With greater than 800 hotels and 150,000 rooms in Dubai, deciding where to remain is usually a formidable task. And there’s still more to come back, with Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, a second Mandarin Oriental, and a Delano on the horizon. While town has greater than its fair proportion of hotels in glass and steel towers that feel like they could possibly be anywhere on the earth, it also has loads of extraordinary beach resorts and retreats that connect visitors to the emirate and its culture. Listed here are some standout examples of hotels we love in Dubai at once.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
- Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Why we adore it: An expensive desert safari near Dubai
- Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
- From $948
- Book Now
Essentially the most luxurious technique to experience Dubai’s desert may smash a whole holiday budget, but a stay within the Bedouin-inspired tented suites at Al Maha might well be value it. It’s top-of-the-line places to see desert conservation in motion: Al Maha is situated in the center of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, home to the UAE’s largest free-roaming herd of Arabian oryx, a species brought back from extinction within the wild through rehabilitation initiatives. Guests should keep their eyes peeled for gazelles, too—300 Arabian and 100 sand gazelles inhabit the dunes, and the more inquisitive ones often come right as much as the 42 tented accommodations. Water recycling, biodiesel, and solar panels all contribute to Al Maha’s behind-the-scenes efforts to tread evenly on the delicate desert ecosystem.
Al Seef Heritage Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
- Location: Al Seef
- Why we adore it: An atmospheric retreat set along the waterfront
- Loyalty program: Hilton Honors
- From $100
- Book Now
Situated alongside Dubai Creek within the “latest” old Dubai neighborhood of Al Seef, this hotel feels remarkably traditional with its wind towers and picket beams, despite having been built just just a few years ago. The 190 airy guest rooms, some with private balconies, are spread across multiple small buildings called bait, the Arabic word for house, and so they’re peppered with vintage trinkets similar to rotary phones, brass rosewater bottles, and photos of old Dubai. Carpets and cushions are strewn invitingly across the common area rooftops for lounging. The waterfront setting is simple to explore on foot, with cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops all close by.
Arabian Boutique Hotel
- Location: Al Shindagha
- Why we adore it: A quieter, more intimate side of Dubai
- From $122
- Book now
A latest arrival in Dubai’s creek-side Al Shindagha area, the Arabian Boutique Hotel strikes out on a distinct path from its flashier counterparts. Housed in a restored coral-stone heritage constructing topped by a conventional wind tower (ingenious structures designed to capture the breeze and funky the house’s interior), the 10-bedroom hotel showcases the heritage of the United Arab Emirates.
Rooms are centered on a bougainvillea-filled courtyard, with a decor that embraces a mix of retro and contemporary. It’s not quite at the extent of town’s ultra-luxury properties, however it’s comfortable, cozy, and filled with character. There are vintage Japanese bicycles for rides across the neighborhood, one in every of Dubai’s most charming, with museums, cafés and souks. A superb on-site restaurant, the Arabian Fish House, sits right on the sting of the water, and dishes here concentrate on Emirati seafood—many recipes coming directly from owner Ali M Al Rais’s mother—together with flatbreads, mezze, and desserts. The perfect technique to start a day here is to rise early and head as much as the terrace to observe the Dubai Creek come alive, with little picket abras and trading dhows slicing through waters shimmering with the sun’s first rays.
Atlantis the Royal
- Location: Palm Jumeirah
- Why we adore it: All of the bling of Dubai, with pockets of welcome seclusion
- From $1,195
- Book Now
When the 795-room Atlantis the Royal opened its doors at the tip of Palm Jumeirah in February 2023, it appeared to be the one thing your entire city was talking about (Beyoncé gave her first performance in five years on the opening party). Things have calmed down a little bit since then, and the resort has settled into being a surprisingly sophisticated and relaxed spot, with excellent restaurants like Gastón Acurio’s La Mar and Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner, the world’s first beach club by Nobu Matsuhisa, and a chic afternoon tea within the Royal Tearoom within the lobby that guarantees great people-watching.
Sure, it’s big and daring, however it’s a number of fun, and there are many calm corners for quiet seclusion. Head as much as the sky-high Cloud 22 swimming pool for a few of the most effective Palm Jumeirah views in town, or snooze under a shady palm tree at ground level. Take note that you simply’ll receive a wake-up call every hour throughout the day, though, when the hotel’s dancing fountains burst into music and lights, shooting bursts of water and flames high into the sky for extra drama. As kitsch as it might be, it’s hard to not adore it.
Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort
- Location: Al Qudra
- Why we adore it: A favourite retreat amongst locals on the fringes of the Dubai desert
- From $285
- Book Now
A longtime favorite of Dubai residents, Bab Al Shams has been welcoming guests to the sting of the Dubai desert for 20 years. While the situation may not feel as distant because it once did, the resort is looking higher than ever, due to a recent refurbishment that saw the addition of latest restaurants, a spa, and a hammam, not to say eight one- and two-bedroom Desert Pool Villas opening on October 1, 2024.
Lower than an hour’s drive from Downtown Dubai, that is the closest—and most reasonably priced—desert resort inside easy accessibility of town. The architecture is like an Arabian fantasy, all crenellated partitions, carved picket doors, and water features. A trio of infinity pools looks out over desert sands, where camels wait at sunset for photo ops and short rides, and desert safari drives take guests on excursions to see Arabian oryxes and sand gazelles within the adjoining Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. But the true highlight here is the nightly extravaganza at Al Hadheerah featuring a mind-boggling choice of live cooking stations. Think mezze, grilled meats, and seafood, soups and stews cooked in caldrons over white-hot coals, towering dessert displays, and a dinner show that spans the whole lot from belly dancers to live Arabic music, tanoura and dabke dance performances, and even a caravan of camels.
Bulgari Resort Dubai
- Location: Jumeira Bay Island
- Why we adore it: A handsome, sophisticated beach getaway in a secluded location
- From $1,225
- Book Now
With its location on Jumeira Bay Island, barely faraway from a lot of the city’s beach resorts, the Bulgari Resort Dubai looks like a hidden, exclusive hideaway. At its center is Bulgari’s first marina and yacht club, with a suitably glamorous line-up of sleek yachts and a separate berth offshore for the even larger superyachts that make their way here in winter when the Med is simply too cold.
Every little thing feels calm and grown-up: The palm-flanked pool on the yacht club is peaceful, as is the stretch of powdery sand on the gentle sweep of beach. There are excellent Italian cocktails on the bar, Italian cuisine on the two-Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Niko Romito, and exquisite sushi at one-Michelin-starred Hōseki. The hotel could possibly be showy however it isn’t, and there’s a relaxed sense of elegance throughout.
Rooms are stuffed with light that pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces are spacious and comfortably furnished, and that is one in every of only a handful of resorts in town that does villas very well. Starting from one to a few bedrooms, with sprawling indoor and outdoor living areas, and pools and gardens, the villas are the accommodations of selection in town for those on the lookout for privacy and discreet but friendly service.
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
- Location: Its own island near Jumeirah Beach
- Why we adore it: An architectural wonder with among the city’s most opulent accommodations
- From $1,035
- Book Now
An evening on the all-suite Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is extra in every sense of the word, from the boldness of its sail-shaped architecture to the mind-boggling scale of its atrium and audacious interior design. All 202 accommodations are two-level suites with views of the sparkling Arabian Gulf. The hotel turns 25 years old in 2024, and within the quarter century since its opening, no other retreat in town has ever come near its extravagance. Non guests can join an Inside Burj Al Arab tour for a glimpse on the gold-encrusted, silk-adorned, leopard-print filled Royal Suite, complete with rotating beds. Hotel guests have access to the greater than 100,000-square-foot terrace, with its freshwater and saltwater pools lined with 10 million gold and azure mosaic tiles; here they will order a bottle of bubbly while absorbing the only-in-Dubai opulence.
Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf
- Location: Madinat Jumeirah
- Why we adore it: A classy beachside playground for adults
- From $865
- Book Now
One in every of six luxury hotels by Dubai-based hospitality brand Jumeirah that sprawl along Dubai’s nicest stretch of beach, Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf is a seaside enclave filled with wandering peacocks, tropical gardens, and Arabian architecture. It’s like a grown-up theme park in the most effective possible sense—guests can float through canals on little abra boats, visit the turtles within the rehabilitation lagoon in neighboring Jumeirah Al Naseem, or lounge beneath shady palms beside its many pools. The 283 rooms and suites are spread over recently renovated intimate “Arabian houses” with nine to eleven rooms each, together with shared central courtyards, tinkling fountains, and complimentary cocktails every day at 6 p.m. Guests even have free access to the waterslide-filled Wild Wadi waterpark just a brief buggy ride away.
