11 Best Hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Name: Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah
Address: West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Price range: $$$

Dubai was built on oil and gold, and it shows. In the last decade or so, luxury and glamour have become synonymous with Dubai; it contains one of the highest ratios of five-star hotels in the world.

Although few would say that Dubai is an inexpensive place to stay, there are more budget-friendly options than ever before. Also, due to the glut of five-star hotels, it's also easier to find a great deal if you search carefully and have flexible travel dates. The deals are not always cash-based, so look for value-added packages; incentives might include complimentary meals in signature restaurants, spa treatments, and access to water parks or companion hotel beaches. Most four- and five-star hotels in Dubai have an executive floor or club. If you book a "club room," access to the club area, breakfast, evening cocktails, and canapés are often included in the rate. Considering the sky-high price of alcohol, those benefits may make it worthwhile to pay a higher rate. Note that Internet prices and rack rates might not include a 10% municipality tax and 10% service charge, so read your booking details carefully.

Peak tourist season is from November to April when the weather is mild. Prices drop as temperatures soar and also during Ramadan, but services are curtailed at this time.

Location is the prime consideration after checking your budget—what's the main reason for your visit to Dubai? If sunning and water sports are your prime objective, you'll probably want to stay in a beach resort around Jumeirah or Dubai Marina. For shopping and dining, stick to Downtown, and if you want culture and history then older areas around Bur Dubai and Deira are best. If it's just a quick overnight, there are plenty of options around the airport.

THE BEST HOTEL IN DUBAI

Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah

Overall Editor Rating

$$$ | West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah

FODOR’S EXPERT REVIEW

Resembling a pastel-hued palace, this classic-style 244-key hotel on Palm Jumeirah charms with its peach façades, regal white domes, trickling fountains, and lush landscaped gardens leading to the pool and exclusive beach. Inside, accommodations begin at expansive two-bedroom suites, styled with classic European-style custom Italian furniture and furnishings by Francesco Molon and glittering crystal chandeliers. Each suite feels like a residence, complete with fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, dining areas, and generous balconies overlooking the sea or gardens. With two on-site restaurants, a sports bar, a private beach, and a laid-back yet luxurious atmosphere, it’s ideal for families or groups.

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THE BEST HOTEL IN DUBAI

The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm

4.5

Overall Editor Rating

$$$ | Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

FODOR’S EXPERT REVIEW

Located within the first 18 floors of the sleek 52-story Palm Tower, the tallest skyscraper on Palm Jumeirah, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm offers an upscale stay at one of Dubai’s most prestigious addresses. With direct access to Nakheel Mall and a seamless connection to the Palm Monorail, the hotel offers the chance to experience Palm Jumeirah while keeping the rest of Dubai within easy reach. You can unwind at two outdoor swimming pools, an intimate boutique spa, and a state-of-the-art gym, with complimentary access to Kyma Beach, a few minutes’ drive away. Dining is equally elevated, with two restaurants (including an outstanding Turkish restaurant) and a jazz bar on-site, as well as a host of acclaimed venues at the adjacent St. Regis Gardens and elsewhere at the Palm Tower.

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Bab al Shams

$$$ | Al Qudra Rd., Dubai, United Arab Emirates Fodor's Choice

Bab al Shams, translating as "doorway to the sun," is a five-star adobe brick oasis, a vision you'd expect to find on the edges of the Sahara desert, or perhaps as a set for a movie. The hotel is low-rise and melds with the dunes, scattering rooms and suites around courtyards with a continuous falaj system, ponds, desert gardens, and the spectacular pool area. Rooms are large, decorated in sandy tones with deep red Persian carpets, dark-wood furniture, and cool stone floors. The connecting bathrooms are cavernlike, with these sandy stone tones continued, and a bath large enough for three. On-site dining is very good, in particular, the all-out Middle-Eastern feasting venue at Al Hadheera, or the rooftop terrace and pizzeria (La Dune).

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The Address Dubai Marina

$$$ | Al Marsa St., Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This elegant high-rise features a modern arch straddling the Marina Promenade, and a sweeping pool area on the fourth floor with panoramic views. Interiors are classic with geometric arabesque nuances and warm neutral tones, and rooms are comfortable and welcoming, nearly all with stunning marina views. Children are well accommodated with extra beds in most rooms, plus there is a kids' club, and all-day dining restaurant Mazina looks after little ones very well. One-bedroom "residences" come with a kitchen.

