“Dubai has the best hotels in the world; the skyline is beautiful and elegant. The best brands in the world are all in Dubai which makes it very possible for busy couples such as the celebs to get all they want for the wedding within 24 hours of arrival in the city,” Ayo added.
Dr. Mary Alao, a pediatrician who is engaged, said she would also like to get married in Dubai.
“The wedding day is the happiest day in the life of a Nigerian lady and I would love to have it in the best place in the world, which we have been made to know is Dubai. I’m jealous of Tiwa and Annie, every single and married Nigerian lady is,” she said.
Local content and bringing the message home
Even though the weddings are taking place in Dubai, they are always Nigerian in nature because they are mostly put together by popular event organizers, wedding planners and staff. They usually liaise with an airline to offer plane charter services at discounted prices. This allows everyone — from the cake designer to the makeup artist, photographers, bodyguards and gossip bloggers — to make the trip and take selfies on the streets of Dubai to be posted on Instagram using an official hashtag.
It is therefore not a surprise to see Nigerian meals served at the reception.
Aware of the growing interest in getting married in Dubai from Nigeria, hotels in Dubai, especially the Burj Al Arab is sponsoring Nigeria-targeted ads on social media, notably Facebook, where it said it is taking romance to new heights. The hotel is offering couples opportunity to hold their weddings in the sky – at 696 feet above the azure Arabian Gulf on the hotel’s famous helipad. A good number of comments on the post were by Nigerians.
Taking over the Competition
Bunmi Olatunji, a travel agent said it is easier to organize weddings for Nigerians in Dubai than any other place in the world.
“In spite of the large turnouts at the weddings, you will never hear that someone was denied a visa at the UAE embassy because it is easier for Nigerians who have the money to go to Dubai than even some African countries,” he said.
According to him, London used to be competing with Dubai before a law made it more difficult for citizens of some countries including Nigeria to visit England.
“Even before they made the law, Nigerians had already fallen in love with Dubai because it satisfies the yearning for shopping, tall buildings, real estate, desert, sparkling waters and impressive architectural masterpieces in one place,” he said.
He added that security is another major reason why the celebrities are heading to Dubai.
“Even though they may not publicly admit it, Nigerian celebs are security-conscious and are aware of the spate of violence, bombings, kidnapping and unrests in the country. They also know that if they hold their weddings in Nigeria, it would attract attention – even from the perpetrators of the dastard acts who may have scores to settle with the celebs or just interested in the publicity they would get if for instance their bombs go off at the wedding service or reception,” he said.
“No celebrity would want — not if they can afford to hold it somewhere that is safer. Dubai is very safe, kidnapping and violence are not popular in the city.”
Trend, choice and taste are not permanent, they are bound to evolve. Currently, what is in vogue is getting married in Dubai; Monaco or Milan could be the next destination. Celebs may all decide to come back home as long as the destination is exotic, classy, accessible, elegant and most importantly, safe.
