Where to Celebrate Life’s Major Milestones in the Middle East and Africa

Life’s greatest milestones should begin with a flourish. From getting engaged to launching your own business, your achievements deserve to be celebrated in style.

Wherever you are in your story, celebrate your progress and reflect on your journey in these incredible destinations with unforgettable hotels to match. So grab your passport and get to planning.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Go Big on Your Birthday

If you’re stepping into your next decade or hitting your “scary age,” honor your achievements — or at least take your mind off the number — with an invigorating, life-affirming trip to Cape Town, South Africa, staying at the Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge.

If its Table Mountain view doesn’t put a spring in your step, the 3-minute walk to the V&A Waterfront will, for sea-breezy restaurants, shops and a harbor full of million-dollar yachts.

Make your big day extra special with a unique excursion, such as wine tasting in Stellenbosch or sunbathing with penguins at Boulders Beach.

Kick-Start Your Entrepreneurship

You’ve taken the leap by starting your own business, so treat yourself to a workcation somewhere inspiring, like the Marriott Executive Apartments City Center Doha in the fast-paced, skyscraping neighborhood of West Bay in Doha, Qatar.

With its choice of studios and one- to three-bedroom serviced apartments, this is a prestigious address for launching your enterprise and making global connections in dynamic Doha. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and trendy Campagnia Caffe for meetings, and then unwind in the swimming pool and fitness center.

For dinner and beyond, West Bay’s bistros and nightlife are right on your doorstep.

Launch the Confetti: You’re Engaged!

Nothing is more dazzling than that glittering ring on your — or your sweetheart’s — finger, but Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel comes close. In the style of a sprawling palace, this majestic property sits where Oman’s Al Hajar Mountains meet the ocean, a 20-minute drive from Muscat, with a private golden-sand beach.

Here you can kick back beside palm-shaded swimming pools, enjoy frankincense-spiced massages in the spa and choose from six superb restaurants — including the decadent Atrium Tea Lounge. Sunsets are glorious here, so raise a toast at the sea-view Pavilion restaurant.

Pause Before Your New Arrival

Baby’s coming, so now’s the time to enjoy that final vacation for two. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi offers the perfect balance of relaxation, romance and rest: Just wait until you see its long white beach, gorgeous Iridium Spa and three swimming pools overlooking the ocean.

With six restaurants to choose from, whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it right here.

And for a little culture, you can see masterpieces by the likes of Monet and Van Gogh at the Louvre Abu Dhabi nearby, while the city’s shopping malls and lively oceanfront Corniche are just a few minutes farther.

Plan an Epic Multi-Gen Getaway

It’s time to get everyone together, make new memories and strengthen those family bonds somewhere unforgettable, like the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort. When it comes to multigenerational trips, this five-star hotel on Egypt’s Red Sea has it all, from engaging activities for the kids and top-rated restaurants to the 18-hole golf course nearby and glorious soft-sand beach.

Maybe you’ll go dolphin-watching on a sunset cruise, learn to scuba dive with turtles and manta rays at the nearby dive center, or simply relax in the spa and swimming pool.

Whatever you choose, one thing’s for sure: This is easy-breezy vacation fun at its best.

Head into Retirement in Style

Congratulations on your long and successful career: You’ve definitely earned an extra-special break. Adventure and luxury await at JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, where lions, leopards and elephants are commonly sighted, and the famous Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras takes place.

This is no humble safari camp. Each of the 20 luxe, en suite tents features a private hot tub overlooking the plains, with all-inclusive dining, game drives and more.

After a day of exploring, huddle around the fire pit for stargazing and story-swapping. Then snooze amid the hoots and howls of this extraordinary wilderness.