The World-Class Dubai Hotel

Dubai is home to some of the most gorgeous locations and structures in the world. From the marine animal parks to the Palm Jumeirah boardwalk and the Burj Khalifa skyscraper to the indoor rainforest in The Green Planet and the formerly “lost” city of Atlantis, there’s something amazing to see everywhere you go in Dubai. But if you’re splurging on this fantastic and overwhelmingly Instagram-worthy vacation, you want to make sure that where you’re landing after the day is done is just as gorgeous as all of the places you visited throughout the day. Maybe you want to find a hotel where you can spend a full day or two to take a break from all of the traveling, too. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place:

What is the best luxury hotel in Dubai? The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has repeatedly earned the title of one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, and the best luxury hotel in Dubai.

No matter what else you’re planning to do on your trip, you can rest assured knowing that there’s luxury, relaxation, and beauty waiting for you at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

What the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has to offer

First, let’s talk about the building itself. This iconic sail-shaped hotel is sleek, modern, and looks stunning against the backdrop of the Dubai skyline. It’s beautiful and welcoming before you ever even step inside. It won the Five-Star Award from Forbes’ famous Travel Guide for the years 2018 and 2019, and the United Arab Emirate’s Leading Hotel Award from World Travel Awards in 2018. While these are two highly notable and influential awards, this hotel has made many top ten and other luxury lists over the years.

Now that you’ve admired it from the outside, it’s time to venture in. Inside of this hotel, you will find a long list of luxury amenities, including:

• 201 duplex suites
• Award-winning bars and restaurants
• A private beach
• Two indoor swimming pools
• Three outdoor swimming pools
• The highly rated Talise Spa
• Fitness Center
• A club for the kids
• Wild Wadi Waterpark access

The Rooms

The deluxe suites that they offer make for the ultimate luxury hotel stay, no matter which one you choose. The deluxe one-bedroom suite includes butler service, a full size jacuzzi tub, a rain shower with five heads, full size high-end products to use during your stay, a separate lower level guest room for extended family or kids that came along with you, high-end and customizable bedding, Wi-Fi, a massive television, and remote-controlled curtains, lights, and music.

The sky one-bedroom suite offers all of these same amenities, but also includes a striking view from a higher level of the hotel and a breakfast buffet each morning. The next option is the panoramic one-bedroom suite, which offers the same amenities, but also includes the option to check in and out in-suite and private bars that are personalized just for you. The striking and spacious deluxe two-bedroom suite is perfect for larger groups and families. It is one of the many family-friendly hotels in Dubai. It includes all of the same amenities of the panoramic, but it also offers a dining room for up to six people and a separate entrance into your own private butler-style kitchen. Their Burj two-bedroom family suite gives you all of the amenities listed above, but includes an ocean view, two master bathrooms, and a play area in the suite for young kids or teenagers.

These are just a few of the luxurious room options that they offer. The other suite options include the club one-bedroom suite, the Burj three-bedroom family suite, the diplomatic three-bedroom suite, the presidential two-bedroom suite, and the royal two-bedroom suite, which would be my recommendation if you’re going all out on this trip. Among other fantastic amenities, the royal also offers a lounge, a library, and a cinema room! There’s a private elevator in the suite, a dining room that comfortably fits 12 people, and two separate dressing rooms. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Many travelers find that they can spend their whole vacation in Dubai without ever leaving the hotel! No matter which room you decide to stay in, it’s clear that this hotel will do everything they can to make sure that you enjoy a relaxing, comfortable, and luxurious stay. If you’re looking for more information about or pictures of the rooms, you can easily find both on their website.

The food

There are several world-class restaurants and bars located within the hotel, and one even has an aquarium that spans from floor to ceiling! Al Mahara is a gorgeous place where you can eat delicious food while watching colorful sea life swim right by your table. The chefs at this restaurant are award winning, like everything else about this luxury destination. The other dining options include:

• Gold On 27
• Al Iwan
• Al Muntaha
• Culinary Flight across multiple restaurants
• Junsui
• Sahn Eddar
• Skyview Bar
• Summersalt

The options range from quiet and romantic to lively and festive, the food from French to seafood, or Mediterranean to European. Each option comes with luxurious décor and displays and gorgeous views.

Activities

The private beach at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah makes this hotel ideal for countless outdoor activities. Whether you prefer to lie on the beach, tan, and read, or get active with water sports, there’s something here for everyone. The waterpark is great for kids and adults alike and there are five swimming pools to choose from. Once you’ve had enough of relaxing by the pool, you can start your next adventure with one of these activities:

• Waterskiing
• Windsurfing
• Scuba diving
• Diving
• Banana boat rides
• Fishing
• Kayaking
• Yacht cruises

The Talise Fitness center is another great way to get some exercise and spend time on your health and wellness goals during your trip. They’re open every day and they offer premium fitness classes to get you moving. As with every other aspect of this hotel, this activity comes with a gorgeous view.  

