It might be difficult to locate the finest hotels in Dubai in a city with over 135,000 hotel rooms. The choices are many and diverse, ranging from glistening buildings with Italian architecture to real Arabian desert resorts.
We’ve done the legwork and compiled a list of our top Dubai hotels for every kind of traveler. Here is our tried-and-true selection of Dubai’s top hotels.
How we choose Dubai’s top hotels
Our editors have personally chosen each hotel on our list, and each article was authored by a Condé Nast Traveller writer who has visited the establishment and is familiar with the area. When selecting hotels, our editors take into account both upscale establishments and smaller, less well-known boltholes that provide a genuine, insider look at a place. In addition to having excellent environmental credentials, we’re always searching for stunning design, a prime location, and friendly service. As new hotels open and current ones change, we update this list often.
Dubai’s Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
In Dubai, this is the newest spot to see and be seen. The long-awaited Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, which joins the sail-shaped Jumeirah Burj Al Arab and wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel on the city’s most sought-after beach, is the last of Jumeirah’s nautical trio, rising out of the water like a futuristic superyacht docking. Despite having 300 rooms, 86 suites, and 82 serviced homes, the facility has made a deliberate effort to seem exclusive and exclusive. The lobby is separated into halves, with mashrabiya curtains concealing half of it. The center of the lobby is a delightful viennoiserie by renowned chef Pierre Hermé, where rows of lovely pastries seem almost too wonderful to eat. With subtle nautical accents and terraces overlooking the Burj Al Arab or the hotel’s marina and the expansive arc of Kite Beach beyond, the rooms at Marsa Al Arab are modeled after Italy’s historic Riva boats. Every room has a Dyson hair dryer, and amenities are provided by Votary and famous hair stylist Rossano Ferretti. There are several eating options at Marsa’s fifteen restaurants and bars, but The Fore—dubbed Dubai’s first “transformative dining space”—is the most intriguing. Through clever panels and hidden walls, four separate restaurants—the Japanese Umi Kei, which draws inspiration from the art of kintsugi; the Asian fusion Madame Li; the charming Mediterranean brasserie Mirabelle; and The Bombay Club, which was created by renowned Indian chef Manav Tuli—are combined into one cohesive space that offers one of Dubai’s best breakfasts come morning.
Dubai’s Delano
Delano’s Bluewaters debut in the Middle East The biggest observation wheel in the world is located on the artificial island of Dubai, which might cause as much disruption as the original Delano in Miami. The minimalist interior design and comforting size make this place a welcome contrast to the city’s five-star hotels, which are adorned with marble and chandeliers. Rooms here have romantic-sounding names like Rising Light and Waking Eclipse, which relate to the expansive horizon and views of the ocean. This is more uncommon in Dubai than you may imagine, so forget about the clichéd “standard” and “sea view.” Rose Bar does a fantastic job of recreating its opulent speakeasy ambiance and in-house hospitality crew, even if it may not provide the same opportunity to glimpse Hollywood A-listers as its Miami cousin. The resort’s innovative restaurant ideas, such as French Slavic at Maison Revka and seaside Anatolian cuisine at Blue Door, are the creation of Rikas Hospitality Group. starting at $750. Selina Denman
Dubai’s Banyan Tree
Banyan Tree Dubai is a well-designed resort with a destination spa that makes the most of its beachfront location at the summit of Bluewaters Island. This resort is a terrific choice for foodies since it offers a variety of superb French and Asian restaurants inside the hotel’s mature gardens, as well as additional eating and drinking choices along the beachside promenade that winds between the Banyan Tree Dubai and its sister property, Delano Dubai. The hotel’s chic pool with its white and orange parasols is a terrific location to relax and get away from the city, and it has great family amenities and enough solitude for couples on vacation or on a staycation.
Za’abeel, one and only one
An eye-catching addition to Dubai’s already unique skyline is One&Only One Za’abeel. The Link, a three-story boulevard-style bridge that connects two massive skyscrapers, has space for a number of restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs. Chic couples enjoy views of the Burj Khalifa, desert, and planted greens while lounging by the white waters of a suspended infinity pool on the top. There is a lot to discover at Kerzner’s first urban “vertical resort,” including a three-story Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie, a tiered, Balinese-style swimming pool amid leafy gardens, and a graffiti-strewn tunnel that conceals StreetXO by Spanish wonder-chef Dabiz Muñoz. The deck area, which is dotted with olive trees, is well-served by the Peruvian-Japanese restaurant Tapasake. The rooms at One&Only One Za’abeel seem very roomy, with the glass curtain walls directing the viewer’s gaze to the skyline. Pale sand, taupe, and gold hues dot Jean-Michael Gathy’s interiors, while silky carpeting softens the marble flooring. Guests staying in corner suites are requested to choose between rooms with an urban, sanctuary, or creative theme. These rooms are distinguished by adorable amenities like a conference table, an en suite massage table, or expensive audio equipment, respectively. Most enduring? The horizon is revealed by the draperies’ enchanted sweep across glass and steel in my corner room; Dubai’s sparkling panorama is seen from Sphere, The Link’s ominously promising cocktail lounge; the view… the view… the view. Starting at $517 Dight, Clare
The Dorchester, Lana Collection
