Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Dubai
From hotels that issue a welcoming gong when you enter, to establishments with their own DJ-Tiësto-penned theme tune, Dubai remains on top of its hotel game. Discover 10 of the most opulent, comfortable, and enticing Dubai hotels for your next trip to the UAE.
Back in the 1960s, the vast majority of visitors to Dubai were travelling on business, often in connection to the country's vast oil industry. But in the 1980s, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum implemented a broader economic strategy that had one sector at its core: tourism.
"Build it and they will come," so the old adage goes - and Dubai has.
In 1999, the Burj Al Arab opened - putting Dubai on the map as a luxury hotel destination - and redefining opulence for a new generation.
Next came a huge man-made island called The Palm Jumeirah, which itself rewrote the book on beachfront hotel accommodation.
But the pinnacle of Dubai's development came in 2010, in the form of the Burj Khalifa - the planet's tallest manmade structure at 828m.
In addition to these flagship projects, a whole array of hotels have sprung up in the Emirate, each one looking to offer something fresh and exciting to visitors - whether that relates to technology, sustainability, service, or just plain old opulence.
Here we explore some of the most groundbreaking and enticing 5 Star Hotels in Dubai that you can visit in 2024.
Credit: Hein van Tonder - stock.adobe.com
The Lana, Dorchester Collection
Dubai's position as a world leader in hotel accommodation was once again underlined by the opening of The Lana, Dorchester Collection.
This most British of hotel brands (notwithstanding it being owned by the Brunei Investment Agency) has created a 225-room property with commanding views of the marina and the Burj Khalifa - both of which look sensational after dark. Each suite features a bedroom, living and dining area, kitchenette, and a large marble-clad bath.
The Lana isn’t a showy sort of hotel. Instead, it exudes an old-school British charm, where the wonder is in the detail: British-made ViSpring mattresses adorn the bed frames (also sourced by Buckingham Palace, no less), covered in Frette linen, while guests can dry their hair with a top-end Dyson hairdryer.
The hotel's restaurant, Riviera, has a rather more Mediterranean theme, thanks to Jean Imbert's fabulous French and Italian dishes.
It may be a new kid on the block, but The Lana is already one of the finest 5 Star Hotels in Dubai. It’s also quite possibly the finest of all the hotels in Downtown Dubai.
Credit: elenvd - stock.adobe.com
Atlantis The Royal
Any hotel that has its own DJ Tiësto-penned theme tune has to be on any list of top hotels in Dubai. But the “blinginess” of Atlantis The Royal does not stop there: the 795 rooms, suites, and penthouses are served by 17 bars and restaurants and 90 pools, and are edged by a 1.2-mile beach - part of the Palm Jumeirah, on which it sits.
Located next to its more famous sister hotel, Atlantis The Palm, the Royal's lobby entrance is flanked by walls of fire and water - an installation created by Moshe Safdie, the brains behind the incredible Rain Vortex in the Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore.
The spaces inside are vast - opulent boutique-lined boulevards connect the hotel's many areas. The Royal easily has one of the most epic sets of communal spaces among all the 5 Star Hotels in Dubai.
The rooms themselves have a more low-key, minimal feel (perhaps they spent all their budget on the lobby?), but they have all been designed to offer wonderful views over the palm-shaped island and Dubai's scintillating skyline.
Siro One Za'abeel
Fitness, wellbeing and recovery are the themes of this brand-new hotel, located in the luxury Za'abeel community.
Guests can avail of the in-house nutritionist, Heeral Shivnani, who creates tailor-made meal plans to help give you the maximum health kick.
The neon-lit lobby, meanwhile, offers a thrilling selection of protein shakes and salad bowls.
The truly immense Recovery Lab (9,687-square-foot) grants you access to cardio machines, cryotherapy and muscle stimulation, not to mention yoga and Pilates, sound healing and relaxation suites.
The rooms may seem a little muted compared to the facilities, but on closer inspection, you'll discover a wealth of health-boosting tech, from thermoregulated mattresses to a pillow menu with 11 categories.
Among all the luxury hotels in Dubai, Siro One is likely to be best for your health!
The St Regis Dubai, The Palm
Floor-to-ceiling windows are a feature of every room in the St Regis Dubai, which is located in the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah - one of the most salubrious districts in Dubai.
Naturally, with so much glass, you can expect epic views of the city and Jumeirah. What's more, you can continue enjoying the vistas from your bathtub!