If you’re aiming more for relaxing in style and luxury, the Talise Spa is a wonderful place to get pampered and restored. The spa is a sanctuary full of natural light and they use high quality products for personal care treatments. You can get a facial, a hot stone massage, or any other number of treatments and then relax even more in one of the infinity pools, jacuzzi tubs, or steam rooms. The spa won awards for the best luxury hotel spa in 2013 and 2014.

There are so many activities to choose from on-site that you can go weeks without having to venture any farther.

For the kids

The Wild Wadi Waterpark is located right in front of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. The park has attractions for people of all ages and 30 rides to choose from. The best part is that entry is free for guests staying in the hotel, so it’s an excursion that won’t cost you anything extra.

Sinbad’s Kids Club is available for kids ages 1-12, and it’s up on the 18^th floor across from the library. They offer private dining for the kids, a large playroom for them to roam, a quiet separate bedroom for nap time, toys, activities, board games, books, and a TV. The kids will be entertained for hours while you dine, spa, or swim in peace.

What are the top 10 luxury hotels in Dubai?

If you love the idea of staying in a highly-rated luxury hotel, but you want to research some of your other options, here are the other nine that made the list of the best luxury hotels in all of Dubai:

• Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa
• The Bvlgari Resort Dubai
• Armani Hotel Dubai
• Four Seasons Dubai At Jumeirah Beach
• One&Only The Palm
• Jumeirah Al Qasr
• Raffles Dubai
• Park Hyatt Dubai
• Atlantis The Palm Dubai

What are some other ways that you can splurge in Dubai?

Once you’ve picked your beautiful, high-end luxury hotel to stay in on your trip, there are still plenty of other ways to splurge and treat yourself during your stay. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is on most of the lists for the best ways to splurge in Dubai, so if you picked that hotel, you’ve already got one crossed off of the list! Guests love the fact that each room is a two-floor suite, the views of the sea, marina, or the Palm, the highly-rated Talise Spa, and sunset views and drinks at the Skyview Bar. Here are some of the other fun and interesting ways that travelers to Dubai have recommended throwing caution to the wind and treating yourself:

Rent a yacht with your family, friends, or other fellow travelers

The Dubai Marina will allow you to rent out a yacht, complete with crew, captain, and refreshments. You can cruise around behind the marina, park it somewhere to take a dip, or drive by the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and the Atlantis hotels. Wherever you go, you’re in for some picturesque and unforgettable views.

Rent your dream car and drive it around to see all of the sights

Dubai has lots of straight and long roads, low car taxes, and gas is cheap, so it’s not uncommon to see gorgeous and expensive cars everywhere you go. If you want to join in on the fun and drive in style like one of the locals, it’s easy to find companies who will rent you your dream car, whether it’s a Lamborghini or a convertible Porsche.  

Visit the Al Maha Desert Resort

Spend the night in this desert resort where each villa has its own private plunge pool and you can spot Arabian wildlife wandering by. If you’ve already booked your hotel for the duration of your visit, you can go for a delicious three-course lunch and still get the experience of eating and animal spotting in the beautiful desert.

Visit the Talise Ottoman Spa

Located inside of the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray hotel, this spa spans 86,000 square feet of space to get pampered with one of many personal care treatment options. They also have steam rooms and saunas where you can detox and relax in the peace and quiet, a jacuzzi, and a therapy pool.

Take a helicopter tour to see Dubai from high up in the sky

Dubai is incredibly beautiful to look at from every angle, but just imagine the kinds of views you’d get of the Palm, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the boardwalk, and the World Islands from above them. And how often do you get the chance to take a helicopter tour of one of the most gorgeous places on earth? Treat yourself!

Have drinks or dinner at the restaurant in the world’s tallest building

That’s right, the tallest building in the world stuck a restaurant on their 122^nd floor for you to enjoy. If you loved your helicopter tour and you weren’t ready to come back down from the clouds just yet, booking a table at Atmosphere would allow you to eat dinner and have drinks (and maybe catch a sunset if you got the timing right) with the view of Dubai at 1,400 feet in the air right next to your table.

Visit the Burj Khalifa Skyscraper

Here’s another one that’s high up in the air. From the 148^th floor, you can see the whole city, and on a clear day you can see miles away. You’ll feel huge and indestructible compared to all of the other buildings and structures that look like Legos from that high up. Atmosphere is located in the same building, so you could spend some time on the observation deck before moving on to dinner, or you can pick one or the other.

Do some shopping at the Dubai Mall

This one is pretty obvious if you’re looking to splurge. Go grab some personalized souvenirs for your family and friends back home, treats for yourself, experiment with some henna artwork, and let a local create jewelry for you with your name written in Arabic on it. Whatever you decide to buy for yourself is worth the splurge because it’s a piece of Dubai that you’ll likely keep with you forever.

Treat yourself to a fancy dinner

One of the restaurant favorites of Dubai travelers and locals is the restaurant Fish. The restaurant sits right on the beach, offering views of the ocean, an open fire, and a relaxing atmosphere, making it perfect for every occasion from a get-together with friends to a romantic dinner with your significant other. If their style doesn’t appeal to you, there are tons of other highly-rated restaurants to choose from that offer everything from Indian to Asian to Mediterranean options.

