The Best Hotels to Book in Dubai

Not every Dubai hotel will break the bank, so when searching for a cheaper option, you won’t find much better than the new Zabeel House by Jumeirah, the Greens. It’s located in an area called the Greens, close to Dubai’s main highway, Sheikh Zayed Road. That shouldn’t put you off though, as it’s slap-bang in the middle of all the tourist hot spots, including the beach, which is just a five-minute drive. The building is brand new, the rooms are spacious and modern, and the entertainment includes a pub quiz with unlimited chicken wings. There’s also a popular rooftop shisha lounge to relax in. Be quick though, the 210 rooms book up fast.

With thousands of luxury hotels on Palm Jumeirah – and new ones continuing to open – the place to be seen in Dubai changes year on year. Currently, Five Palm has a good claim to the crown thanks to its photo-friendly pool and rooftop bar, The Penthouse. It’s certainly a new favourite with celebrities and influencers – and even if you’re not into social media, it’s hard not to stay here and fill your camera roll with snaps. It has 468 rooms and is located at the base of Palm Jumeirah, meaning you avoid any traffic jams when entering and leaving, and it’s perfectly located for pictures of the Dubai marina skyscrapers.

Located in Hatta, an enclave of Dubai about an hour’s drive away from Downtown, Sedr Trailers Resort opened in late 2018 and offers the full glamping experience, with fire pits, outdoor couches and BBQ facilities. It’s surrounded by beautiful mountains and a place to enjoy for those who love the great outdoors with activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and even axe-throwing on offer. The resort closes in the summer months from May until October – and yes, there is wifi.

One of Dubai’s best-kept secrets is just a 30-minute drive into the desert. This five-star resort is comprised of traditional-looking one- and two-storey villas (115 rooms in total) that blend in to the surrounding Al-Qudra desert. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot desert gazelle and Arabian oryx basking in the sun. It’s a slow pace of life here filled with deep tissue massages, camel rides, infinity pools and jacuzzis. And, there’s a pair of coconut fibre slippers to greet you as you enter your bedroom – it’s the little things in life. Food-wise, we recommend the authentic North Indian restaurant, which is a favourite with Dubai sheikhs.

Gambling is strictly forbidden in the UAE, but that hasn’t stopped one of the world’s most famous Vegas casinos from opening in Dubai. Caesars Palace opened its doors in 2018 as the big-name signing on the new Bluewaters Island. Guests have the choice of five types of room, the best being those directly facing the pool and sea. Key features in the rooms are the marble bathrooms with double sinks, which ooze luxury. Downstairs you’ll find guests dining at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, which although not cheap, is as good as you’d imagine. Those looking to relax can sit by the pool or take part in yoga classes on the private beach. With a location as perfect as this, it doesn’t need any roulette tables to entice guests.

Palm Jumeirah is no stranger to top hotels, and the latest brand to make the man-made island home is the bright and colourful W Dubai. As you walk into the lobby, you’re greeted with a magnificent 30-metre visual sound wave art installation made from 640 pieces of glass. Other light installations wind their way along the long passageways leading out to the pool area. Here you’ll find multiple pools on different levels with private cabanas available. The free-flowing drinks packages on Ladies Day are already a hit with tourists and residents. Upstairs, you’ll find SoBe, a Miami-inspired rooftop bar with stunning views over the Palm. It has almost certainly been built with social media in mind. As for the hotel rooms themselves, there are 350 of them, each with graffiti wall art featuring lyrics and words recalling the region’s cultural history.