When the beau and I traveled to Dubai, it happened to be our anniversary from when we eloped at City Hall. We knew we needed to mark the occasion with a romantic evening, and I will admit that it took a long time to find the perfect spot to celebrate. That’s not because there weren’t many options – quite the opposite! Dubai is full of magnificent date night spots, from elegant to casual, and it just came down to how we wanted to spend our evening. Since we has been staying in a very fast-paced, very busy area near the Burj Khalifa, so we wanted something a little removed from the city but not too far. We settled on the romantic location of Jumeirah Al Qasr, right on the Persian Gulf.
Sunset on the beach in Dubai was breathtaking and magical. The beau and I were early for dinner so we walked hand-in-hand along the beach. With our toes in the sand, we reflected on the years since we said “I do” at city hall in Hong Kong as happy families played in the sea. Glistening with the setting sun’s reflection in the water, the Burj al Arab in the distance was an emotional sight for me because I remembered when the famous 7-star hotel first opened and it was one of the reasons why I wanted to travel the world. I wanted to see such incredible places and now here I was in Dubai, celebrating my anniversary with the beau as our feet brushed against the Persian Gulf water.
For our anniversary dinner, we chose to dine at Al Nafoorah at Jumeirah Al Qasr. Arriving at Jumeirah Al Qasr felt like we were arriving at a majestic Arabian summer palace on the beach, which made us feel like royalty for the evening. After making our way through the entry archways and down an exquisite, dimly lit staircase, we found ourselves at Al Nafoorah. We chose to dine on the terrace, overlooking the Burj al Arab. Despite it being quite warm outside, the temperatures dipped as soon as the sun disappeared under the horizon as we sipped Lebanese red wine.
Whether it’s for a special date night or a romantic celebration, our anniversary dinner at Al Nafoorah was exceptional. This was my first taste of Lebanese cuisine and it certainly won’t be my last. And Lebanese wine? Absolutely delicious. A divine Lebanese dinner with a view on the beach? Sign me up again.
