The best hotels in Dubai
![The best hotels in Dubai for 2024](https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/65c50ee46a2aa75654d9d17a/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/Screenshot%25202024-01-05%2520at%25204.24.41%2520PM.png)
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Just over 30 years ago, the Dubai World Trade Centre stood tall and lonesome as the only skyscraper in the city. Today, there are over 200 towers within the bigger-is-better desert fortress that is Dubai, each addition offering a unique jewel to the city’s crown in the form of architecture-meets-art creations and sky-high structures – including the tallest building in the world. Within this skyline are also some of the best hotels in the world, where the boundaries of luxury are pushed and prodded higher and higher with each opening. It’s not all gold leaf and white gloves – although there is a lot of that – some of the best hotels in Dubai are found on the ground, lining the golden beaches or even out in the desert dunes. Here we share our favourite Dubai hotels. For more recommendations, see our edit of the best family hotels in Dubai.
How we choose the best hotels in Dubai
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve. Find out more about our editorial standards and how we review hotels.
- Natelee Cocks/Siro One Za'abeel, Dubaihotel
Siro One Za'abeel
Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
Encased within Dubai’s newest landmark, the debut hotel for Kerzner International’s new Siro brand is conceptualised around fitness, self-care, and recovery. While Siro One Za’abeel’s 132 rooms may look basic at first, they are anything but. Between the muted tones and clean lines, every element serves to enhance Siro’s grand mission. Mattresses are thermoregulated, the pillow menu has 11 categories, the integrated Siro app controls blackout blinds to wake guests up in natural synchronisation with their circadian rhythm, and – at the recommendation of elite runners who test-drove the rooms ahead of the Dubai Marathon – ceiling fans have been installed to prevent dry throats after a night of heavy air conditioning. In-house nutritionist Heeral Shivnani can put together a macro-counted meal plan for the duration of your stay, while the neon-lit lobby-cum-community-hub serves salads, bowls, and protein shakes. In the 9,687-square-foot Fitness Lab, imposing cardio machines look squarely onto Downtown Dubai’s towering skyline; and upstairs in the Recovery Lab, everything from cryotherapy and electro-muscle stimulation to calming vibroacoustic therapy is on offer. Once you’re done with all that recharging, wind down with yoga and reformer Pilates studios, relaxation suites, and sound-healing sessions before your (scientifically designed) good night’s sleep. Sophie Prideaux
Address: Zaa'beel Street - Za'abeel - Za'abeel 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
- The Lanahotel
The Lana, Dorchester Collection
Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
The Lana represents the much-anticipated debut of the Dorchester Collection in the Middle East. This new, intimate, 225-room hotel in Downtown Dubai is the epitome of “anti-bling” – and a sign that Dubai really is able to hold its own among the big-name global cities that the Dorchester Collection already operates in. It’s clear that architecture firm Foster + Partners designed this 30-storey hotel around the views: the circular Marasi Marina sits in the foreground, its inky blue waters reflecting the lights of Downtown Dubai’s skyscrapers at night; and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, reaches into the clouds just beyond. Suites consist of a bedroom, living and dining area, entertainment room, kitchenette, walk-in wardrobe and dressing area, and a bathroom where a large bathtub is wrapped in white and grey-veined marble.
But it’s on the micro level that The Lana really sets itself apart: in the 100 per cent goose-down duvets; Dyson Supersonic hair dryer; the heated toilet seats. Bed linen is custom made by Frette and mattresses are Vispring, preferred supplier to Buckingham Palace. Dubai’s first Dior spa is due to open here soon. For the hotel's restaurant, Riviera, Jean Imbert has created a soulful ode to the coastal cuisines of France and Italy, with a menu that journeys from La Spezia down to Saint Tropez, via Portofino, Genova, Monaco and Nice. Selina Denman
Address: Marasi Dr - Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
- The St. Regis Dubai, The Palmhotel
The St Regis Dubai, The Palm
From its position on the trunk of Dubai's famous Palm Jumeirah, this hotel delivers a dose of New York-style luxury to the emirate in one the most exclusive neighbourhoods. Taking up the first 18 floors of the 52-storey tower, the hotel shares the building with one of the city’s newest attractions – Aura SkyPool Lounge – and The View Dubai. Balancing local influences with the New York-style glamour we’ve come to expect from St Regis hotels, of its 290 rooms and suites there are three categories, all of them celebrating views of The Palm’s fronds and the city skyline, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Although there are no terraces, guests can enjoy Frette linen and down-filled pillows and bathrooms boast tubs you’ll get lost in from which you can continue to drink in the fabulous views.
