The former Love Island star kicked off her 35th celebrations by boarding a first-class flight to Dubai, documenting the plush journey for her followers. Travelling with close friends, she framed the trip as a full “birthday escape”, swapping the UK chill for winter sun in the UAE’s party capital.
On arrival, Maura Higgins headed straight to a high‑end hotel where her suite is understood to cost around £1,000 per night, underlining the all‑out luxury of the getaway. The stay continues a pattern of aspirational travel content from the Irish reality star, who has built much of her post‑Love Island brand around glamorous fashion, beauty and jet‑set breaks.
Inside the £1k‑a‑night Dubai suite
Maura Higgins’s room was transformed into a birthday haven, with pink heart‑shaped balloons, an inflatable “happy birthday” banner and a bouquet of pink roses laid out for her arrival. A heart‑shaped, vintage‑style iced cake was placed at the foot of her bed, creating a picture‑perfect backdrop for her Instagram updates.
The suite itself is described as spacious and serene, featuring a large double bed, cosy rug and soft back‑lit curtains that give the room a calm, cinematic glow. The décor and layout play into the kind of aspirational hotel content Maura’s followers expect, showcasing a space that works equally well for downtime and getting ready for big nights out.
Incredible abs and birthday outfit changes
True to form, Maura Higgins has used the trip to show off the results of her fitness regime, with fans praising her defined abs and tiny waist in a series of outfit posts. One evening, I looked and saw her in a fitted white crop top and matching white jeans, with the skimpy top barely covering her chest and drawing attention to her flat stomach as she posed in a lift with friends.
For her main birthday night, she switched into a semi‑sheer burgundy halter dress in an oxblood shade, complete with a bold front cut‑out that flaunted her torso and accentuated her collarbones. She styled her brunette hair into a sleek bun with soft, face‑framing tendrils and highlighted makeup, delivering a polished party‑season look that fashion editors have already flagged as inspiration for winter events.
Food, nightlife and Dubai hotspots
The celebrations have not been limited to the hotel, with Maura Higgins and her friends eating and drinking their way around some of Dubai’s most in‑demand venues. She shared shots from a pre‑birthday dinner at upscale Chinese restaurant Mott 32 Dubai, tucking into spring rolls, seafood dishes and salads while overlooking the water and the city lights.
Her Dubai itinerary reportedly also includes lunch at Parisian‑inspired hotspot Maison Revka Dubai and time at a “swanky” beach club, where she was photographed in another glamorous cut‑out look. Together, the locations cement the trip as a full lifestyle showcase, combining luxury hotel content, fashion moments and high‑end dining.
Messages from famous friends
Across her Instagram Stories, Maura Higgins has reshared an array of birthday tributes from friends and fellow influencers, underlining her enduring popularity in the reality‑TV and social media world. Well‑known names such as influencer Luke Hamnett, I’m A Celebrity figure Dean McCough, and fashion creator Harvey Jeans were among those sending public birthday love.
The posts add a layer of behind‑the‑scenes warmth to the glossy visuals, painting the trip as a friends’ getaway as much as a solo star showcase. For Maura Higgins’s audience, the mix of celebrity shout‑outs and candid clips helps keep the content feeling personal, even as the setting is decidedly aspirational.
From Love Island to global TV
Maura Higgins’s Dubai celebrations arrive at a time when her career continues to evolve well beyond the villa that made her famous. She first came to prominence on Love Island’s fifth series in 2019, finishing fourth alongside then‑partner Curtis Pritchard before the pair split in 2020.
Since then, she has carved out a multifaceted career as a TV personality, influencer and brand partner, and now has her sights set on the US market. She is gearing up to appear in the American version of The Traitors, which is due to land on Peacock in early 2026, with a BBC iPlayer release expected later in the year for UK viewers.
Why this birthday trip matters for her brand
This Dubai getaway doubles as a personal milestone and a carefully curated branding moment for Maura Higgins. The first‑class travel, high‑end hotel and stream of gym‑honed outfit pictures all feed into her positioning as a glamorous, fitness‑focused reality alum with global ambitions.
At 35, she is leaning into a more polished, high‑fashion image while still serving the unfiltered energy and confidence that made her a fan favourite on Love Island. The combination of luxury, relatability and career momentum helps ensure that even a birthday trip becomes headline‑worthy and keeps Maura Higgins firmly in the spotlight as she enters the next phase of her television journey
