An Interview with Luxury Wedding Designer & Planner Zainab Al Salih of Carousel
Zainab Al Salih, Founder and Creative Director of Carousel Weddings and Events, leads one of the most popular and well-known luxury event and wedding planning companies in the UAE.
With a background in Business Administration and a career that began in banking, Zainab found her true calling over 15 years ago, establishing Carousel as a bespoke firm specializing in comprehensive planning, innovative design, and flawless execution of weddings, corporate activations, and social events.
Carousel's philosophy, rooted in the belief of "Solve et coagula" – to dissolve and recompose elements to create something extraordinary – drives her mission to craft dream weddings and events that transcend expectations.
Zainab, who has called Dubai home for 28 years, is renowned for her natural grace, multicultural understanding, and obsessive attention to detail. "Carousel is all about creating dream weddings. It is our mission to help a bride enjoy the most important day of her life. We are a boutique wedding design, planning, and event management firm," Zainab emphasizes. Her dedication to bringing joy and creating deeply personal works of art has solidified Carousel's reputation as a globally recognized leader in luxury event design.
Join us as we delve deeper with Zainab Al Salih, exploring her insights into the evolving world of luxury events, her creative process, and the passion that continues to drive Carousel Weddings and Events to new heights.
How has Carousel Events' approach to luxury design evolved over 15 years, adapting to global client expectations?
Over the past 15 years, Carousel Events has grown from a boutique event agency into one of the region’s most respected names in luxury experiences. Our design philosophy has evolved alongside a more discerning, globally influenced clientele who seek more than visual impact. Today’s clients want meaning, personalization, and a cohesive emotional journey.
Since our inception, we have steadily expanded our services in-house, from floral design and creative direction to full-scale production and project management. This has allowed us to maintain creative control, elevate quality, and enhance speed and efficiency.
We have also broadened our offering to include luxury weddings, corporate events, brand activations, social celebrations, immersive installations, and interior design. This depth and diversity allow us to approach every project holistically, while tailoring each experience with the same care and creativity that define our brand.
Beyond your book, what new elements truly solidify Dubai as a premier global luxury wedding destination?
Dubai continues to raise the bar when it comes to hosting extraordinary celebrations. Beyond its iconic venues and accessibility, what truly sets it apart is its creative freedom and world-class infrastructure. It is one of the few cities in the world where ambitious visions can become reality with precision and speed.
What excites clients today is the ability to create unique, multicultural celebrations that blend tradition with innovation. Dubai’s diverse and talented network of artisans, chefs, and creators supports this beautifully.
Combined with the stability, service culture, and architectural backdrop the city provides, it is no surprise that Dubai is now firmly on the global luxury wedding map.
See: La Luce: Tradition Meets Love in This Stunning Wedding in Dubai by Carousel
How do Carousel Events' in-house design, production, and management capabilities uniquely enhance the client experience?
Our in-house model allows us to deliver creative concepts with unmatched precision. From the first sketch to the final installation, every step is executed by our own team, which ensures consistency, quality, and accountability. This eliminates the need for external coordination and minimizes communication gaps.
Clients benefit from a fully integrated process where design, production, florals, and management work in harmony. The result is not just beautiful events but also efficient planning, responsive support, and flawless delivery. Whether it is a last-minute design change or a custom fabrication, we are able to respond quickly and confidently because we control every aspect of execution.
What core philosophies or strategies guide your work across Carousel’s distinct luxury weddings and corporate activations?
At the heart of Carousel’s approach is the belief that every element must have purpose and meaning. Whether we are designing a wedding or a corporate experience, our focus is on storytelling and emotional resonance. We look at each event as a journey, where every detail contributes to the overall impact.
We are also deeply committed to excellence in both aesthetics and hospitality. It is not only about how the event looks, but how it makes people feel. From spatial planning to music, scent, lighting, and flow, we craft environments that are immersive and intentional. This mindset is applied across every vertical we serve, from private celebrations to large-scale brand activations.
How do you consistently translate a client's abstract vision into the opulent, signature experiences Carousel is known for?
Most clients come to us with an idea or a feeling rather than a full concept. Our job is to translate that into a living, breathing environment that exceeds expectations. We begin by listening closely, gathering visual and emotional cues, and then guiding the client through a curated design process that includes moodboards, spatial layouts, material palettes, and sensory elements.
Because we manage all key components in-house, there is no dilution of the original vision. Everything is aligned under one creative direction, from florals to fabrication. Our team ensures that every moment and material contributes to a cohesive narrative, resulting in experiences that are luxurious, distinctive, and deeply personal.
What emerging luxury event trends excite you most, and how is Carousel Events preparing to lead the future?
We are inspired by the shift toward conscious, intentional luxury. Clients are asking for experiences that are not only spectacular but also thoughtful, authentic, and sustainable. There is growing interest in meaningful design, ethical sourcing, and emotional storytelling.
Another exciting development is the blending of technology and design to create immersive, interactive experiences. From dynamic lighting to digital art and sensory mapping, the possibilities are endless.
We are also exploring new collaborations with artists, architects, and technologists to stay ahead of the curve while maintaining the human touch that defines our work. It is this balance of future-forward thinking and timeless elegance that continues to set us apart.