Arriving to The Lana still seems discrete despite the presence of a private Rolls-Royce Phantom parked at the entry and doormen wearing top hats and tails. This is the first Dorchester Collection hotel in the Middle East, and the fact that the company that created iconic establishments like the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and The Dorchester in London has chosen to introduce its own brand of subtle, quiet luxury to the city is a testament to Dubai’s development. The 30-story, 225-room hotel was created by Foster + Partners, an architecture company, with the following views in mind: The Burj Khalifa rises above the other buildings, while the circular Marassi Marina is in the foreground, its inky blue waters reflecting the nighttime lights of the towers. The Lana is a master lesson in restraint in a city that is often linked with excess; elevators are lined with ripples of pink leather, and couches are draped in soft rose velvet. Spanish chef Martin Berasategui’s menu of Basque classics at Jara demonstrates why his restaurants have earned 12 Michelin stars, while Jean Imbert, the young French chef who famously succeeded Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée, has created a soulful ode to the coastal cuisines of France and Italy at Riviera. Last month, Dubai’s first Dior spa debuted, completing an already revolutionary puzzle. from $800. —Denman, Selina
Za’abeel Siro One
The inaugural hotel for Kerzner International’s new Siro brand, housed in Dubai’s newest landmark, is designed with exercise, self-care, and recuperation in mind. The 132 rooms of Siro One Za’abeel may seem simple at first glance, yet they are anything but. Every component, from the subdued colors to the crisp lines, supports Siro’s ambitious goal. Elite runners who tested the rooms before the Dubai Marathon suggested installing ceiling fans to avoid dry throats after a night of intense air conditioning. Other features include thermoregulated mattresses, an 11-category pillow menu, and blackout blinds that are controlled by the integrated Siro app to wake guests up in natural synchronization with their circadian rhythm. Heeral Shivnani, the on-site nutritionist, can create a macro-counted food plan for you to follow throughout your stay, and the neon-lit lobby/community center offers protein drinks, salads, and bowls. Impressive aerobic equipment at the 9,687-square-foot Fitness Lab overlook the tall cityscape of Downtown Dubai, while the Recovery Lab above offers everything from electro-muscle stimulation and cryotherapy to soothing vibroacoustic therapy. After all that rejuvenation, unwind with sound-healing sessions, yoga and Pilates studios, and relaxation rooms before your (scientifically planned) restful night’s sleep. starting at $245. —Sophie Prideaux
Hotel Arabian Boutique
Situated on the edge of Dubai Creek, the three-star Arabian Boutique Hotel is owned by Emiratis and has 10 rooms with a historical theme. The bedrooms of the hotel, which is housed in the restored coral-stone former home of Thani bin Abdullah Al-Rumaiti, the first president of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, are arranged around a tiny courtyard that is alive with the sound of Indian silver bills and bulbuls. Despite having room service accessible all day, this three-star hotel lacks the amenities of its more upscale peers, like a 24-hour concierge and valet parking. However, its location, charm, and superb cuisine more than make up for any apparent lack of facilities.
Address: Beach Resort
Address Beach Resort is a prominent feature of the skyline that runs from Dubai Marina to Ain Dubai, with its gleaming glass keyhole construction rising 77 floors above one of the city’s most popular shorelines. On a clear day, you can see the whole city and the tip of the Burj Khalifa more than 20 kilometers distant from the world’s tallest infinity pool, which is verified by the Guinness World Record. The view is really breathtaking. There are six different types of rooms available, including those with a balcony or none at all, a view of the sea or the marina, and four suites with one, two, or three bedrooms. They all have the same sleek, contemporary design that unites all Address hotels: velvety sea blue carpets, blond woods, slick cream closets, and crisp white linens. From casual poolside eating at The Beach Grill to all-out splendor at fine-dining Chinese restaurant Mott 32 or a buzzing blend of Lebanese and Brazilian at Li’ Brasil, there are a variety of culinary moods available. You’re in a good position to walk around Bluewaters, Dubai Marina, or JBR and take advantage of all the pubs, eateries, and activities that these areas have to offer. Prideaux, Sophie
Dubai’s Atlantis the Royal
Subtlety is not the goal of any retreat that markets itself as “the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world,” but in this case, it’s exactly what’s needed. The striking curves of Atlantis the Royal, which sits next to its well-known sister, Atlantis the Palm, on Dubai’s famed Palm Jumeirah, house 795 rooms, suites, and penthouses, 17 dining options, a 1.2-mile beach, and over 90 swimming pools. Its theme song was written by Tiësto, and Beyoncé performed during its inaugural ceremony. (Yes, there is a soundtrack to it.) Moshe Safdie, who designed the Rain Vortex at Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport, has guests enter the lobby amid walls of fire and water. Large expanses of marble and large fish tanks reflect light, and the site is crisscrossed by grand interior boulevards dotted with upscale businesses. The atmosphere is more subdued upstairs, with calming color schemes and surprisingly simple furnishings that highlight the vistas, particularly from the balconies that face the palm trees. With their glass-walled pools and manicured terraces, the suites and penthouses further enhance the experience.
Dar Al Masyaf Jumeirah
Given that the resort, an Arabesque fantasy of four hotels on two kilometers of private beachfront overlooking the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024, it is truly surprising that there is still a place on Dubai’s 99-acre Madinat Jumeirah estate that feels unexplored. However, arriving at one of the recently renovated Malakiya Villas at Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf seems like entering a private realm. There are seven separate homes with two or three bedrooms, including the Royal Malakiya Villa, which is 7,000 square feet. Guests arrive on whisper-quiet abra rides across artificial tropical lagoons, and each has its own private patio and plunge pool. Grand Impressionist-style artworks contrast with the interior’s whirlpool of gentle grays and creams, leather, silk, and bouclé. The bed in the master bedroom is so luxurious and lofty that you won’t want to roll out of bed to have breakfast once you’ve clambered in royal fashion. A staff of butlers is available around-the-clock via WhatsApp and will arrive with expertly crafted drinks or portions of delectable afternoon tea delights. It is really a regal affair. starting at $521. Clare Dight