Spectacular marriage proposals in the UAE, from Burj Khalifa moment to escape room engagement

Weddings are one of the happiest days in people’s lives. submit questions One of the most memorable — especially for this group of brides-to-be.

Hopeful suitors have taken their knees in increasingly complex situations in recent years, but the UAE is a country of the highest order, and marriage proposals are no exception.

We meet couples who start their happy lives in spectacular fashion, from flash mob and helicopter tours to sky pool And escape rooms, at all costs.

The highest proposal in the world

Ibrahim Zorub, 25, proposed to his fiancée Kamilla Bakytova, 23, through the 828-meter elevation, and he made a stunning proposal. Burj Khalifa projection.

The social media manager took his girlfriend of two years to the world’s tallest building under the pretext of filming a Coca-Cola ad.

When the dazzling light show began, Bakitova was stunned to see the words “Camilla, look behind you!” Flashes to the front of the building, then turns to find Zoroub with his knees bent, wearing a diamond ring of AED 1.6 million.

“It felt so surreal, but I wanted to have it and she deserved the best,” Zorub said. “It was totally magical and a dream come true for both of us.

“I was really nervous beforehand, but it was an incredible moment. Camilla was totally stunned with all our family and friends there. Thankfully she said yes.”

Zoroub planned the proposal over six days after entering a Coca-Cola contest on Instagram as part of a campaign for soft drink brand Real Magic.

He was shocked when the team contacted him two days later and started planning the projection. He then borrowed a huge diamond ring from a jeweler and gathered friends and family at the foot of the famous building.

“We all work in advertising, so it was a perfect strategy,” Zorub said. “It’s an exciting time, and despite the drama, the offer is real.”

The proposal also came as a surprise to Bakitova’s family in Kazakhstan, who only learned of Zorub’s intentions after seeing the video, which has now more than 400,000 views on Instagram.

“Fortunately, we have known each other’s families since then, and they have blessed us,” Zoroub said. “Now we are planning a wedding in Umm Al Quwain on November 11, followed by another wedding in Kazakhstan on the 15th.

“I think we’re lucky,” he said. “It was our dream proposal and it didn’t cost us a dirham.”

Proposal with no way out

The groom-to-be, Hiren Lilwa, did not hesitate to propose to Amrita Bhojwani, asking her to escape in the room.

The sales director took his girlfriend and a group of his friends to NoWayOut in Jumeirah Lakes Towers to celebrate his birthday, but it all surprised Bhojwani when Lilwa suddenly opened a locked grave to reveal a hidden engagement ring .

“We went to a mystery-themed escape room, and I hid the ring in a place that would normally be reserved for keys,” Lilwa said. “Luckily, she said yes, otherwise she’s still inside.”

The fun-loving couple often unwinds with puzzles and mystery games, but entrepreneur Bhojwani doesn’t know what’s going on until the ring is on her finger.

“I was completely stunned,” Bhojwani said. “I don’t know what he was doing when he got down on his knees, but I’m not surprised he would have done something different. That’s what he is.”

Proposal Queen

Dubai resident Caroline Ralston lives by love. The founder and CEO of Proposal Boutique has planned over 400 wedding proposals with a 100% success rate.

In 2014, Ralston, a former Emirates flight attendant from Cheshire, England, was inspired to start her proposal planning company after her now husband surprised her with a five-day proposal in New York.

Today, demand is very strong, with most proposals costing around AED 40,000, up to AED 500,000.

“Some of our proposals are large in scale, and there is nowhere to accomplish something as spectacular as the UAE,” she said.

“We have a client from Taiwan, Chen Huang, who completed three proposals in one day for his partner Susan Zhang.

“The first time was during a private helicopter flight, after which they were taken to a private garden by a Rolls-Royce, and the groom joined the flash mob, got down on one knee and proposed a second time.

“After that, they were taken in a limousine to the Burj Al Arab, where we rented an underwater restaurant full of her favourite flowers, a musician and deep diver who displayed underwater Signed a MARRY ME. He got down on one knee and proposed again with a third ring.

“Susan was stunned, but needless to say, he got three affirmations.”

Other memorable proposals from Ralston include the takeover of the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens Stadium, during which beloved Shaan Keswani proposed to his partner Angie and took over the pitch with giant letters, and a 2019-19 proposal.

“The couple, Asif and Minar, had their first date at the zoo, so we rented the entire zoo for their private proposal,” Ralston said.

“Then he got down on one knee and just in time offered the elephants to spray them with water, which is a good substitute for fireworks.”

Put on the ring in the infinity pool

Newlyweds Yash Patel, 28, and Kinna Abhani, 27, spent Dh45,000 on their Dubai deck for a sky-high proposal. Halo Tianchiat an evening organized by Ralston and her team.

Hundreds of white roses cover the entire deck of the 360-degree infinity pool, and a floral arch frames the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai skyline below.

But when Abani swept up to the 200-meter-high observation deck, she was not surprised to see Patel on one knee pulling out a dazzling diamond.

“Yash and I planned the proposal together,” she said. “I want everything to be perfect and the only way to guarantee that is to be involved.

“We invited our closest family and friends, a photographer and videographer to capture the magic, and enjoyed a five-star meal overlooking The Palm.

“I understand why some women might want to be surprised, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I want it to be perfect.”

The couple, from the Indian state of Gujarat, met on a marriage app in London, where they both work.

With the consent of Abhani’s father, Patel began planning a marriage proposal in Dubai, even though neither of them had been to Dubai before.

“We think Dubai is an extraordinary city and we couldn’t think of a more romantic place to start our life together,” Abhani said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Take romance to new heights

Peter Philip, 35, proposed to his girlfriend Sarah, 35, on the roof of the Sheikh Zayed Road Sheraton Hotel at Four Points in the centre of the helipad, where he had flowers for the occasion.

“I wanted to do something very special, so I hooked up with a friend from the hotel and had dinner on the helipad,” said Philippou, Voss water’s regional manager.

“It overlooks the Burj Khalifa, and I booked a guitarist to play our four-course serenade.”

Philippou invited the hotel manager to drag the couple to the rooftop to discuss a potential “work collaboration” and ended up on one knee in the dim light of the Dubai skyline.

“It was really nerve-wracking, she was completely stunned,” Philip said. “It’s definitely something neither of us will ever forget.”

Updated: August 8, 2022 4:14 AM