St Regis Dubai is linked to the St Regis in New York, so there's a distinctly Big Apple feel about this establishment.
The hotel occupies the first 18 floors of a 52-storey building, the upper reaches of which are home to the Aura SkyPool Lounge and The View Dubai.
The hotel's community heart is the St Regis Bar, in common with its New York sister operation. Here you can order the famous Bloody Mary cocktail - invented by George Jessel in the original establishment in Manhattan in 1934. Doubtless the most American of all the luxury hotels in Dubai, with plenty of old-school New York style.
One&Only One Za'abeel
Another stunning hotel located in Za'abeel, One&Only One is set in one of two towers connected by a bridge structure called The Link. But this is no ordinary bridge: it boasts three floors, each decked out with first-rate restaurants. Multiple big-name chefs have opened their doors here, including Dylan Jones of Bangkok’s Bo.Lan, and La Dame De Pic. Needless to say, the views are top-notch.
The rooms are wonderfully spacious - even if you're opting for a "budget" room (where a king-size bed awaits). The top-end rooms, meanwhile, offer 85 square metres of space, and include a separate dressing room. For superb views and five-star cuisine, the One&Only One is effortlessly one of the best hotels in Dubai.
Jumeirah Al Qasr
The gilt-edged, marble-walled, mashrabiya-latticed opulence of Jumeirah Al Qasr may feel a little over-the-top upon first glance, but spend a night here and you'll likely find the Arabesque elegance has made you feel like a bona fide Sheikh.
The service here is first-class, with staff ready to serve you cooling mint tea at the drop of a hat.
Being outside the hotel is just as regal: hop on an abra boat and glide down one of the resort's many canals.
The rooms, renovated in 2018, are a wonderland of mother-of-pearl, each featuring fantastic balcony views across pools, palm
trees, and in the distance, Dubai's prize-winning skyline.
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah
The beautifully manicured lawns of The Oberoi Beach Resort lie about an hour's drive from the hubbub of Dubai proper.
Piero Lissoni designed the hotel and its 89 rooms, each presenting guests with spectacular views over mangroves, gardens, and the beach - thanks to the vast floor-to-ceiling windows.
All rooms feature a balcony, and all are west-facing, making them perfect for cool, relaxing breakfasts and fabulous sunsets. Oberoi has a much quieter, more laid back feel than most Dubai hotels, largely due to its location.
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort
After a number of false starts and hiccups due to financial problems and environmental concerns, Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort is finally up and running.
It is the very first hotel to open on the World Islands, and it has set a benchmark with its incredible city views.
Once you've arrived, you probably won’t want - or need - to leave. Busy yourself with waterborne adventures on jet skis and hydrofoils, and spend the evenings in one of the many family-friendly restaurants. Indeed, Anantara is one of the best hotels in Dubai for those travelling with children.
Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort
The recently renovated Bab Al Shams now offers a more contemporary feel compared to its previous incarnation, fusing verdant gardens with evocative Arabian architecture.
Restaurants edge the hotel's swimming pools, which themselves border the sand dunes - placing guests slap-bang in the beauty of the desert.
Sand dune adventures are made possible by a fleet of well-buffed Range Rovers. These luxurious vehicles will take you out into the desert to see gazelles and oryxes, mostly inhabiting the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
While Bab Al Shams is indeed located in the desert, don’t expect vast Lawrence-of-Arabia-style sand dunes; you'll need to head out to the Empty Quarter for that (some 300km away!).
Credit: dbrnjhri - stock.adobe.com
One&Only Royal Mirage
Few Dubai hotels do opulence quite to the degree of One&Only Royal Mirage. Enter the lobby and a welcoming gong will sound before the intuitive staff go about attending to your every need - without being annoying.
It’s the little touches that make this a truly 5-star-plus venue: the pots of flowers, a sunglass cleaning service, ice fruit served by the pool.
Indeed, these smaller details are, arguably, starting to disappear from many hotels, who - perhaps incorrectly - believe guests don’t notice them.
Eight restaurants are located in the beautifully manicured grounds - two of which are managed by a three-star Michelin chef. The bad news is that these establishments are spread across the hotel's 65-acre footprint - but the good news is there are plenty of golf buggies ready to zip you from poolside to elegant eatery.
Arguably the one to beat among luxury hotels in Dubai.
Get a Quote