In recent times, Dubai has seen a surge in gender reveal parties, emerging as an elaborate, expensive, and extensive celebration among expectant parents, fuelled by influencers on social media and the “pressure to create content that stands out.”
However, in a race to cash in on viral trends, industry experts caution against “overly elaborate” gender reveals, fearing backlash from audiences.
“There can be negative impacts, particularly when the focus shifts too heavily towards creating viral content at the expense of authenticity. There’s also the risk of backlash if the reveal is perceived as overly extravagant or insensitive, especially in the current climate where audiences are more conscious of social issues,” Dubai-based influencer marketing manager, Ana Gixhari, said in an exclusive interview with Arabian Business.
Dubai-based event planning company, The Big Night Events, revealed that some parents are spending over $100,000 for these extravagant single-day celebrations, with each idea outdoing the last.
From drone shows to Burj Khalifa displays, skydivers with coloured smoke, and hot-air balloons, the popularity of gender reveal parties is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down.
Last year, Kris Fade and Brianna Fade, cast members of Dubai Bling, hosted an extravagant gender reveal celebration. The event featured Virgin Radio-branded caps in blue and pink, along with balloons and a 360 photobooth. The baby’s gender was dramatically unveiled by skydivers releasing blue smoke into the sky, accompanied by blue balloons cascading down.
“We have observed a significant surge in demand for elaborate and personalised gender reveal parties from our clients, largely driven by the influence of social media and high-profile influencers and viral content,” said Kunal Rupani, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Big Night Events.
TikTok and Instagram have fuelled a “significant rise in the demand for gender reveals among influencer clients, especially in Dubai… influencers often feel the need to outdo previous reveals to capture the attention of their audience,” Gixhari explained.
Another Dubai-based influencer couple Nora and Khalid, expecting their first child, made headlines recently with their gender reveal party featuring a drone show.
“Btw this was the first ever Gender Reveal Drone show in the Middle East and I can‘t find the words to describe how beautiful intimate and personal this moment was,” the influencers said in the caption of their Instagram post which gained two million likes and over 10K comments.
Gauri Chadha, co-founder and creative director at The Big Night Events, calls this a “prime example” of the scale of recent gender reveal events, “This high-profile celebration not only reflects the extravagant lifestyle in the UAE but also serves as a benchmark for others seeking to create similarly impressive and personalised experiences,” she said.
Revealing the cost behind reveals
As the trend grows, so does the price tag associated with these gender reveal celebrations. The average cost for a celebration ranges from a whopping $50,000 to $100,000, depending on the level of creativity and customisation involved, The Big Night Events revealed.
For influencers, on average “gender reveals in Dubai might range from AED10,000 to AED100,000 or more, depending on factors like location, props, and production quality,” Gixhari explained.
“Our clients often have very specific and detailed visions for their celebrations. This shift towards personalised experiences means that the costs associated with these parties can vary significantly,” Rupani said.
“Unique and memorable” requirements that align with individual preferences often mean that the cost associated with such events is reflective of the sheer scale and execution of these ideas.
One of the most expensive parties planned by Rupani and Chadha which they described as “the most special and intimate” cost a staggering $140,000. At this event, every aspect was “carefully customised” including the food, dessert, gender-themed ice cream and exclusive reveal elements such as smoke machines, streamers, confetti and exclusive lighting effects.
However, as the trend explodes, Gixhari alerts that “meaningful moments and authentic expressions of joy,” often has more impact with an audience as compared to “overly staged or extravagant reveals.”
She cautions against a recent shift in audience sentiment towards elaborate gender reveals.
“There has been a slight shift, with some audiences growing weary of overly elaborate reveals. We advise influencers to be mindful of this and to consider opting for more intimate or meaningful reveals that focus on the joy of the moment rather than just the spectacle,” she said.
Coloured smoke, drone shows and the element of surprise
The evolution of gender reveal parties in Dubai has seen a drastic shift from traditional methods like cake or balloons to more grand and immersive experiences.
“Personalisation has soared through the roof and how! Our clients are looking for experiences that are truly larger than life, it’s not about cutting a cake to reveal the colour anymore,” Chadha said.
