Valentine’s Day gift ideas for every budget and every person

Roses are red, violets are blue, stuck for Valentine’s Day inspo? Time Out is here for you.

That’s right, we’ve scoured the malls, picked our brains, considered the classics, looked at current trends and chatted with our most stylish friends.

The result is a gift round up that has something for every budget, person and stage in a relationship. From utterly extravagant, money-is-no-object splurges to quirky treats, and incredible thoughtful ideas to fun time picks, this list has it all. You’re welcome.

The blooming brilliant gift for flower fiends

Sure, a bunch of roses is all well and good, but you know what’s even better? A monthly flower subscription. The gift that keeps on giving, the lucky recipient of this present will be remembering your generosity well beyond February 14th (a bonus for all involved).

For Dhs250 per delivery, every month Dubai-based Upscale & Posh will bestow your loved one with a seriously special, hand-tied bouquet of fresh seasonal flowers presented in a vase, for all the fancy feels.
Dhs250 Standard Subscription. upscaleandposh.com.

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The playing it cool gift for relationship newbies

For a gift that strikes the perfect balance between being thoughtful but not trying too hard, a homemade pizza to prepare together is the answer (when is pizza not the answer, really?).

Order Dough It Yourself’s Date Night box and everything you need to make two delicious pizza pies (dough, sauce, toppings, cooking instructions and even a Nutella-forward dessert) will be delivered to your door. We call that Valentine’s cheese done right.

Alternatively, opt for a jar of seriously good, made-in-the UAE hot sauce packaged up in a cute little tote bag (browse the offerings at Haute Sauce), or what about a heart shaped succulent plant that pokes gentle fun at the situation while still showing you care (just the right amount). Dough It Yourself: Dhs100 Date Night pizza box. www.doughityourself or Haute Sauce: Prices start at Dhs55. hautesaucery.com Grow Green Hoya Kerrii (Sweetheart Plants) Dhs35. www.growgreen.ae

The special gift for the dog or cat in your life (because why should they miss out?)
If your pooch is your one true love and your feline friend has stolen your heart, you will of course be wanting to shower them with affection (and pressies) on Valentine’s Day. While a can of Whiskers probably won’t cut it, a fancy gift from Howl & Growl, the UAE’s first luxury boutique for pets, certainly will. From premium collars and luxe leads to designer beds, as well as pawsome (sorry) cat bow ties and bandanas this place has it all.
howlandgrowl.com

Great gifts for the kids

Interactive lift-the-flaps storybook Love Can Come in Many Ways is a sweet celebration of the different ways animals and humans show their love and always goes down well with the under-3s. For slightly older children, you can’t go wrong with slime, sensory putty (particularly if it’s heart-themed like this one) or a bath bomb. While your tween or teen might be harder to impress, we think we’ve got the answer: a personalised, retro-sweet topped (Love Hearts! Pastel-hued Jelly Beans! Old-school pink foam shrimps!) chocolate bar from The Sweetie Shop DXB.
Orders from The Sweetie Shop DXB via Instagram @thesweetieshop.dxb or WhatsApp on 054 564 7147. You can buy sensory putty, slime and Love Can Come in Many Ways on Amazon.

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The classic gift for the love of your life

These items might be a little pricier than the others on the list, but they also happen to be enduring favourites that will stand the test of time (just like your relationship). We’ve raved about Apple AirPods Pro before and are happy to do so again because they really are the business. If your love is without a pair, do consider splashing out – after all you can always borrow them. Alternatively, why not gift them a tres luxe protective carrycase for said Pods (Gucci do a handbag-inspired, monogrammed number).

Those that adore singing in the shower (or just like chilling and listening to their favourite tunes) will be thrilled with a top-quality waterproof speaker. The Bluetooth-enabled, small but mighty Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 comes recommended by experts time and time again for its excellent sound and brilliant battery life.