The spot for a drink at any St Regis property is the St Regis Bar; it’s the heart of each property and is renowned for its signature Bloody Mary. Carefully curated menus with woodfired seafood and quality cut meats are paired perfectly by the in-house mixologists, while breakfast is expansive in this 1920s-style space that stretches the hotel’s third floor. Those ladies who enjoy a high tea will revel in the one presented by Her by Carol Astor, but it does only welcome women, while for poolside snacks, Dip Pool Bar has that covered. Melinda Healy
- Rupert Peacehotel
One&Only One Za'abeel
Architecturally, One&Only One Za’abeel is undeniably striking: the hotel sits in one of two imposing towers linked via a cantilever. Once inside, this boulevard-style bridge called The Link is Tardis-like, with room within its three storeys for beautifully designed restaurants by a roster of Michelin-star-earning chefs. Don't let the rather self-conscious moniker “vertical resort” put you off; beneath the shine, the One&Only brand values are resoundingly present: warmly intuitive service, considered luxury and a sense of occasion. It might be the glass curtain walls drawing the eye to the horizon that make the rooms feel wonderfully spacious, but there's enough floorspace even in entry-level rooms for a king-sized bed, stretched daybed and bathroom with standalone tub; 85-square-metre “grand” category rooms have a separate dressing room. Jean-Micheal Gathy's interiors are decorated in pale sand, taupe and gold tones, with marble floors and silken carpets.
Fine dining is perhaps the biggest lure for this address, with a host of starry venues from leading chefs in The Link, including La Dame De Pic by Anne-Sophie Pic; DuangDy by Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bangkok’s Bo.Lan; Sagetsu by Tetsuya Wakuda; QABU by Paco Morales; and Arrazuna by Turkish chef Mehmet Gürs. The spa is the first Middle Eastern Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie, the Swiss clinic that’s pioneered the now-omnipresent concept of medicalised wellness since the 1930s. Set over three floors, expect aesthetic and wellness treatments alongside longevity analysis to determine how best to boost your body’s ageing defences. Down at The Garden on level 4, Bali is the inspiration for a series of sculpted rice-paddy-style, family pools with a swim-up bar. The landscaping is really appealing, with decorative water features and tropical foliage to cool the pool deck, and lifeguards are conspicuously on-hand. Clare Dight
Address: Street - Za'abeel - Za'abeel 1 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
- Francois Nel/Getty/Atlantis Dubaihotel
Atlantis the Royal
Featured on our 2023 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
Any retreat that bills itself as “the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world” is not going for subtlety – but here, that’s very much the point. Sitting alongside its famous sister, Atlantis the Palm, on Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis the Royal’s eye-catching curves contain 795 rooms, suites, and penthouses, 17 restaurants and bars, a 1.2-mile beach, and more than 90 pools. Beyoncé performed at its opening celebration, and Tiësto wrote its theme song. (Yes, it has its own soundtrack.) Guests enter the lobby between walls of fire and water, conceived by Moshe Safdie, who created the Rain Vortex at Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport. The spaces are vast, with light bouncing off enormous swathes of marble and massive fish tanks; stately internal boulevards lined with luxury boutiques crisscross the property. Up in the rooms, the mood is calmer, with soothing palettes and surprisingly minimalist decor accentuating views, from the Palm-facing balconies especially. The suites and penthouses elevate the experience even further with landscaped terraces and glass-walled pools. Nicola Chilton
Address: Palm Jumeirah - Crescent Rd - The Palm Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
- hotel
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah
An hour's drive from the vibrant energy of Dubai, traversing the tranquillity of Sharjah brings you to Ajman. Nestled within Ajman is Al Zorah, the site of The Oberoi Beach Resort, where well-manicured lawns meet a natural reserve on one side and ongoing construction on the other – a promising glimpse into the area's future. Upon arrival, sharply dressed staff usher you to the lobby. The resort concurrently opened during the first phase of the development project in 2017, when the first residents moved into the area. Conceived by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, the 89 rooms are a study in contemporary design. A soothing neutral palette defines the suites, offset by whimsical details. Floor-to-ceiling windows look over three views; mangroves, gardens and ocean. Each room boasts a balcony, while villas feature expansive terraces and temperature-controlled private pools; some even offer direct beach access. All are west-facing, making for a calm morning coffee spot and incredible sunset scenes. Staff hail from all corners of the world, yet you'll encounter the same warm and attentive service synonymous with the Oberoi Group in each of them. Locals and expats flock here for weekend staycations while guests from the West pitch up for winter sun – or even hotter summers. Zahra Surya Darma