The Conrad

$$$ | Sheikh Zayed Rd., Al Satwa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

With 51 floors and more than 550 rooms, the Conrad is the largest hotel in the business district, but the grandiose size does not stop there, rooms are very spacious, with standard rooms looking more like family suites, and the deluxe suites topping more than 1,000 square feet. The lobby has titanic proportions, complete with back-lit marble walls, columns, and a Gatsby-esque sweeping staircase. Meeting and conference facilities are a winner for the business market, with mammoth rooms that can divided in multitudinous ways, and easy access to the DIFC and the World Trade Center. It is, however, the pool area that tends to blow guests away—you'll forget you are in the middle of the central business district within the 2,000-square-foot rooftop refuge complete with lawns and gardens and a summery lounge with a DJ, all run by slick Purobeach beach club.

Doubletree by Hilton, Jumeirah Beach

$$$ | The Walk, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Although not the fanciest of Hilton's properties, this hotel oozes beachy charm, with light blues and neutral tones, airy restaurants, and a general laid-back approach. Monster rooms, family suites, beach-side location, and a trusted brand are big draws here, despite its position at the sleepy end of the Jumeirah Beach Residence strip. The pool area is simple but lovely, surrounded by lawns and a scattering of cabanas, and right on the beach with views to Palm Jumeirah (just don't look at the industrial zone a little ways to the left). Seaside dining offered by the hotel might look appealing, but has suffered from bad reviews. The Maine Oyster Bar and Grill however is definitely worth a visit.

Emirates Towers

$$$ | Sheikh Zayed Rd., Zaabeel 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates Towers is an icon and a favorite of wealthy business travelers who consistently vote it one of the world's best. The triangular building displays acres of structural metal, with transparent walls rising up through soaring cathedral-like proportions, and gray and black marble accenting the natural light. The furnishings have sensuous curves, contrasting with the sharp angles of the structure itself. Rooms take a "less is more" approach,Scandinavian- in style, with touches of art nouveau. One floor is dedicated solely to women guests, with all female staff and Chopard in-room cosmetics fridges - like a mini-bar for beauty. The many eateries on-site and below at the Boulevard mall (including Hakkasan, The Ivy, and La Cantine du Faubourg) are a magnet for resident expats, as is the excellent Talise spa and fitness center.

Grand Hyatt Dubai

$$$ | Sheikh Rashid Rd., Umm Hurair, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As Bur Dubai's largest hotel, with a colossal 600 rooms and almost 200 serviced apartments, this property makes a real statement. The building is designed in two sweeping sensuous curves and is surrounded by 37 acres of beautifully manicured grounds on Dubai Creek. On-site amenities are extensive, including an ample choice of eateries, a nightclub, kids club, cinema, and a large sports club. Big free-form pools sit among tropical gardens. Public areas are on a grand scale, decorated with flourishes and flounces popular in the 1980s. Rooms are spacious with a classic international design, including pale stone, and tan and brown hues. The Grand Hyatt has excellent conference facilities and often holds large conventions.

Intercontinental Dubai Marina

$$$ | Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

It's rare to find a large hotel brand that also delivers on style, but that's exactly what you'll find at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina. The property's unique design can be seen throughout the hotel, and in their flagship restaurant, Marina Social by Jason Atherton, and some other eclectic spaces, like the Ginter cocktail bar. The hotel is comprised of two towers, with the second housing apartments, but the greater design features are in the first. Rooms are delightfully light and airy, most have spectacular marina views, and the beds are some of the most comfortable in the city. This lively spot is unpretentious, easygoing, and close to all the action.

La Verda Dubai Marina

$$$ | Al Suwayeb St., Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

High-rise apartment views or marina-side villas make this a popular choice for families and groups. Architecture and interior design are neat and modern, but tend to lack flair, with exception of the penthouses. All rooms, however, have an (often exceptional) view of the Dubai Marina to make up for this. Apartments are well-appointed and spacious, and come with washing machines and kitchenettes. There is a pool and some on-site dining, but most guests will spend their time exploring the surrounding area, with the marina and a great variety of restaurants and shopping nearby.

XVA Art Hotel

$$$ | Al Fahidi Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai's first boutique hotel still has a faithful following of on-trend and artsy guests. Housed in a century-old mansion in the old creekside Fahidi district, the property has just 14 unique and quirky rooms set around two intimate courtyards. Each room is individually designed by local professionals and personalized by local art. Within the complex is one of the hippest galleries in the city, which hosts prestigious exhibitions of avant-garde arts, film festivals, and product launches throughout the year. XVA also has a cool courtyard café that serves light and traditional Arab fare, and a fabulous cup of Turkish coffee. Note, no alcohol is served.

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FODOR’S EXPERT REVIEW

FODOR’S EXPERT REVIEW

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