Timeless, elegant, endlessly versatile and capable of completing almost any outfit, the perfect gold hoop earrings are the holy grail of jewellery. While your partner might already own a clutch of mid-priced options, nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a classy and classic 18-karat Cartier pair.
Apple Air Pods Pro approx Dhs999 www.apple.com/ae. Shop Gucci in Dubai at www.levelshoes.com. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 approx Dhs400 www.amazon.ae and uae.sharafdg.com. Shop Cartier in Dubai at www.cartier.com/en-ae

The best gift for the sweet of tooth

Move over Milk Tray, there are new, much cooler chocolates in town. Keep it sophisticated with premium chocs from artisan specialists Mirzam Chocolate Makers; we love the look of their Valentine’s Gift Tin but for something less spendy, a set of beautifully wrapped praline bars would be a lovely.

For a fun on-trend option, Tony’s Chocolonely is the darling of the fair-trade chocolate world and tastes great too. What’s more, their White Chocolate Raspberry Popping Candy Bar comes in a pink wrapper that’s perfect for V Day.

If it feels like more of a handmade, hand painted bon bons and truffles kinda celebration, check out Dubai-based @loompa_land’s limited edition Valentine Chocolate Box for quite the prettiest selection of chocolates in the city.
Loompa Land: Enquiries and order can be made via @loompa_land. Mirzam: Dhs490 Valentine’s Gift Tin, Dhs129 The Praline Bars. mirzam.com. Order Tony’s Chocolonely bars on Amazon.

The best gift for loved up couples looking to make memories

From sailing up, up and away over the Arabian desert in a hot air balloon to sharing a spa day (the Amara Couple Journey at the gorgeous Amara Spa at the Park Hyatt Dubai is hard to beat), to a five-star private dining experience under the stars and out in the middle of the desert, an experiential Valentine’s Day gift will be remembered forever.
Amara Spa: dubaicreekresort.com/amara-spa. Balloon Adventures Dubai. www.balloon-adventures.com. Dreamdays www.dreamdays.ae. Sonara Camp: www.nara.ae

The ultimate gift for a foodie

Treat the food lover in your life to a gourmet hamper filled with delicious things and everyone will be happy. Premium online food store Maison Duffour will quite literally deliver the goods for this present; their Luxury Gift Hamper comes filled to bursting with all the good stuff, think cold cuts, organic chutney, a cheese selection, extra virgin olive oil, crackers, macarons and more. Whether you and your beau feast on the contents on February 14 or savour them for days to come, you’ll score top marks with this one.
Dhs450 (classic hamper), Dhs750 (luxury hamper). Delivery available across the UAE. www.maisonduffour.com.

The cute gift for your long-term love

Open up your camera roll, run through that Favourites album and select all the photographs that represent your life together – birthdays and weddings (yours included), weekend walks, once-in-a-lifetime holidays, sofa days and selfies taken by the kids included. Upload those snaps to UAE-based CherryPix’s website, edit the layout as you wish and less than a week later a hardcover photobook will be delivered to your door for an understated but really rather excellent gift (no, you’re crying).
Prices start at Dhs185 for a 15cmx15cm 60-page book. cherrypix.co

The best gift for your best mate

Show your bestie the love and appreciation they deserve with a stellar present this Valentine’s Day. A friendship bracelet from celeb favourite Monica Vinader offers a stylish, grown-up take on the classic childhood gift; the brand has great options for men and women and also offers complimentary engraving.

Alternatively, buy them the sort of indulgent gift that they’d never splurge on themselves but really deserve. We’re talking pure cashmere socks, a silk sleep mask, hotel standard toiletries (we love Aesop) or an expensive but oh-so-lovely scented candle (you can’t go wrong with Diptyque or Jo Malone).
Shop Aesop’s range at www.aesop.ae. Shop Diptyque at bloomingdales.ae and Jo Malone at www.jomalone-ae.com. Shop Monica Vinador online www.monicavinader.com or instore at The Fashion Dome, Mall of the Emirates.