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. Below we’ve listed out the top 10 luxury hotels in Dubai.
The Burj Al Arab is the most expensive luxury hotel on this list, and that spot is well deserved. The sheer uniqueness of this hotel is evident from the moment you first set eyes on it as it’s fashioned in the form of a giant sail rising over a thousand feet in the sky. To that end, the hotel has been created on a man-made island, which is only connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is a grand feat of modern architecture. During the nights, the hotel is lit up in various different colors that reverberate through the sail-like structure of the hotel. This sense of luxury and opulence is carried well into the interiors as well, with the atrium being surrounded on either side by towering golden pillars. The suites feature elaborate stairways made of marble and gold, and the beds are positioned on rotating pedestals so that you can take in a 360 degree view of the city. As far as the location is concerned, it’s 15 kms and 25 kms from Downtown Dubai and the Airport, respectively. However, it does feature other attractions in close vicinity, such as the Wild Wadi Waterpark, which is right outside of it, and the Madinat Jumeirah, which is a dining and entertainment complex rolled into one.
One&Only The Palm Dubai
Located on the western portion of The Palm, this boutique hotel is ideal for those who value sheer beauty and charm, but also peace and quietude. You can travel down to main Dubai via taxi, which takes about 30 minutes. However, the locational inconvenience is worth it when you take into consideration the unhindered view of Dubai Marina and the Jumeirah Beach Residence waterfront, which only residents of this luxury hotel are offered. The hotel favors a sandstone colored palette and is designed in the Moorish and Andalusian stylings, with lots of sharp geometric patterns in the design, along with extravagant fountains, pavilions, and other similar features. Despite the sheer grandness of this hotel, it feels rather like a boutique hotel with just 90 rooms, and four additional villas surrounded by lush greenery. However, all of these rooms are some of the largest rooms offered by any luxury hotel in all of Dubai. All of the rooms, without exception, have their own private balconies and terraces, and the suites come with their own private plunge pools as well. The rooms are designed with a cream and bronze color palette, along with a rich dark wood aesthetic. The bathrooms are tiled in marble from Italy and Spain, and they feature separate installments for rain showers, freestanding bath, and the availability of luxury toiletries. The hotel also has a French fine-dining restaurant featuring staff members who have been handpicked from some of Paris’ leading Michelin Starred restaurants.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
This luxury five star hotel is located quite close to Burj Al Arab, on the beach across from it. The location is quite fortunate because you’re within 10 minutes of walking distance from Madinat Jumeirah, which is one of the most famous and extravagant shopping centers in all of Dubai. This 26 storey resort was created back in 1997, and it has been designed in the shape of breaking waves, perhaps as a compliment to Burj Al Arab. The design is sleek and charming, though there's nothing about it that “stands out” as such. However, one can appreciate the fact that each and every single room has a sea and Burj Al Arab view. The hotel is designed in a sleek and modernist aesthetic with several amenities such as the presence of six on-site swimming pools and a whopping 21 restaurants to choose from. As such, you can be assured that whichever part of the world you come from, whichever part of the world you’d like to taste, all of it is made available to you. For instance, if you have a hankering for North Indian food, you can head on over to Naya for some delightful butter chicken or other similar dishes. There are also restaurants offering a complete English breakfast, and those that serve the British pub fare, and many other outlets you can try out.
Raffles Dubai
This luxury hotel is located centrally in Oud Metha, which isn’t either the most fanciful or most exciting location in Dubai, however it’s really well connected and is perfect for guests who prefer a little quiet and solitude. In the vicinity, you can head over to the Sheikh Zayed Road malls, and you’re also well within walking distance of the Financial District of Dubai. Creekside Park is an attraction which is close to the hotel, and it is also well connected to the airport which is just 15 minutes away. The hotel has an Egyptian inspiration and is shaped like the pyramids. As such it’s not particularly original and surely won’t appeal to popular interests, however the interiors more than make up for the drab exterior by being ornate, intricate, and extravagant with ottoman-style sofas and other furnishings that will take you back to ancient Egypt. The rooms aren’t as heavy on the theme and all guests are offered a 24/7 butler service. One of their most contemporary-looking rooms is the Penthouse Suite which features some pleasing Oriental accents. Furthermore, the hotel features a lot of handcrafted details, such as the mashrabiya technique used on the doors and shutters of bathrooms. In addition to this, all the rooms are extremely spacious with their own private terraces. The smallest room here is still 70sqm. The staff of the hotel is outstanding, they’re clear, efficient, and extremely discreet.
Armani Hotel Dubai
This luxury world renowned hotel made in the name of the famous fashion designer is located in the cultural heart of Dubai — Burj Khalifa. The boutique hotel occupies several floors in the iconic building, is connected well to the Dubai Mall, and its view can boast sights such as the Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera House, and Souk Al Bahar. If you’d like to while away your time at a particularly trendy neighborhood, you can easily access Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, which is the prime spot for trendy cafes, restaurants, and some great luxury car watching. The hotel has been designed by Giorgio Armani himself, and as such it is typically chic and minimalist in style. The design of the hotel features bright lighting, natural and neutral shades, and clean lines, all of this adds to the charming and dignified aura of the hotel. The designs feature Eramosa marble floors, and the flower arrangements are prohibited from ever displaying more than two colors in a single vase. All the guests are also given their person “Lifestyle Managers”, which is really a more sophisticated means of saying Butler. This can make your stay at Dubai entirely effortless, trusting that your Lifestyle Manager will take care of all your needs even before you’ve thought of them. Additional amenities include an arrow-shaped pool, a luxury spa, sun trap terrace, and soothing ongoing music that helps minimize the sound of constant construction which is really just white noise to Dubai by now.