- Natelee Cocks/Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort, Dubai
Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort
Featured on our 2023 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
Since 2004, this desert resort has been a favourite of residents and visitors for its mix of family-friendly fun, lush gardens, and Arabian architecture. Freshly reopened after an extensive renovation, Bab Al Shams is looking better – and brighter – than ever. The dark furnishings and textiles have given way to a new design aesthetic that features a lighter colour palette and a more contemporary mood, all while remaining true to its Arabian roots. Hardcore fans can still find some of the original elements, albeit with a modern style and renewed energy. The much-loved swimming pools on the edge of the sands are now flanked by restaurants, including Mediterranean Zala and rooftop Anwā for Asian dishes and sunset views. A fleet of Land Rover Discoveries is also on hand for desert excursions. While you’re bouncing through the dunes in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, you’ll likely spot herds of endangered Arabian oryxes and wandering sand gazelles. Don’t come expecting a golden sea of towering dunes – you need to head 300 kilometres inland to the Empty Quarter for that – but for a taste of desert adventure a short drive from downtown Dubai, you can’t do much better than this. Nicola Chilton
- Alamy
Jumeirah Al Qasr
Featured on our 2023 Gold List of the best hotels in the world
I never expected to fall so hard for Jumeirah Al Qasr. This marble-clad, gold-encrusted palace at the nucleus of Jumeirah’s multi-resort beach enclave is the polar opposite of the less-is-more look that I, a self-proclaimed sophisticate, usually gravitate to. But within hours after checking in, I had already bought into its arabesque fantasy, and by the next morning, I fancied myself a veritable royal. It's impossible not to feel princeling-special when you have an army of staff ready with mint tea at the drop of a hat, or when you float down the resort’s labyrinthine canals in an abra boat. Wander the hallways, with their Arabian-inspired columns and mashrabiya latticework. And the more than 50 cafés, bars, and restaurants spread across the palm-tufted compound cater to every spur-of-the-moment whim. The rooms, too, are fit for a sheik, with bathrooms replete with marble tubs. Rooms were refreshed in 2018 with mother-of-pearl inlays. And then there’s that balcony view: a city of sand-coloured wind catchers poking out from a meticulously landscaped sprawl of palm trees and swirling pools, backdropped by Dubai’s gleaming skyline in the hazy distance. At first glance, Al Qasr might look like a Disney-fied bubble in the desert; spend a few days here, and you'll find that its royal hospitality is the real deal. From about £265. Chris Schalkx
- Courtesy One&Only Royal Mirage
One&Only Royal Mirage
Featured on our 2023 Gold List of the best hotels in the world
At a time when luxury properties seem to be cutting back on small things they think guests won’t notice, One & Only Royal Mirage remains unfalteringly consistent. From in-room details like fresh flowers and thoughtful amenities like poolside iced fruit and a cleaning service for sunglasses, it all adds up to a pleasing sense of indulgence. Enter the marbled lobby (to chimes from a welcoming gong), where intuitive staff perceive your every need without ever being annoying or intrusive. When the original Palace opened in 1998, on the shores of the emirate’s Jumeirah Beach, its traditional domes and arches elegantly surpassed the ruling family’s flanking beach residences. Even though it has increased its footprint to include the Arabian Court and Residence & Spa, there’s an innate sense of space and privacy, undoubtedly helped by 65 acres of meticulously landscaped grounds. Unsurprisingly, golf buggies are the vehicles du jour, saving Loro Piana-clad guests from taking too many steps to the eight restaurants, two of which are overseen by three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. Amid Dubai’s showboating, posturing pretenders to its crown, One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, quite simply reigns supreme. From about £681 per night. Stella Rosato
