Dubai Hotel Guide
There are a huge range of accommodation options and a seemingly endless succession of swanky new hotels continuing to open up across Dubai, each competing to outdo the next. Whether you fancy a glitzy beachfront resort, a peaceful Creekside retreat or an authentic desert hideaway, here’s our pick of some of the emirate’s finest.
Platinum Cardmembers have access to over 1,500 properties worldwide with Fine Hotels + Resorts and enjoy a suite of elevated benefits including US$100 Credit1, guaranteed 4pm check-out, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and daily breakfast for two people.
1Credit use varies by property
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Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
With a prime beachfront position, The Mandarin Oriental, Jumeira Dubai offers a wide selection of facilities, which include five outdoor pools, a padel court and a kids club. The design dazzles from the outset, as you enter the lobby to find a series of white marble pools flanked by an avenue of bronze and crystal trees, the whole shimmering effect replicating the sparkle of sunlight on the ocean. Rooms feel chic and luxurious, with an elegant colour palette of linen, cream and beige offset by sofas and ottomans in a bolder shade; the white marble bathrooms come with covetable Natura Bissé toiletries. Facilities in the spa include a hammam-style suite, heat and water experiences, and a fine fitness centre featuring Outrace equipment, a first for a Dubai hotel. The culinary offering is strong, too, with a good choice of restaurants and bars. Among the highlights are the one-Michelin-starred Tasca by José Avillez, serving contemporary Portuguese dishes, and Netsu by Ross Shonhan, a Japanese steakhouse. The sweet-toothed, meanwhile, will find serious temptation in The Mandarin Cake Shop and its exquisite petits gateaux.
Jumeirah Beach Road
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Nine restaurants and lounges, six swimming pools, twelve spa treatment rooms, four tennis courts, … Clearly, this Ritz-Carlton (one of two in Dubai) doesn’t do things by halves. Located in the smart Marina district, it has the broad private white sands of Marina Beach on one side and the popular Walk at JBR on the other. In contrast to the neighbouring tower blocks, it’s just six storeys tall, Mediterranean-Moorish in style and set in attractively landscaped gardens. The generously sized rooms and suites blend clean-lined contemporary décor and a neutral colour palette with intricate Arabic patterns featured in artworks, bedheads and accessories. All have a private balcony or patio and upgrading to a Club level room brings access to the exclusive Club Lounge with its concierge service and complimentary food and drinks. For business travellers, there’s a full-service business centre, more than 70,000 sq ft of meetings and events spaces including outstanding outdoor venues facing the Arabian gulf. While families will find a great kids club with a varied programme of activities that takes in everything from yoga and zumba to face-painting and puzzle challenges
Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina
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The St. Regis Downtown Dubai
Dubai has two St. Regis hotels: one out on The Palm and the other, this one, in a downtown but tranquil location on the Dubai Water Canal at Business Bay. Staying here puts you within easy reach of key attractions such as Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa Lake, where you can watch the choreographed displays of the Dubai Fountain and get a great view of the world’s tallest building. The hotel’s sleek interior design incorporates plenty of references to the region’s culture and heritage. In the lobby, curtains of gold chains and an undulating blown-glass chandelier evoke the jewellery of the souks; bedrooms feature decorative nods to the natural world, with coral-inspired sculptures, wavy-edged tree trunk desks and bedside light fittings like clusters of pearls. Dining choices include Basta, a lively Italian restaurant, and Tabu, serving modern Japanese cuisine in theatrical surroundings, and you can enjoy traditional St. Regis rituals such as afternoon
tea, served each day in The Library, and nightly champagne-sabering in the bar. There’s a well-equipped fitness centre, an infinity pool with a canal view and if you head to the luxurious spa, you’ll find signature treatments such as a 24-carat gold facial and a traditional Arabian hammam.
