Almara Garden Estate

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our services.

How many guests can the estate hold?

The walled garden seats 220 for a banquet or holds 300 standing, and the glasshouse seats 120 with a dance floor or 90 with a stage. The lawn ceremony terrace takes 240 in rows. Our minimum for a Friday or Saturday in season is 100 guests; smaller weddings are welcome midweek.

What does a wedding here actually cost?

Venue hire is AED 45,000 for a full day in peak season, October to April, and AED 28,000 from May to September. Catering starts at AED 420 per guest for a seated three-course dinner and AED 340 for a standing canapé reception. So a 150-guest October Saturday lands around AED 108,000 before flowers, entertainment and drinks.

What is included in venue hire?

Twelve hours of exclusive access from setup to strike, tables, Chiavari chairs, house linen and glassware, the sound system for ceremony and speeches, garden and pathway lighting, bridal suite and two changing rooms, security, and a dedicated venue manager on the day. Not included: flowers, styling, entertainment, cake, and any drinks package.

How do I hold a date?

A date is only held once we receive a signed booking form and AED 15,000 deposit, which comes off your final bill. Until then it stays available and we will tell you honestly if another couple is looking at the same Saturday. Verbal holds from a tour last seven days and then release automatically.

Can we bring our own caterer or planner?

Planners yes, and most of our couples bring one. Catering must come from our approved list of five kitchens because of the on-site kitchen setup and municipality food handling requirements. If you have a specific cuisine we cannot cover — a particular South Indian or Levantine kitchen, for example — bring it to us and we will look at approving them for your date.

Can we serve alcohol?

Yes, through a licensed supplier arranged by us; the estate itself does not hold a retail licence and you cannot bring your own. Drinks packages run from AED 220 per guest for four hours of house wine, beer and soft drinks up to AED 480 for a full bar with spirits. Plenty of our couples run a dry wedding and we adjust the timeline and mocktail service accordingly.

What time can we go on and how late can music run?

Access from 8:00am with guest arrival any time after 3:00pm. Amplified music outdoors must stop at 11:30pm under our community agreement, which is firm — we lose the licence otherwise. The party can continue inside the glasshouse at reduced volume until 1:00am, and everyone needs to be off site by 2:00am.

Is there parking and can guests stay nearby?

There are 90 on-site spaces plus valet, and we run a shuttle from the overflow lot for anything above 150 guests. We do not have rooms on site, but the estate is eight minutes from hotels on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and we hold a small allocation of discounted rooms for couples who ask.

What if we have to cancel or move the date?

One date change is free if made more than 120 days out, subject to availability and any seasonal price difference. Cancellations more than 180 days ahead lose the AED 15,000 deposit only; inside 90 days we retain 50 percent of the contracted value, and inside 30 days the full amount. We strongly recommend wedding insurance.