Here’s one absolute truth: Dubai has so much to offer newlyweds looking for a memorable honeymoon experience. It’s a very easy transition from any American city while still feeling wildly exotic and exciting. Additionally, Dubai is a major hub for airlines like Emirates (whose amazingly comfy business-class seats are like a preview of the luxury and hospitality you’ll experience in the city) and makes a great several-day stopover en route to other destinations in Europe, Africa, or Asia. Another major boon: It gets 300-plus days of sunshine a year.
If you know anything about Dubai, you know it’s a place that’s striving to be the best—at everything. The luxury hub of the United Arab Emirates, it’s a place made up of expats (only a small percentage of the population is native) who share the great vision of toppling world records and stereotypes. It has some of the world’s best shopping, tallest architecture (the Burj Khalifa, at 2,717 feet, can’t be missed, and there’s a gorgeous new Danish-designed opera house), richest dining experiences, and even an indoor ski resort. Yet, a couple decades ago, none of that existed.