Marasi Drive, Business Bay
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
If you fancy trying out an assortment of water sports, the beachfront Waldorf Astoria is the perfect place to do it. The hotel, on the eastern edge of Palm Jumeirah, has calm, sheltered water and a dedicated Water Sports Centre where activities include wakeboarding, jetskiing, fishing, sailing and fun rides for children. Junior guests are well looked after here, with children’s menus in the restaurants, mini bathrobes and babysitting services, plus a kids’ club for 4-12-year-olds. While someone else is keeping the kids entertained, grown-ups can head for the tennis court, spa or fitness centre or simply lounge around one of the two pools. All rooms have contemporary European-style décor, in shades of ivory, sand and pale turquoise, with furnished balconies, large marble bathrooms and subtly patterned rugs on polished hardwood floors. Opt for one of the Pearl Club rooms or suites and as well as securing a full sea view, you’ll also be able to hang out in the exclusive fifth-floor Pearl Club, serving tasty treats throughout the day. Other options on the food front include innovative Italian cuisine in Social, southeast Asian flavours in Lao, and classic afternoon tea, served in the glamorous white-on-white surroundings of the Peacock Lounge.
East Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah
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One&Only The Palm
In a city of ever-taller towers, the low-rise Andalusian-style architecture of One&Only The Palm, with its arches, pools and fountains, is particularly appealing. So, too, is the sense of space – the buildings are set amid large, luxuriant gardens, with a private white-sand beach wrapping around two sides. Inside is as beautiful as out, with Arabian design details to the fore: think elegant archways, marble floors, lattice panels and gorgeous pendant lighting. This romantic resort is set out to be the most exclusive in Dubai and everything about it is next-level luxurious, from the oversized day beds and air-conditioned cabanas around the stunning central pool to the exclusive Guerlain Spa and Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio from celebrity podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez. There’s an impressive range of guest experiences on offer, too, including yoga sessions, sunset cruises, cooking classes and desert safaris. And you’re guaranteed to eat well. When it opened in 2010, the resort brought in renowned chef Yannick Alléno to oversee all three in-house restaurants. In the second edition of Michelin Guide to Dubai, published in 2023, the flagship STAY by Yannick Alléno, with its fine-dining French menu, retained two stars award, making it one of the three highest-rated restaurants in the emirate
West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah
Park Hyatt Dubai
The white-washed, low-rise Park Hyatt Dubai is one of the city’s most relaxing resorts, with a serenely calm creekside setting and a pared-down-chic look that has made it a long-standing favourite of the fashion crowd. Designed in Moorish-meets-Mediterranean style, it has large, minimalist rooms in shades of white, ivory and beige, with blue cushions or textured carpets supplying subtle decorative nods to sea and sand dunes; all rooms have a private balcony or terrace offering views of creek, lagoon or marina. The hotel is part of Dubai Creek Resort, which also includes Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club – the concierge can arrange tee times if you fancy a round on the course. For serious pampering, there’s the superb Amara Spa and for more relaxation, there’s an alluring palm-lined swimming pool plus two man-made lagoons with sandy beaches by Twiggy. The hotel’s award-winning restaurants offer plenty of variety from Indian fine dining in Vivek Singh’s The Cinnamon Club and authentic Thai cuisine in The Thai Kitchen to Mediterranean flavours in Boardwalk and a culinary blend of New England and Nikkei influences on the menu at Noépe. And if you’re there for the weekly Traiteur Brunch, don’t miss it – it’s legendarily lavish.
Dubai Creek Club Street
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Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Most visitors to Dubai only experience the desert on a group day trip but it’s so much more rewarding (and romantic) to stay there for a few nights, especially if you can escape to one of Al Maha’s 42 ultra-luxurious suites. This eco-friendly boutique resort is located within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve so there’s no dune-bashing here. Instead, a low-impact 4WD tour cruises quietly across the apricot-coloured sands, allowing you to observe wildlife such as oryx and gazelles (which, in the early morning and late afternoon, might even wander up to your private plunge pool for a drink). Other guest experiences include archery, falconry and guided nature walks; there’s a fitness centre and outdoor pool; and the Timeless Spa offers massages, facials and other body treatments. The Bedouin Suites, with tent-like canopies, are sumptuously furnished with Arabian antiques and artefacts and come with thoughtful touches such as an easel with art materials, just in case you feel inspired by the landscapes. Al Diwaan restaurant serves sophisticated international food and, like the bar, has far-reaching desert views, but for something a bit special, book dinner on your own pool deck or in a lantern-lit setting among the dunes.