The Lana
- Location: Business Bay
- Why we adore it: Quiet luxury with superlative service in Dubai’s up-and-coming waterside neighborhood
- From $845
- Book Now
Proving that Dubai can do quiet luxury, The Lana, the primary outpost for the Dorchester Collection within the Middle East, has recently opened its doors alongside the Marasi Bay Marina. The views from the marina-facing rooms and rooftop pool across the water to the Burj Khalifa and the skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai are spectacular, especially at sunset.
Interiors embrace soaring arches, polished marble, alabaster and mosaic-covered columns, and a mild color palette of grays, pinks, and sandy tones brings a sense of calm to the 225 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is home to Dubai’s first Dior Spa, and while it’s currently very much an urban property, a ship transfer will soon connect guests with the beach on the brand’s private Palm Jumeirah residences.
Look out for Bitter Honey, the bijou bar just off the lobby, where cocktails—just like the melapona margarita, a mix of mezcal, hibiscus, cherry, and Mexican tajin spice—are a tribute to bees and have locally produced honey. The Lana’s Afternoon Tea can also be a standout, albeit a dear one, with delicate savories and sweets by Angelo Musa, former winner of the World’s Best Pastry Chef award. Read Afar’s full review of the Lana.
One&Only One Za’abeel
- Location: One Za’abeel
- Why we adore it: Resort vibes meet sleek city sophistication at Dubai’s newest architecturally ambitious hotel
- From $476
- Book Now
With its imposing towers, 393-foot infinity pool atop the world’s longest cantilever, and constellation of restaurants from among the world’s best chefs, the brand new One&Only One Za’abeel was destined to turn into a latest Dubai classic from day one. The 229 generously sized rooms and suites are chic and uncluttered, pairing a chilled ambience with the comforting warmth of textured fabrics and carpets.
Grand Za’abeel rooms have window-side bathtubs with far-reaching views of nearby palaces, the dramatic silhouettes of the Museum of the Future and the Burj Khalifa, and the sun setting over the ocean in the space. Drag yourself out of the bathtub for a dinner of exquisite French morsels at La Dame de Pic by Michelin-feted chef Anne-Sophie Pic, boundary-pushing street food by Dabiz Muñoz at StreetXO, or family-style Indonesian dishes at Andaliman. The hotel can also be home to the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie, where pioneering health-science, well-being, and aesthetic technologies help visitors fight the scourge of aging and cling to the illusion of youth. In a city as young as Dubai, it’s fitting escapism. Read Afar’s full review of One&Only One Za’abeel.
25hours Hotel One Central
- Location: One Central
- Why we adore it: A community centric stay that attracts digital nomads and native creatives
- From $235
- Book Now
Despite its size—the hotel has 434 rooms—there’s an unexpected feeling of community at 25hours Hotel One Central which, since its opening in 2021, has turn into a well-liked spot with creatives and digital nomads. Locals and visitors alike congregate within the design-driven, art-filled spaces. The Analog Circus mezzanine level is stuffed with nostalgic gadgets, including Sony Walkmen, typewriters, and a vinyl LP station, all there to be played with.
Room themes—Bedouin, glamping, farm stay—are inspired by the heritage of the UAE, with tasseled fabrics, leather details, and hammocks in among the suites. The party-perfect maximalist Hakawati Suite even comes with a triple king-size bed. On the roof, Monkey Bar’s terrace is the place to stare upon the extraordinary architecture of the Museum of the Future, right round the corner. Add to all of this pod chairs for swinging within the lobby, an astonishingly authentic Bavarian beer hall and the Extra Hour Spa with its own hammam, and it’s no surprise that 25hours has turn into a much-loved fixture of town.
XVA Art Hotel
- Location: Al Fahidi
- Why we adore it: An intimate lodging option in a former family home
- From $122
- Book Now
One of the vital atmospheric places to remain in town, XVA is tucked away in a former family home among the many restored pearling and trading houses of the Al Fahidi heritage district alongside Dubai Creek. The 15 guest rooms are cozy and intimate, however the common areas stuffed with contemporary Middle Eastern art and the rooftop sun deck is where visitors will wish to spend most of their time. Order a fresh mint and lemon shake from the onsite vegetarian café in one in every of the shady, birdsong-filled courtyards before testing the boutique, which is stuffed with caftans, cushions, and contemporary accessories.
