Resort
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9.2
Atlantis The Royal
A sculptural mega-resort on the Palm where stacked-block architecture, sky pools and a deep bench of celebrity-chef dining redefine Dubai showmanship.
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United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Dubai is the city that made ambition an art form. In a single generation it has assembled a skyline of superlatives, a coastline of engineered islands and a hotel scene that treats extravagance as a baseline rather than a boast. For the luxury traveller, it is less a destination than a stage, endlessly redressed for the next spectacle.
Yet beneath the gloss lies a city of genuine substance: world-class dining helmed by serious chefs, beach clubs that rival the Mediterranean's best, and service culture honed to near-telepathic standards. Whether you come for a suite in the clouds or a villa on the Palm, Dubai delivers polish at a scale few cities can match.
The best hotels in Dubai
Resort
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9.2
Jumeirah Al Qasr
The palatial heart of Madinat Jumeirah, where abra-laced waterways, private beach and Burj Al Arab views meet Arabian summer-palace grandeur.
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Beach Resort
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9.1
One&Only The Palm
A low-rise, Moorish-inspired beach estate at the tip of the Palm that trades Dubai's usual scale for gardens, quiet and skyline views across the water.
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Beach Resort
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
9.0
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Dubai's sail-shaped icon remains an all-suite spectacle of gold, marble and butler service on its own island off Jumeirah Beach.
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Best areas to stay
Palm Jumeirah
The palm-shaped island is Dubai's resort heartland, lined with beachfront estates where private sands and destination spas come as standard.
Downtown Dubai
Home to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the fountains, Downtown suits travellers who want the city's icons on their doorstep and skyline views from bed.
Jumeirah Beach
A long, elegant stretch of coast where established beach resorts meet low-rise neighbourhood charm, ideal for families and longer stays.
Dining & nightlife
Dubai's dining scene has matured into one of the world's most exciting, from celebrated Japanese counters to home-grown Emirati fine dining. Rooftop lounges and beach clubs carry the evening, while hotel bars pour some of the region's most inventive cocktails. Reservations are essential at the marquee tables, particularly over winter weekends.
Travelling as a family
Few cities work harder for children, with waterparks, aquariums, desert excursions and kids' clubs woven into nearly every resort. Family suites and interconnecting rooms are widely available, and the beach resorts along Jumeirah and the Palm are especially well set up for multigenerational stays.
Travelling as a couple
Couples gravitate to the Palm's adults-oriented pools, sunset dhow cruises and private beach dinners arranged with theatrical flair. A night in a high-floor Downtown suite followed by a desert-resort escape makes for a well-balanced romantic itinerary.
Cultural highlights
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and its wind-tower architecture
- The Dubai Fountain performances beneath the Burj Khalifa
- Traditional abra crossings on Dubai Creek
- The gold and spice souks of Deira
Stories from Dubai
Rankings
The Most Extraordinary Luxury Hotels in Dubai
From gravity-defying towers to palm-fringed beach palaces, these are the Dubai hotels consistently regarded as the emirate's finest — and what genuinely sets each one apart.
8 min read
Family Travel
The Best Luxury Hotels for Families
Luxury travel with children no longer means compromise. These resorts are renowned for keeping parents and kids equally — and separately — delighted.
7 min read
Hotel Openings
The Best New Luxury Hotel Openings
The openings reshaping the luxury map right now — the debuts and revivals earning genuine acclaim, and what each one signals about where hospitality is heading.
6 min read
The Browntravels Edit
Exceptional hotels, delivered beautifully.
Exceptional hotels, new openings and destination inspiration, delivered beautifully. Once a week, never more.