Top 10 Hotels in Dubai

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, in this blog, we will get to know about the Top 10 Hotels in Dubai.

How We Choose The Best Hotels In Dubai

When choosing hotels, it is best to 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.

List of Top 10 Hotels in Dubai

1. Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort

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.

The much-loved swimming pools on the edge of the sands are now flanked by fresh new restaurants, including Mediterranean Zala and rooftop Anwā for Asian dishes and sunset views. A brand new 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.

Address: Al Qudra Road, opposite Endurance City, Dubai

2. 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. 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 sheikh, 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.

Address: Madinat Jumeirah, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Umm Suqeim, Dubai

One & Only Royal Mirage

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.

Address: King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Dubai Marina, Dubai

4. Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

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.

Address: Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 2, Dubai

5. 25hours Hotel One Central

Forget the glitz and glam, this cool new un-Dubai hotel is a hub for creatives, digital nomads, and those in the know. There are 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.

The hotel has 434 rooms and suites split over multiple levels, with interiors on the first floor and 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 are hammocks, freestanding baths to roll into from bed, and walls filled with local photography and Polaroid cameras should you wish to buy the film from the lobby and snap away.

Address: Trade Center St, Trade Centre, Trade Centre 2, Dubai

6. Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort

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.

Address: South America, The World Islands, Dubai

7. 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.

Address: No. 1 Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

8. 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.

Address: Jumeirah Bay Island, Dubai

9) 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 al fresco restaurant Deseo which serves seasonal local fish and Latin American dishes in a tropical space.

Address: The Opus by Omniyat, Al A'amal St, Business Bay, Dubai

10. 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 glamming 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.

Address: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Wrapping Up!

Dubai, the crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is known around the world as one of the most expensive, lavish, and fashionable cities known to man. People go to Dubai to embark upon shopping sprees, or to hit the city and party through the night, or to behold the wonders of some of the most astonishing works of modern architecture in the world. Dubai also features the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, rising high at 830m. If you go to Dubai, then it is an absolute must for you to stay at a luxury five star hotel, there’s really no other way to explore the city. This list will help you choose the best hotel that best fits your budget.

FAQs on Top 10 Hotels in Dubai

Q1. Which is the only 7 star hotel in Dubai?

A: Burj-Al-Arab is the only 7-star hotel in the world.

Q2. Which is the luxury area of Dubai?

A: Often referred to as the "Beverly Hills of Dubai," Emirates Hills is one of the most exclusive and affluent neighborhoods in the city. This gated community is known for its sprawling villas, lush green landscapes, and views of the Montgomerie Golf Course.

Q3. What is the name of the VIP city in Dubai?

A: Palm Jumeirah.

Known worldwide for its unique, palm-shaped design, Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai's most luxurious and posh residential areas. The island offers exclusive beachfront living, with villas and apartments that cater to a high-end lifestyle.

Q4. Which month is best to visit Dubai?

A: The best time to visit Dubai is between December to March, when the weather is pleasant and cool. These are the months when the Dubai Shopping Festival is held and these months are perfect for outdoor activities like desert safaris, dune bashing etc.

Top 10 Hotels in Dubai