Some clients have even requested to “paint the sky pink,” demonstrating the extravagance of gender reveal parties in recent times, Rupani said, “The focus has shifted from small, intimate gestures to large-scale, visually stunning events.”
Dubai’s position as a global hub with an association to a lifestyle of luxury and opulence, alongside being “one of the world’s premier travel destinations, offers a unique backdrop for luxury events,” Rupani said.
The city’s dynamic environment “greatly influences” these trends.
Recently, the Big Night Events team has been behind several over-the-top gender reveals including skydivers who left a trail of coloured smoke in the sky and a hot air balloon with an aerial performer who unveiled a ribbon to reveal the baby’s gender.
Among influencers, Gixhari highlighted the recent demand for gender reveals featuring drones and fireworks. In addition, she noted the use of luxury cars and iconic Dubai landmarks as backdrops.
“Balloon releases and coloured smoke bombs are also frequently used. These add a visual appeal that can make the reveal more dramatic and Instagram-worthy,” she said.
With the growing indulgence in the trend, brands have jumped onto the bandwagon, seeing these events “as a chance to tap into a highly engaged audience,” with influencer content.
“There’s an increasing number of sponsorship opportunities, particularly with brands that align with family, parenting, or luxury lifestyle products. These collaborations can range from providing props and venues to sponsoring the entire event,” she revealed.
The bigger the scale, the higher the challenge
Despite the grandeur and excitement surrounding these events, planning a gender reveal party with more elements than a simple cake comes with its own set of challenges – the biggest one is ensuring that the “gender of the baby isn’t leaked!”
With the high cost and details involved, the smallest oversight such as “a gust of wind or a stay piece of confetti” poses a great risk to the surprise element of these reveals.
“For instance, in a recent event, I was the sole person aware of the baby’s gender, and I maintained the secrecy amidst both guest and team inquiries and constant teasing,” Chadha said.
In 2020, Arab Influencers Anas and Asala Marwah made international headlines with their gender reveal on the Burj Khalifa.
The video on YouTube titled ‘Biggest Gender Reveal in the World’ currently has over 45 million views and shows the couple in Downtown Dubai awaiting their baby’s gender reveal on the biggest display in the world.
Although speculated to have cost over $90,000, this was far from the case, it was reported that this was a fully sponsored event by Dubai-based digital agency, Alfan Group.
The evolution of the idea of gender reveals
Although the tradition of revealing baby genders has existed for decades, gender reveal parties only began to gain popularity in the early 2000s, reportedly starting in the US.
The first recorded instance was by Jenna Karvunidis in 2008, who, after experiencing several miscarriages, wanted to celebrate reaching a stage where the baby’s gender could be determined. She marked the occasion by cutting into a cake filled with pink icing, not realising that her personal celebration would spark a global trend.
In a 2019 Facebook post, Karvunidis expressed regret for initiating this movement, stating, “Who cares what gender the baby is?”
The Guardian reported that she felt particularly responsible for the El Dorado Fire in California, which burned 22,744 acres after a pyrotechnic device was used at a gender reveal party in 2020. The fire lasted 71 days, and the couple involved was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Numerous incidents and injuries have occurred at gender reveal parties due to accidents, including mechanical failures, fires, and plane crashes.
Despite their surge in popularity, gender reveal parties have encountered controversies and scrutiny, leading to outright bans in some countries.
In India, revealing the gender of an unborn child is illegal under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act of 1994, aimed at combating high rates of female foeticide. Violating this law can result in imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to INR10,000.
Earlier this year, Chennai-based YouTuber Irfan travelled to the Middle East for a gender reveal, sharing the event in a video that garnered over two million views. In response, the Tamil Nadu Health Department issued a notice stating that such actions could “lead to a decline in the birth of girl babies,” according to NDTV, prompting the video to be removed.
Despite legal restrictions and concerns in some countries, the demand for gender reveal parties continues to grow among expectant parents and the influencer community, who are increasingly seeking creative ways to reveal their baby’s gender.
With an anticipated growth in the scale of gender reveal content, Gixhari strongly advised, “It’s important for influencers to remember that gender reveals are personal moments. While social media is a platform for sharing, staying true to what the moment means for them and their family will always resonate more strongly with their audience than any grand gesture could.”
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