Take in a show at the Dubai Opera

If you’re a fan of theatrics, it’s easy enough to research ahead of time what shows will be on at the Dubai Opera during your visit. The building itself is beautiful and it’s located right in the downtown area so it’ll be easy to pair it up with other excursions like brunch or a fancy dinner or sight-seeing. Throw on your fancy clothes and get there early because you’ll want to have a drink in hand while you take in the views of the downtown and the Burj Khalifa nearby.  

What is the best adventure hotel in Dubai?

Atlantis The Palm Dubai made the list for not only one of the top 10 luxury hotels in Dubai, but it also made the top 10 for the world’s best underwater hotels, the top 10 for the world’s best family hotels, and the top 10 for the world’s best hotel breakfasts. Just one look at the hotel makes it clear why it is so popular. This is the hotel that you go to if you’re looking for more than just luxury. If you want an underwater or fitness adventure in the most Instagrammed hotel in the area, this is the one for you.

If you’re worried about balance, the rooms still provide a high level of luxury. One of their suite options, the Signature Suite, even offers a view of the aquarium with 65,000 marine animals inside. Another suite boasts 360-degree views for an experience you’ll never forget. The dining options are stunning too, with several of them being restaurants created or inspired by celebrity chefs and their chosen menu items.

But when you’re done relaxing, and you’re ready for some adventure, there are plenty of exciting options for that too. There are three parks to choose from: the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, Dolphin Bay and Sea Lion Point, and the Lost Chambers Aquarium. The waterpark is pretty self-explanatory, as is Dolphin Bay and Sea Lion Point, where you can take a cool and casual swim with these happy and friendly animals, but the aquarium may be the most exciting of the three.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Dubai, right inside of your hotel. Here, you can learn about the marine life inside, the lost city of Atlantis, snorkel or dive in the 11 million liter tank with the fish, sharks, and stingrays, and watch more than 65,000 marine animals swim around while you browse through the many exhibits available to you. For those who are interested in the animals but aren’t quite ready to dive into a tank with them, there is an augmented reality option, where you can reach out and pet virtual penguins, polar bears, and other animals. Or you can take the fish tales tour, and one of the aquarium employees will share with you just what it takes to care for all of those animals each day.

This hotel is ideal for anyone who wants to be comfortable, but also wants to have the option of a bit more adventure alongside the luxury. It’s also ideal for families with young children, and all lovers of marine animals. As an added bonus, if you were ever a fan of Atlantis: The Lost Empire growing up, this hotel will transport you into a whole new world and let you live out a childhood dream.

What is the best budget hotel in Dubai?

According to TripAdvisor, the best budget hotel in Dubai is the Ibis Mall of the Emirates. While it is a tremendous amount cheaper per night than any one of the luxury hotels listed above, the hotel’s pictures are impressive and they are highly rated on TripAdvisor: 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 2,064 traveler reviews. The hotel is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, which is an easy walk from the Mall of the Emirates, the Wild Wadi waterpark, the Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Beach Park, so staying here means you can have the best of both worlds.

They offer a good number of amenities for being so budget friendly, as well, including free Wi-Fi, airport transportation, security, air conditioning and blackout curtains in each room, an Italian restaurant, and a bar and coffee shop that are open 24 hours per day. If you’d rather venture out to eat but you don’t want to call an Uber, Olea the Lebanese restaurant is a four minute walk from the hotel, Gharana (Indian) is a three minute walk, The Royal Budha (Asian) is a four minute walk, Apres (bar) is a four minute walk, and the Mall of the Emirates is a six minute walk. Each of the restaurants has great reviews on TripAdvisor, so it seems that you can’t go wrong with this location.

What are some of the other budget friendly options?

There are plenty of places to stay in Dubai in order to get the full experience without breaking the bank. Here are the other nine on the top 10 list from TripAdvisor:

• Novotel Suites Dubai Mall of the Emirates
• Ivory Grand Hotel Apartments
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai Safa Park
• Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Internet City
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Airport
• Asiana Hotel
• Atlantis, The Palm

Atlantis, The Palm was a 2019 Travelers’ Choice and landed at #1 out of the best 35 budget hotels in Dubai, according to TripAdvisor’s research. It is significantly more expensive than the rest of the hotels on the budget list, but it provides a good middle ground between the budget and the luxury options if you’re looking to upgrade a little bit. The Novotel Suites Dubai Mall of Emirates was another one that was Top Rated, and it landed at #3 out of 35 on the same list. They received great reviews (as did most of the hotels that made the list), and the pictures of the pool against the skyline are absolutely stunning.

The Holiday Inn Express Dubai Safa Park, Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Internet City, and Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Airport each include a free breakfast in their price while the others do not, so that’s something to consider in terms of budget and convenience. Each of the hotels on the budget friendly list got good reviews, but Novotel Suites Dubai Mall of the Emirates got the best and the highest number of reviews. If you’re choosing a budget hotel, take a look at the reviews and the individual websites to see which one best suits your individual needs and preferences.