Dubai hotels to see cash boost from UK royal wedding

Dubai hotels are forecasting a boost in revenues on Friday as Royal fans flock to events across the city to celebrate the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

Dubai Polo Club has organised a ‘royal wedding garden party’ but the event sold out in days when it was announced three weeks ago.

Some 800 guests will celebrate with a screening of the wedding ceremony, along with a traditional British buffet and disco late into the night.

The iconic Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah is also embracing the nuptials this weekend, and is set to carry on into next week. The resort will be hosting wedding themed afternoon teas over the next week and is expecting a surge of customers on the wedding day itself.

According to Heiko Schreiner, senior vice president of food and beverage at the resort; “We’re expecting large numbers of guests,” with the hotel’s Seafire steakhouse already booked out for its Brit-themed lunch.

The celebrations aren’t expected to be confined to British expatriates. James Young, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Dubai, said the hotel’s royal celebrations had attracted a flood of interest from all nationalities.

“The Royal Wedding seems to have hit a chord with a wider market than just the British and is a great reflection of the city’s love of occasion,” he told Arabian Business.”We anticipate a great turn out for our truly British affair with a right royal spread.”

The UAE capital is also getting in on the celebrations with a string of events. Abu Dhabi Golf Club is hosting a themed brunch while the Club in Mina Port will play host to two rival events; one by the St David’s Society and another by the Royal Society of St George.