3St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito2Bvlgari Resort, Jumeira Bay
STAY by Yannick Alléno2One&Only The Palm
Orfali Bros2Wasl 51, Jumeirah 1
Row on 452Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina

Several restaurants in the guide are currently closed, some of which have kept their stars, so Sabaro checks each one is open before booking. Our food and dining theme covers other tables.

Rules to know as a couple

  • Public displays of affection are forbidden in the UAE, the French, British and Belgian foreign ministries point out: keep tender moments for the hotel.
  • Unmarried couples: sex outside marriage is generally legal from 18, but a complaint by a relative can lead to prosecution, according to the UK and Belgium. Same-sex relations are illegal.
  • Alcohol is served to over-21s in licensed hotels and restaurants; public drunkenness is an offence. Our Dubai alcohol and conduct guide has the details.

Keep an eye on the regional situation. Foreign ministries do not all give the same advice. Your country's advice:

Your country's advice is shown in the box at the top of the page.

Taking or sharing pictures of impact sites, debris or the security situation is a criminal offence. Our guide to Dubai and the regional situation has the details. The honeymoon theme gathers more ideas for two.

Read next

Frequently asked questions

How much does a honeymoon in these hotels cost?

The three hotels were found at between about €1,300 and €1,880 a night for two in March 2027, with any tourism tax on top; the trip price is calculated from these rates and the listed activities.

Do we need to be married to share a room?

According to the UK and Belgium, sex outside marriage is generally legal from 18; a complaint by a relative can still lead to prosecution, and discretion in public is expected.

Can we book the starred restaurants in advance?

Yes, and it is advisable: Sabaro books tables with your stay and checks they are open, as several restaurants in the guide are temporarily closed.

Is the balloon flight possible all year?

No: flights run from October to May.

Can we swap a hotel?

Yes. Other beach hotels are on our Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah pages, and Bab Al Shams offers another desert stop, on our desert page.

Request this trip

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Our sources: nodc.noaa.gov, seatemperature.info, diplomatie.gouv.fr, diplomatie.belgium.be, auswaertiges-amt.de, gov.uk, bulgarihotels.com, civitatis.com, ddcr.org, marriott.com, uae.heroballoonflights.com, tui.co.uk, oneandonlyresorts.com, gulfnews.com, thenationalnews.com, guide.michelin.com.

Published 20 October 2026 · updated 22 October 2026

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