By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 5 min read
A wedding car looks best when it is in the frame, and that needs a stop where the car can stand. This guide runs through the places that work in Dubai, in the order a day often follows, with the drive from the Burj Khalifa to each. The drive times assume free-flowing roads, taken from a mapping service (OSRM, using OpenStreetMap data). Traffic adds to them.
Where can you shoot wedding photos with a car in Dubai?
| Stop | Best for | Drive from Burj Khalifa |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of the Future | Modern shapes, Sheikh Zayed Road | 4 km, 5 min |
| Al Seef | Heritage buildings, the Creek | 7 km, 10 min |
| Al Fahidi | Wind-tower lanes | 10 km, 11 min |
| La Mer | Beach, low sun | 6 km, 9 min |
| Kite Beach | Sea, Burj Al Arab behind | 10 km, 13 min |
| Bluewaters | Marina skyline | 25 km, 24 min |
| Al Qudra | Desert roads, lakes | 54 km, 55 min |
| Hatta Dam | Mountains, green water | 108 km, 1 h 25 min |
| Jebel Jais | Mountain road | 158 km, 2 h 10 min |
Plan the order so the car does not cross the city twice. Our chauffeur confirms the exact stopping place for each with you before the day, because where a car can wait depends on the site. Ask us to confirm it for your route.
Old Dubai: Al Seef and Al Fahidi
Al Seef sits on the Creek in Bur Dubai. The buildings are designed to echo old Dubai, with wooden doors and wind towers, and the waterfront gives a long, even backdrop. It is 7 km from Downtown.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is the genuine old quarter, with narrow lanes and wind towers. It is 10 km from Downtown. The lanes are managed by Dubai Culture, so check whether a planned shoot needs approval, as our permits guide explains.
A classic car sits well here. Our guide to vintage wedding cars covers what is available through partners.
The modern skyline: Museum of the Future, Dubai Frame and Downtown
The Museum of the Future is 4 km from the Burj Khalifa on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the Dubai Frame is 7 km. Both have clean lines that frame a dark car. Downtown has the Burj Khalifa and its fountain pool, the busiest spot in the city after dark.
Go early in the morning if you want the area quiet. In the evening, crowds and event closures change where cars can stop; our guide to event road closures explains how to check.
Beach roads: La Mer, Kite Beach and Bluewaters
La Mer and Kite Beach are on the Jumeirah coast, 6 km and 10 km from Downtown. Kite Beach looks towards the Burj Al Arab, about 16 km from the Burj Khalifa. Bluewaters is 25 km away, on the Marina side, facing the skyline of Dubai Marina.
Beach stops work best in the last hour of light. On sand, a gown and a car do not mix, so stop the car on the hard standing and walk the last few metres.
Desert and lakes: Al Qudra and Al Marmoom
Al Qudra and Al Marmoom are desert areas south-east of the city.
The desert roads near Al Qudra are about 54 km from Downtown and give a long, empty road for a car shot. Take water, shade and shoes, and plan the return before dark. Our guide to desert wedding transport covers vehicles, tracks and timing, and our list of desert safari locations names the main areas.
For a desert wedding photo, a 4x4 matters off the tarmac. The Mercedes G-Class is the usual choice, as our G-Class and Range Rover comparison explains.
Day trips: Hatta Dam and Jebel Jais
Hatta Dam is 108 km from Downtown, about 1 h 25 min. Jebel Jais, in Ras Al Khaimah, is 158 km, about 2 h 10 min. Each is a full day with a car and a chauffeur. Start early, because the drive eats the light you came for. The Hatta Dam guide and Jebel Jais guide describe each stop. Our guide to Hatta and Jebel Jais by chauffeur car has the route and the timing.
Which car photographs best: Rolls-Royce, G-Class or Lamborghini Urus?
| Car | Suits | Seats in the rear |
|---|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce (Ghost, Phantom) | Heritage, hotels, formal portraits | 3 |
| Mercedes G-Class | Desert, mountain roads | 3 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Skyline, night shots | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Any stop, in the Assure fleet | 3 |
Rolls-Royce, G-Class and Lamborghini models come through our partner network, subject to availability. Every car has a chauffeur. See the fleet for seats and body styles, and our Rolls-Royce wedding car guide for the Ghost, Phantom and Cullinan.
A chauffeur also solves a practical problem: the couple sit in the back for the shot while someone else watches the car and the clock. Our comparison of an exotic car with a chauffeur against self-drive sets out the rest.
Do you need a permit?
Possibly, for a commercial shoot in a public place or at a heritage site. Hotels set their own rules. Read the wedding photography and drone permits guide and ask your photographer which permits they hold.
When to go: the light by month
Aim for the hour before sunset. Sunset on the 15th of each month, from NOAA solar equations, falls at about:
| Month | Sunset |
|---|---|
| January | 5:50 pm |
| March | 6:30 pm |
| May | 6:55 pm |
| June and July | 7:10 pm |
| September | 6:25 pm |
| November and December | 5:30 pm |
From May to September the afternoon heat is severe, so a late start suits the gown, the make-up and the car’s air conditioning. From November to March you can start earlier and visit two or three stops.
To put the car in the whole day, see the wedding car hire page, the limousine service and car with driver options. The full planning guide is wedding transport in Dubai.
Photos in this guide
Sheikh Zayed Road business district with the Emirates Towers and the Museum of the FutureEditQ / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
Wind towers and old coral-stone houses in Al Fahidi, Old DubaiEditQ / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
Red sand dunes in the desert outside DubaiGfilip / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Turquoise water of Hatta Dam between the Hajar MountainsChuck202 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
