The 11 Best Hotels to Book in Dubai
A holiday in the starry Emirate city of Dubai is a bucket-list tick-box, so make the most of it by staying in one of its best hotels picked by the Culture Trip team of experts.
The skyline of Dubai is punctuated with a seductive horizon of look-at-me landmarks and hotels, each trying to outdo its neighbour. Still, nothing can beat the world’s tallest monument, the Burj Khalifa, which stands head and shoulders above the rest. Catch the dancing fountain show or enjoy some culture at the impressive Dubai Opera House, then retire to your version of paradise in our carefully chosen top hotels in Dubai.
SIRO One Za'abeel
Zabeel House The Greens
Hotel
Not your typical golf hotel, Gen Z golfers choose to stay at Zabeel House The Greens, thanks to its proximity to award-winning golf courses, but there is plenty to do if you don’t tee off. Suppose you’d prefer to soak up the modern, industrial vibe at the hotel, there is a tropical outdoor pool surrounded by gardens and comfortable loungers, a fully equipped gym and Spa and the Pan Pan-Asian restaurant ‘Lah Lah’, which serves sizzling street food.
Raffles The Palm Dubai
The palatial beach resort occupies a prime location on the Palm Jumeirah Island and offers 369 luxurious rooms, suites and villas. The resort features spectacular sea views, a private white sand beach, an indoor and outdoor pool and a selection of restaurants such as Matagi, Piatti and Sola Jazz Lounge. The property encompasses a range of facilities with Raffles’ quintessential standards of service, including a 24-hour Raffles Butler and the private Raffles Lounge. With classic furnishings, the hotel opens up into the grand Blüthner Hall and a dedicated Raffles Patisserie serving chocolates and pastries. Visitors can pamper themselves in the Cinq Mondes Spa, offering 23 treatment rooms, two private spa suites, scrub rooms, hammams and fully equipped gym and yoga classes.
Armani Hotel Dubai
Hotel, Independent Hotel
FIVE Palm Hotel
Hotel
The Five Palm Hotel is an Instagrammer’s dream and predictably popular with the local trendsetter crowd who flock here on the weekends for brunch. Laid out like an amphitheatre, the rooms are stacked, so they all overlook the beach, Marina and Bluewaters Island and are decorated with a nod to Art Deco decadence. Expect lots of marble, dark wood, mirrors and bronze accents and enjoy an indulgent bath in the freestanding tub. If you need some more’ me’ time, book into the ReFive Spa, which has a rooftop pool lined with cabanas.
Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
Hotel, Independent Hotel
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
Resort, Spa Hotel
Bab Al Shams opened in 2004 as Dubai’s original luxury Arabian-style retreat. Offering luxe accommodation for adventurers, it’s worth getting up early and watching the sunrise from the resort’s infinity pool. Night-time is all about star-spotting in the velvet-black sky. Still, for an experience like no other, the Al Hadheerah restaurant offers an out of this world immersive dining experience complete with traditional singers, dancing drummers and Arabian locals reenacting historical tales.
Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Dubai
Resort
Situated on the exclusive Pearl Jumeirah, Nikki Beach Dubai is a chic sanctuary that perfectly blends beachside relaxation, vibrant music, and gourmet dining. The resort is home to 118 rooms and suites including the Celebration Suite, which is the largest in Dubai, as well as 15 private pool villas. There are also 63 lifestyle branded residences on-site – for those that want to call Nikki Beach home. The property boasts a restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, a vibrant beach club and the award-winning Nikki Spa where treatments include hammam chambers, saunas, steam rooms and ice fountains. The restaurant serves Nikki Beach’s signature global cuisine, created with locally sourced produce from regional suppliers like Al Ain Farm and Dibba Bay.
Burj Al Arab
Hotel
W Dubai - The Palm
Hotel
Don’t be surprised to see some big-name celebs at the achingly-cool W Hotel. This five-star property is designed to impress with a reputation for hosting some of Dubai’s most decadent parties. All 350 rooms and suites have a terrace and state of the art sound system along with a fully stocked W MixBar, while the decor varies between disco-luxe to after-hours seduction. Reserve a tipi-cabana at the Wet Deck, and enjoy the swim-up bar (note: this gets especially busy during the weekend brunch).
Atlantis, The Palm
Hotel
Designed as an ode to Disney fairy tales, this hotel’s central arch provides a gateway to the mythical underwater world represented throughout. Kids love the towering red brick exterior, and inside the coral-shaped door handles, shell-framed mirrors and driftwood nicknacks make you feel like you’re constantly on a movie set. It also has a private beach, a vast Aquaventure Waterpark and an aquarium filled with 65,000 marine animals.
Still looking for an affordable place to stay? Check out our guide to the best budget-friendly hotels in Dubai. Alternatively, go for somewhere stylish and cultured by booking one of the best boutique hotels in Dubai with Culture Trip. Or if you’re a party lover, check out our guide to must-visit nightclubs in Dubai.