If you're planning a wedding or event in the UAE this winter, most of your protection comes from the contract you sign, not from insurance or the law. Before you pay any deposit, read five things: the payment schedule, the postponement terms, the cancellation terms, the force majeure clause, and the governing law. Below is what each one means, what UAE law says, and why insurance probably isn't the safety net you think it is.

This isn't legal advice. I'm an event planner, not a lawyer, and for a significant contract you should speak to a UAE-licensed lawyer. But I've spent twenty years in UAE hospitality, and I've sat on both sides of these conversations. These are the things I'd want a friend to know.

Why this question matters more in 2026

It's been a hard year for the region's events industry. Since the strikes on Iran began on 28 February, more than 100 events across four Gulf states have been cancelled, postponed or relocated.

The picture has improved since then. UAE hospitality leaders now describe the sector as moving from crisis into recovery, and they expect the usual winter boost. Emirates carried 8.7 million passengers in July and August, up from 4.7 million in March and April.

So the season is coming back. But couples and companies are asking better questions before they sign, and they should.

What does UAE law say about cancelling an event?

The key provision is Article 273 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law. In a contract where both sides have obligations, if force majeure makes performance impossible, the obligation ends and the contract is cancelled automatically. If only part of the contract becomes impossible, only that part ends.

Three things follow from that:

1. "Impossible" means impossible. UAE courts treat force majeure narrowly. A property-law analysis puts it bluntly: circumstances that make paying painful or financially difficult generally don't make it objectively impossible. A wedding that's harder to attend isn't the same as a wedding that can't happen.

2. Foreseeability matters. Force majeure is traditionally about events nobody could have predicted. One 2026 analysis argues that a pandemic no longer qualifies as unforeseeable. The same logic may apply to regional disruption for anyone signing a contract now, when the conflict is already known.

In plain terms: if you sign today, don't rely on the general law to cover a risk everyone can already see. Write it into your contract.

3. The contract comes first. Under UAE law, force majeure is primarily governed by the contract's own wording. That wording decides which events count, whether performance is suspended or excused, what notice you must give, and when you can terminate. The clause you sign matters more than the general principle.

Will insurance cover my wedding or event if something happens?

Probably not for anything conflict-related:

Event policies exclude war. Event cancellation policies generally carry a blanket exclusion for war and military action.
The "known event" date has passed. Insurers are treating 28 February 2026 as the date the conflict became a known event. Policies bought after that date won't cover disruption caused by it.
War cover must be clearly stated. Under UAE law, war exclusions must be clearly written and disclosed to be enforceable, so read your policy carefully.

Insurance can still be worth having for other risks, such as illness, a supplier failing or extreme weather. But don't treat it as your plan for this one.

The five clauses to read before you pay a deposit

1. The payment schedule. What's due and when, and which parts are refundable. A healthy structure has a modest non-refundable booking fee, then staged payments that follow the real costs as they're committed. Be wary of any contract that wants most of the money months out.

2. Postponement terms. This is the most important clause this year. Can you move the date, how far out, how many times, and is your money carried over as a credit? Postponement is almost always a better outcome than cancellation, for both sides.

3. Cancellation terms. If you cancel, what do you lose? Look for a sliding scale that reflects what the planner has actually spent, rather than a flat "all deposits forfeited."

4. Force majeure. Does it name the events that worry you? Look for explicit wording covering regional conflict, airspace or airport closures, government directives, and official travel advisories. Check what happens when one is triggered: postponement first, or immediate refund?

5. Governing law and jurisdiction. Which country's law applies, and which courts? For a UAE event with a UAE planner, UAE law makes sense, but you should know which emirate's courts would hear a dispute.

How we structure our own agreements

Being transparent: our Event Services Agreements start with an engagement fee of AED 3,000 plus VAT. It's non-refundable and credited in full against the event price if you go ahead with us. The agreement is governed by UAE law, with Abu Dhabi Courts having jurisdiction.

Hotels and venues are the big one

Your planner's contract is usually a fraction of the total. Hotel and venue contracts carry the big numbers: food and beverage minimums, room blocks, and attrition clauses that charge you for rooms your guests don't use. Before you sign one:

Negotiate a rebooking credit. Ask that any postponement carries all deposits to a new date.
Push back on attrition. Get the room-block release dates set as late as possible.
Ask what the hotel's own force majeure clause says. Get it in writing.
Use this year's leverage. Hotels are cutting rates by up to 15% to fill winter, so this is a good year to ask for better terms, not just better prices.

Questions to ask your planner before you sign

What exactly is non-refundable, and why?
If we need to postpone, what do we lose?
Which supplier contracts will you sign on our behalf, and on what terms?
What happens to our money if a venue cancels?
Can we see your force majeure clause before we pay anything?

A good planner will answer all five without flinching. If someone gets defensive, that tells you what the next six months will feel like.

A calm word on the season

People in my business tend to either oversell or panic. Here's what I actually see: enquiries are coming back, hotels are preparing for a strong December, and the couples booking now are simply booking smarter. Clear contracts are good for everyone, us included. The best client relationships I've had started with the hardest questions.

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FAQ

Can I get my wedding deposit back in the UAE?

It depends on your contract. Most planners and venues keep a non-refundable booking fee. The rest depends on the cancellation and postponement terms you signed. Read them before you pay.

What is force majeure under UAE law?

Under Article 273 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law, if an event makes performance of a contract impossible, the obligation ends and the contract is cancelled automatically. Courts interpret it narrowly, and the contract's own clause usually governs.

Does event cancellation insurance in the UAE cover war or regional conflict?

Generally no. Event cancellation policies usually exclude war and military action, and insurers treat 28 February 2026 as a known-event date for the current conflict.

Should I postpone or cancel if something disrupts my event?

Postponement usually protects more of your money. Check whether your contract allows it, how far out, and whether your payments carry over as credit.

What should a wedding planner contract in Dubai include?

A clear payment schedule, postponement terms, a cancellation scale, a force majeure clause naming specific events, and a governing law and jurisdiction clause.

Is this legal advice?

No. It's practical guidance from an event planner. For significant contracts, consult a UAE-licensed lawyer.

If you'd like to see our agreement before we talk about flowers, just ask. Clear terms first, beautiful day second: that's the right order.

— Ankur Bagga, Qrated Event

Planning a Wedding or Event in the UAE This Season: Deposits, Contracts and What Happens If Plans Change