- Dan Kullberg
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Featured on our 2022 Gold List of the best hotels in the world
There aren’t too many places that can offer a true beach and city break – but this elegant compound on Jumeirah’s crisp-white shores manages to feel like part of Dubai while also being gently removed from it. Mostly, the hotel sits on the serene side of Middle Eastern opulence, with marble, Murano chandeliers and gold-leaf ceilings cut through with calming, earthy tones inspired by the desert and Arabian Gulf. Staff around the curving, shadow-draped lagoon pools seem ever-ready with citrus shooters and blueberry muffins, and there’s often a procession of couples heading towards the orb-like sculpture by the beach, fire-lit as the sun goes down. The spa has treatments designed by Swiss anti-ageing guru Pauline Burgener, and much of the food runs fresh – from detox salads at vegetarian Folia to yellowtail ceviche at Sea Fu. But this is still Dubai, so there’s also room for the flash of Nusr-Et, the steakhouse created by divisive Turkish showman Salt Bae. Jumeirah is the closest beach to Downtown, and the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa still loom large, best viewed from the rooftop Mercury Lounge, with its Arabian archways framing the twinkling city. I can’t think of a better way to see and do Dubai. By Alice Holtham
- Ingrid Rasmussen
25hours Hotel One Central
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
Forget the glitz and glam, this cool un-Dubai hotel is a hub for creatives, digital nomads, and those in the know. There’s plenty of co-working spaces, a lobby filled with thousands of books for all to read, a podcast recording room, a pottery studio and desks filled with typewriters and paints for guests and visitors to get creative. In the daytime communal spaces are filled with savvy business owners, artists, trendy expats and Emiratis looking for something different. Hotel guests spend most days lounging on beds and bean bags around the rooftop pool, nibbling tacos and sipping margaritas from the pool bar. Swim to the pool's edge for the best views of the Museum of the Future which lights up in the evening. Come evening, once you've had a full body massage at The Extra Hour Spa, and your hair styled at the on-site hairdressers, you can choose from five restaurants and bars within the hotel. Dressed up guests should venture downstairs to the delicious Indian restaurant Tandoor Tina before heading up to the roof for sun-down punchy cocktails at Monkey Bar. For a more casual vibe, you can get a large steine and bratwurst at Bavarian bar Ernst – the first hotel serving pork in Dubai.
The hotel has 434 rooms and suites split over multiple levels, with interiors on the first floor public spaces coloured beige like the desert. As you head higher up, more colours are introduced to each floor as a homage to Dubai rising from the desert and becoming the futuristic hub it is today. Room interiors are modern and playful – there’s hammocks, freestanding baths to roll into from bed, walls filled with local photography and polaroid cameras should you wish to buy film from the lobby and snap away. Sophie Knight
Address: Trade Center St, Trade Centre, Trade Centre 2, Dubai
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
The Anantara World Islands have been in the making for a long time, starting and stopping over the decades due to financial and environmental reasons. Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort is the first resort to open on the man-made archipelago, and it’s hard to imagine that any subsequent properties will afford better views of Dubai’s glittering skyline. This is the kind of place you get to and then stay put, exploring the water by way of jet skis and hydrofoils. And though it’s still in its soft opening phase, the family-friendly suites and incredibly lovely staff are already heading in the right direction.
FIVE Palm Jumeirah
If you want to join the party people, then head to FIVE at the base of Jumeirah Palm. This place puts music at the forefront of its offering. From daytime pool parties with giant bubbles and live saxophone to sunset beach raves with world-class DJs, and late nights in the blingiest of nightclubs, you can dance from morning to night in the hotel that never sleeps. When you do feel the need to hit the pillow, you can do so in stylish rooms – all bronze fixtures and fittings, and elegant Art Deco bars. Open the doors to your sea-facing terrace if you want to nod off to distant hypnotic house music, or close them for cocooned silence.