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Ain Road
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Taj Dubai
If you believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you’re in good hands at the award-winning Taj Dubai: the morning buffet spread in recently renovated Miss Tess is excellent, featuring everything from homemade jams, cold cuts, live cooking stations and bakery to freshly cooked dosa and regional Indian delicacies. By night, the restaurant transforms into an elevated Asian diner serving contemporary Chinese, traditional Japanese and popular Thai gastronomy with live entertainment shows, while other dining options include the signature Indian cuisine in the legendary Bombay Brasserie and gastropub fare in The Eloquent Elephant. And don’t forget about the Mediterranean flair at Meda and creative mixology with live DJ beats at the outdoor bar & lounge Treehouse. Gold and Platinum Cardmembers, then, should have no problem using the USD$100 Experience Credit they get to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities when they book a stay of two nights or more from The Hotel Collection. The Taj brand’s Indian origins shine through in all aspects of the hotel, from the colourful artwork on the walls to the traditional techniques and essential oils incorporated in J Wellness Circle signature therapies. Elegant guest rooms come with Sealy Posturepedic mattresses, floor to ceiling windows, plus, Molton Brown toiletries in the bathrooms. Location-wise, you could walk from here to Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain but to keep your cool, use the free shuttle service instead – or just take a dip in the outdoor pool.
Burj Khalifa Street, Business Bay
Conrad Dubai
Standing outside the Conrad Dubai, on the busy Sheikh Zayed Road, you’d never guess that this sleek glass skyscraper was hiding a secret oasis. Head up to the sixth floor, though, and you’ll find a large, lush garden, where palm trees, banana plants and other tropical vegetation surround a lovely freeform pool and assorted seating areas give you the choice of lounging in shade or sun. The hotel is popular with business travellers thanks to its downtown location (the World Trade Centre is just across the road), multiple meeting venues and bedrooms that feature flexible workstations with ergonomic chairs and good connectivity. That said, it has plenty to attract holidaymakers as well. On the fitness front, there’s a spa, gym and outdoor yoga deck, and when it comes to food and drink, you get a choice of six restaurants and bars. Highlights include authentic Greek flavours in Anása, tasty Korean cuisine in Kimpo and poolside cocktails at the aptly-named Bliss 6.
Sheikh Zayed Road
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Membership Rewards® Programme
Cardmembers enrolled in the American Express Membership Rewards® programme will earn one additional bonus Membership Rewards point in addition to their standard earn rate (for a total of 2 points) for every full £1 spent on flights, prepaid hotels, car hire and experiences booked through the American Express Travel website americanexpress.com/en-gb//travel. Specific Card products or limited time promotions may offer additional Membership Rewards points, please see individual Card or promotion Terms and Conditions for more information. Additional Membership Rewards points cannot be earned on products which are not prepaid but are paid directly to the supplier, including cruise bookings and select hotel bookings. These bookings will not earn two Membership Rewards points for every £1 spent but will be earned at the normal rate of one point for every £1 spent. Full Terms and Conditions apply, please visit americanexpress.co.uk/termsandconditions.
To use Pay with Points, you must book your eligible purchase through American Express Travel and charge to a Membership Rewards programme-enrolled American Express® Card. Eligible purchases through American Express Travel exclude non-prepaid car rentals and non-prepaid hotels. Points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account, and credit for corresponding amount will be issued to the American Express® Card Account used. If points redeemed do not cover entire amount, the balance of purchase price will remain on the American Express Card account. When paying with a combination of your American Express Card and Membership Rewards points, only the value applied to the Card is eligible to earn Membership Rewards points.
Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions apply when booking on americanexpress.com/en-gb/travel/. Please visit visit americanexpress.com/en-gb/rewards/membership-rewards/terms/ for the Membership Rewards programme information and terms and conditions or call +44 0800 917 8053 to request a copy. For more information on Pay With Points visit americanexpress.com/uk/travel/how-to-pay-with-points. To earn or exchange Membership Rewards points, Cards must be registered to the American Express Membership Rewards programme and be active and current in their payments. Please allow up to ten weeks for Membership Rewards points to be credited to your Account. Bookings are subject to the full American Express Travel Terms and Conditions. To view these, please visit americanexpress.co.uk/termsandconditions.
Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through Platinum Travel & Dining Concierge, Business Platinum Travel & Dining Concierge, the Dedicated Centurion® Team or American Express Travel (americanexpress.com/en-gb/travel/) with participating properties and are valid only for eligible Platinum Cardmembers or Centurion® Members and excludes Platinum Credit Companion Cards. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked. The average total value of the program benefits is based on prior-year bookings for stays of two nights; the actual value varies. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 Credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the credit. To receive the credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. To receive the breakfast credit, the breakfast bill must be charged to your hotel room. The breakfast credit will be applied at check-out. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amont will be applied at check-out.
Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay).Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and
amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for FHR program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more made through American Express Travel (americanexpress.com/en-gb/travel/), Platinum Travel & Dining Concierge, Business Platinum Travel & Dining Concierge or the Dedicated Centurion® Team, with participating properties and are valid only for eligible Preferred Rewards Gold Cardmembers, Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Cardmembers, Platinum Cardmembers or Centurion® Members and excludes Platinum Credit Companion Cardmembers. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
International Airline Program (IAP)
1. Current International Airline Program Partners: Air Europa, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
2. American Express reserves the rights to change these conditions from time to time with 21 days prior notice and/or to discontinue the whole program.
3. Airlines reserve the right to change, cancel or restrict flight operations without notice. IAP upgrades or specially negotiated fares may be limited by airlines to certain flights and/or dates (“blackouts”). IAP is subject to the terms and conditions of each participating carrier. American Express does not guarantee that seats or tickets will be available. Cabins of service and discounts vary by airline and route. Discounts are applicable to adult fares however some airlines extend savings to child fares.
4. To qualify for the IAP upgrades or specially negotiated fares:
a) Your journey must start and end at the same port as designated by the participating airline and be completed within the period during which your selected carrier participates in the program. You will be advised of any applicable dates at the time of booking;
b) IAP tickets must be purchased through the Platinum Travel Service and must be charged to a valid American Express Platinum Card which is in good standing;
c) The Platinum Cardmember who purchases the ticket(s) must be one of the travellers;
d) IAP tickets are non-transferable and non endorsable.
5. Any travel on non-participating airlines must be ticketed and paid for separately and is not part of the IAP. Certain code share or flights on the worldwide partners of the participating airlines may not apply.
6. Certain IAP airlines or non-participating airlines impose restrictions such as ticketing time limit on advance booking to indicate a timeline for ticketing upon making your reservations. For each individual airline Terms & Conditions, please check with the Platinum Travel Service for details.
7. IAP upgrade offers or specially negotiated fares may not be combined with any other promotion, discount, negotiated or corporate rate.
8. American Express acts only as an agent for travel service providers and does not own or operate any airline or means of transportation. American Express is not liable for service deficiencies on the part of airlines or other service providers, including but not limited to: accidents and injuries; delays; changes in routes or itineraries; loss, theft or damages to possessions. American Express strongly advises travellers to insure themselves against travel risks. Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they have valid documentation and for complying with the health, customs, currency and other laws of any country they enter or attempt to enter.
9. IAP is available to Platinum Cardmembers from a variety of participating airlines each with specifically designated ports of departure and arrival. Please refer to the Platinum Travel Service for details of participating airlines, applicable routing and timetables and fares in force at any particular time.
10. Other International Airline Program Terms & Conditions may apply.
For full Terms and Conditions for Global Lounge Collection®, please visit our Global Lounge page.
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