Glad everyone's happy.
Zu, have you found out anything yet about being a celebrant in Dubai?
As I mentioned before, Dave and I got married in Bangladesh, and that was a bit of a palaver. We basically had the choice of a Muslim or a Christian marriage ceremony. We didn't want either. In some places (as I understand it) you can get the Ambassador to do it at the British Embassy, but as Bangladesh is a Commonwealth country and therefore we have a High Commission there, not an Embassy, that wasn't an option.
Eventually, someone told us that there was one man - a Christian "pastor" - who was authorised to do the ceremony in our house. It was a Christian ceremony but we didn't have to go to church. Just us and two witnesses. The worst bit about the whole thing was trying to stop the "pastor" nicking drinks from our fridge and putting them in his briefcase.
I hope you do keep in touch because it's an important issue. There are probably lots of people wondering how best to do it. Our Plan B was to go to Bangkok and try to get the Ambassador to do the legal stuff. But it was so much nicer to get married in our "home" and go down the road for our reception/party.
I bet this is something that many have to face, so thanks for raising the issue.