Hotels · Our pick in Dubai
The grand hotels of Dubai: the back story
The back story
About The grand hotels of Dubai: the back story
Dubai’s great hotels fall into three worlds. On Palm Jumeirah and along the Jumeirah coast are the beach resorts, each with its own sand and a string of restaurants. In Downtown, DIFC and Business Bay are the city hotels, close to Burj Khalifa, the galleries of Gate Village and the canal. And by Dubai Creek, a handful of small heritage hotels sit in the old wind-tower quarter.
The Palm
Atlantis The Royal, which the MICHELIN Guide calls a Three MICHELIN Key hotel, stacks its rooms in a staggered tower on the crescent; Atlantis The Palm, with Aquaventure Waterpark, stands beside it. On the west crescent are One&Only The Palm, home of STAY by Yannick Alléno, and Raffles The Palm.
The Jumeirah coast
Bvlgari Resort occupies its own island in Jumeira Bay, with Il Ristorante – Niko Romito and Hōseki. Four Seasons Resort and Mandarin Oriental Jumeira face the sea on Jumeirah Beach Road, and the three Jumeirah hotels of Madinat Jumeirah are linked by canals and abras.
Book a table, a spa morning or a sundowner: you don’t need a room to enjoy them.
Downtown, DIFC and Business Bay
Address Downtown and Palace Downtown look over the Dubai Fountain. Four Seasons DIFC hides Luna, its rooftop bar, above Gate Village, and The Lana, Dorchester Collection’s first hotel in the region, rises over Marasi Bay in Business Bay.
Closed for now
Burj Al Arab closed in April 2026 for a restoration of about 18 months, and the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa and Park Hyatt Dubai are being refurbished. We’ll add them back when they reopen.
Arriving
Most visitors land at Dubai International (DXB). Ask your hotel for an airport car when you book, or take the Metro Red Line from Terminals 1 and 3.
Our advice: choose the beach or the city first, then the hotel.
Why it's on our list
- The Palm
- The Jumeirah coast
- Downtown, DIFC and Business Bay
- Closed for now
- Arriving
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Dubai: the back story before you go.
How far is it from the sights?
Distances from The grand hotels of Dubai: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- Palm JumeirahDubai Tram3.1 km39 min walk
- Knowledge VillageDubai Tram3.2 km40 min walk
- Dubai Media CityDubai Tram3.2 km40 min walk
Key sights
- Atlantis The Palm2.2 kmWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Dubai Marina Walk3.9 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Madinat Jumeirah5.5 kmCycle 22 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Kite Beach8.9 kmCycle 35 minCar or taxi 23 min
- Burj Khalifa17 kmCar or taxi 38 min
- The Dubai Fountain17 kmCar or taxi 39 min
- The Dubai Mall17 kmCar or taxi 39 min
- Abra across the Creek23 kmCar or taxi 51 min
- Al Fahidi (Old Dubai)23 kmCar or taxi 52 min
- Dubai International (DXB)27 kmCar or taxi 59 min
Main railway stations
- Etihad Rail: Dubai Station12 kmCar or taxi 28 min
Check availability
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