Set in an architecturally striking building, which curves like an amphitheatre around a pristine stretch of beachfront overlooking Dubai Marina, the hotel offers plenty of downtime, too. There are hydrotherapy jets in the rooftop spa pool and talented therapists working away the knots in tired muscles. Italian al-fresco lunches take place at poolside Cinque restaurant, while you can eat sushi with a view of the Dubai skyline in the Penthouse or dine on dim sum at Maiden Shanghai. Whether you’re eating tempura seafood on the beach or slurping a power juice at breakfast, the food here is excellent. And if you order bottles of booze, you’ll be treated to elaborate dances, sparklers and perhaps some drumming, so that everyone in the room knows you are getting the party started. Antonia Windsor
- Tommy Picone
Bulgari Resort Dubai
The fifth addition to the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts portfolio, following Milan, Bali, London and Beijing, Bulgari Resort Dubai was designed by Italian-based Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel with the same perfection as the brand’s jewellery. A stay here melts understated Italian minimalism with ramped-up extravagance, with low-key luxe rooms that are dressed in an almost all-Italian catalogue of furnishings. The private island location makes for thrilling views of the city’s skyline plus the benefits of its own marina and yacht club, a first for the hotel brand and for Dubai. The jewel in the crown is the 25-metre indoor pool, with giddying ocean and city views, backed by a Vitality Pool lined with shimmering green and real gold mosaic tiles. Read our full Bulgari Resort Dubai review.
Address: Jumeirah Bay Island, Dubai
ME Dubai
This (relative) low-rise stands tall amongst a sea of skyscrapers thanks to its boundary-breaking design by the late, Pritzker-awarded architect Dame Zaha Hadid. Found within The Opus tower, the curved glass structure means entering the bedrooms is like stepping onto the bridge of a super-slick spaceship, with curved walls further accentuated by wavy furnishings, puddles of plush rugs and a bathroom that verges on trippy. Alongside Hadid’s specially designed furniture, there’s also a keen focus on art and curated exhibitions throughout the hotel. The combination draws a creative crowd, especially to the second floor restaurant Central which serves up traditional Spanish tapas. Head here in the mornings for a breakfast feast including sweet and savoury à la carte options. For more, see our full review of ME Dubai.
Address: The Opus by Omniyat, Al A'amal St, Business Bay, Dubai
- Fernando Guerra / ANARCHITECT
Al Faya Lodge
A Dubai hotel that’s not in the city itself, Al Faya Lodge is a mirage-like destination stay that brings a unique glamping experience to the desert. Located on the lonely Al Faya Road an hour east of Dubai, the mountainside plot was once just a dusty petrol pit stop in the 1960s. In 2016, government developers set about an ambitious plan to transform the derelict cement blocks into a five-room lodge retreat. The result is a pioneering breed of boutique design hotels in Sharjah, where rooms feature stargazing skylights and fire pits, and the spa has a sea saltwater pool and Himalayan salt therapy room. Read our full Al Faya Lodge review.
Address: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Mandarin Oriental Dubai
There are plenty of beachside hotels in Dubai but few can claim to be as shiny and well placed as the Mandarin Oriental, which opened up on a private stretch of Jumeirah in 2019. The hotel is shiny shiny, with rows of towering bronze trees with leaf-shaped crystal bulbs lining the lobby, creating a glittering fairy forest that leads out to the beach. The other talking point is Tasca, one of the six restaurants in the hotel, headed up by Portuguese chef José Avillez of two-Michelin-starred Belcanto restaurant in Lisbon. See our full Mandarin Oriental hotel review.
Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
This is Dubai insider’s hotel – cooler and more understated than most of its neighbours. Jumeirah itself is a heavyweight within the city’s scene and the name behind many of its most well-respected restaurants and residences in Dubai. Mina Al Salam is one of the nine Jumeirah hotels, a 40-hectare project designed to look like a traditional Arabian hub, blended seamlessly into the gateway of the mighty Madinat Jumeirah souk, where bougainvillaea frame the white walls and everything is linked by canals. See our full Jumeirah Mina A'Salam review for more.
- Hakan Akdemir
The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai
Located on the expansive Dubai Water Canal, The St. Regis Downtown combines the spirit of its New York sister property with the very best of what the city’s modern financial Downtown district has to offer. In terms of location, all of the famed landmarks are within easy reach, from the world’s largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall, to the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa. Inside, the aesthetic is classic through a Middle Eastern lens. Rooms are generous in size, each with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook either the Dubai Water Canal or Burj Khalifa – two very good options – and access to the legendary St Regis butler service as standard. The hotel also has the first St. Regis Spa in the Middle East, impressively spread across six therapy suites including a Hammam. Signature treatments include a purifying 24-carat gold facial (this is Dubai, remember) along with flotation pod therapy and a traditional Moroccan Hammam. See our St. Regis Downtown Dubai review for more.
Address: Marasi Dr, Business Bay, Dubai