Celebrating love that's made in Dubai

These UAE-based couples all met in the country and, today, they're happily engaged, married or busy parents!

Emma Norstrom & Alex Dunn
She's a Swedish communication and marketing director while he's the co-founder of Drawdeck.com and hails from England. Romance blossomed while working together and they got engaged just last year.

PHOTO CREDIT: Neeraj Murali
How did you first meet?
Emma: When I arrived in Dubai, I got a job working with the marketing agency Havas. Alex was already there working as a strategic planner, so we met for the first time in that office. We ended up working on a pitch for a new client together - which we won!
First impression?
Emma: Cute, but very quiet. He always had a cheeky smile.
Alex: I remember seeing her and thinking "wow"! I was running around the office and asking everyone, "Who is the new girl?".
First date?
Emma: I believe it was Fumé in Pier 7 in June/July 2016.
Alex: I thought it was at Reform Social & Grill in Jan 2017!
What does love mean to you?
Emma: Trust. Also, accepting each other's imperfections and respecting them. Not trying to change the person - even if they can annoy you to death sometimes!
Alex: Caring completely for someone else. Going out of your way for them and, even when you may have had an argument, you still wouldn't change a thing about them.
Kimberly & Denver Britto
The food bloggers behind WhereMyFoodAt didn't just meet in Dubai - they got engaged and married here too! She's a TV presenter while he's an aircraft mechanic, but they have so much in common - including a never-ending love for food. and each other

PHOTO CREDIT: Neeraj Murali
 
How did you first meet?
Kim: We studied in the same school as kids and have lived two blocks away our entire lives. But, funnily enough, since our school wasn't co-ed, we happened to first meet during university through mutual friends in 2011. It didn't take us long to start dating (less than a year, to be precise) and six years later, we got married!
First impression?
Kim: When I first met Den, I knew he was someone I would want to know and be close to for the rest of my life. Our conversations, especially our late night BBM sessions, went on for hours and were effortless. There was real talk, and not small talk, during our conversations, which I loved about us!
Den: When I first met Kim, I loved how easy she was to talk to. I felt the constant need to message her, to the extent where we started sharing every little detail about our day. It didn't take me long before I knew I could confide every little detail of my life with her.
First date?
Kim: Funnily enough, I don't remember the name of the restaurant (I'm sure it was a fast food joint) since it shut down a long time ago, but I remember it was in BurJuman and I remember us enjoying the company more than the food.
Den: We went to a tiny Italian restaurant in BurJuman where, in true WhereMyFoodAt fashion, we shared a family portion of Chicken Parmigiana (which actually serves four) between the two of us.
What does love mean to you?
Kim: Friendship first, compatibility next and, above all else, compromise. Love needs to be effortless, not forced, and that's exactly what I've found between Den and myself.
Den: Love is knowing there's someone you can depend on, share joy and sadness with and, most importantly, someone you can happily put on weight with.
Elsa Roodt & Nicholas Brooks

Elsa, who is from South Africa, is the co-founder of PR agency Q Communications, while Australian Nicholas Brooks is the CEO of Zaeto Green Lubricants and Grease. Today, the happily-married couple, who met at a networking event, are proud parents of a beautiful baby girl.


How did you first meet?
Elsa: We met in 2010. Nicholas was part of a breakfast networking group called BNI. I was invited as a guest to the breakfast and that is where we first met. This took place at 6.30 in the morning! Nicholas was at the little registration table, helped me register and welcomed me to the event.

First impression?
Elsa: He looked very stern and professional in his suit. He had a waistcoat on and I remember thinking how handsome he looked. He didn't pay much attention to me except to ask for the registration fee and welcome me in. He was really busy with a long line of guests waiting to be helped.
Nicholas: I met Elsa at a business breakfast group and my first impression, aside from her big brown eyes, was a smart, savvy and, yes, gorgeous girl.
First date?
Elsa: I was taken to LPM, and I remember being so impressed with his choice and that everyone there seemed to know him. Later on, I realised that some of my friends told him LPM was my favourite. The perfect date from start to finish!
Nicholas: Our first 'may I take you out' was to La Petite Maison after getting a much-needed inside scoop from her friends. You should always start something properly - never expect great things to come from poor effort.
What does love mean to you?
Elsa: Love is to accept, respect, honour and compromise. No one is perfect but when you find your other half who complements you and makes you better, you know you are one of the lucky ones.
Nicholas: Guys never use the right words, so I'll say this: love, for me, is when you want to find any excuse to just be with someone [who wants the same with you]. And then, when you have kids, love takes on a whole new meaning.