11 Best places to stay in Dubai

Surprisingly under the radar for such an icon, the original QE2 cruise liner (now retired) sits quietly in Port Rashid. Permanently harboured in Dubai, it’s been transformed now into a luxury hotel.

Her 215 rooms, spread over 13 decks, harken back to her life on the open seas, with interiors that still have a touch of the 1980s, original art pieces, quirky details and carpets from her heyday.

Rooms range from cosy (i.e. tiny) to the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary Royal Suites, once reserved for members of the royal family, with a conservatory and private terrace.

‘Dubai’s oldest pub’, the Golden Lion, is also onboard, and sundowners at The Pavilion, on the aft deck, harkens back to the days of maritime glamour.

While the QE2 may not have the facilities offered by many of Dubai’s beach resorts, you’re staying in an icon of maritime history. Guests can also join one of the excellent heritage tours, led by a former Cruise Director, who’ll regale you with stories from his time onboard.

Part of the extraordinary Madinat Jumeirah complex, this sumptuous hotel plays heavily on the Arabian theme – musicians play soothing classical Arabic music, rose petals float in a tile-filled fountain – but the effect is enchanting.

The views from the balconies of the building’s grand exterior, modelled on old Arabian cities, are stunning at night. Lavish rooms are strewn with lanterns and arabesque patterns, and the choice of surrounding bars, restaurants and spa and beach facilities is staggering.

There’s a new family swimming pool built into the beach so you can easily jump from sea to pool and vice versa. Guests also get free access to the Wild Wadi water park next door.

Located in the faux-old part of Dubai alongside the Creek, this wonderfully atmospheric hotel manages to feel authentically vintage in spite of only having opened four years ago.

The comfy rooms are split into different bait, or individual ‘houses’, spread along the Al Seef waterfront area, and are filled with retro design details like old photos, oil lamps and clunky light switches.

Onsite restaurant Saba’a Café’s breakfast is worth getting out of bed for – Emirati-inspired items include cardamom waffles and saffron French toast. They’ll also drive you by buggy to sister hotel Canopy by Hilton, so you can use the rooftop pool with its fabulous views of the whole area.

Just a few minutes’ walk away is Al Fahidi, the ‘real’ old Dubai with some houses dating back 100 years, topped by traditional wind towers. If you want less of the city’s skyscraper futurism and more of a cultural stay, this hotel is a good choice.

Splendidly set amongst the dramatic dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – 45 minutes’ drive from the city – this luxurious and intimate eco-resort was inspired by a traditional Bedouin encampment.

But you won’t be roughing it – the only things resembling tents are the canopy roofs on the free-standing suites. Temperature-controlled private plunge pools have sweeping views of the spectacular desert, and the attention to detail is impressive, with thoughtful touches like in-room binoculars for spotting oryx.

Complimentary activities range from horse riding to desert safaris and falconry, along with memorable sunset camel rides and wildlife drives to see oryx. Wake early for a private dawn nature walk with the resident conservationist; later, indulge in a romantic dinner on your deck with the desert silence as the soundtrack.

Al Maha is certified by the Green Key eco-rating programme. The resort is committed to conservation and reducing its impact on the surrounding habitat.

The only hotel in the world with both interiors and exteriors by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, ME Dubai is housed in The Opus, a cuboid building with an organic void at its centre.

If you’re a fan of her work, it’s worth spending an hour or so in The Atrium by Zaha Hadid, sipping coffee and marvelling at the futuristic lines and curves of the lobby space.

The pool-side Deseo bar is the spot for handcrafted Latin American cocktails, or if a G&T is more your thing, Botanica offers a spectacular collection of gins.

The hotel’s Business Bay location may not be the most exciting, but the hotel shares The Opus with a fantastic restaurant, the MAINE Land Brasserie, with sexy interiors and enormous chandeliers, and it’s only a few minutes’ drive to Downtown and DIFC.

Sprawling along a kilometre of sandy beach opposite The Palm Jumeirah, the One&Only Royal Mirage has the feel of an Arabian palace, all mosaics and arches and Moroccan lanterns. Sixty-five acres of lush gardens lead into an outdoor world of fragrant frangipani, fairy-lit palm trees and refreshing swimming pools.

The long beach is dotted with cheery yellow parasols and private, shady cabanas. The hotel also boasts some great restaurants and one of Dubai’s most opulent spas, with hammam.

Note – the resort is really three resorts in one – all similarly beautiful but with a slightly different feel. The Palace is the main, majestic (and busiest) building, the Arabian Court boasts dramatic architecture and feels a little more intimate, while the Residence the most exclusive of the three.

With just 106 guest rooms – which, in Dubai counts as ‘boutique’ – this hotel in the Dubai International Financial Centre has the feel of a private club. The location is more exciting than it sounds – DIFC is home to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars, all a short walk away.

The hotel is a great option if you want to feel the buzz of the city in an urban setting, being just a couple of minutes by car from Downtown Dubai. The rooftop, aquarium-style pool surrounded by skyscrapers shimmering in the desert sun, is a great spot for a lazy afternoon, while the Luna Sky Bar, on a second rooftop, is a sophisticated spot for sundowners.

If you’re coming for a lay beach holiday, this is not the hotel for you – the nearest beach is 15 minutes’ drive away – but you do get full access to the palm-fringed pools and beach at the sister Four Seasons Resort on Jumeirah Beach if you need some beach time.

DIFC is also just a 15-minute drive from the airport, so you can have that last cocktail in peace before making your exit.

This colourful hotel on La Mer Beach, in the seaside neighbourhood of Jumeirah, belongs to homegrown hospitality brand Rove which aims to create fun, affordable hotel options that work well for couples and families (all rooms come with a sofa bed for accompanying kids and 30% of rooms are connecting).

There’s an almost Californian vibe to the public spaces, with everything designed to give a holiday feel, from painted surfboards and funky murals, to a useful laundromat with washing machines covered in pictures of tropical fish.

Rove encourages guests to get social, and there’s volleyball, table football and Jenga available, as well as a fully-licensed poolside sundeck.

Dubai’s only ‘art hotel’ shares its lovely shady courtyards with one of Dubai’s most well-regarded contemporary art galleries, located in the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood.

Housed in a beautifully-restored, traditional wind tower residence in the labyrinthine historical district, it is one of Dubai’s most atmospheric accommodations.

Added bonuses are the al fresco café in the courtyard, the stylish boutique filled with floaty kaftans and casual jewellery, and the frequently changing art installations. The individually decorated rooms are designed by artists – refreshing and unique in Dubai.

Perfect for art buffs, and those seeking heritage and culture, but not one for those wanting to flop by the beach.

Towering over the golden beach in Dubai Marina, this new five-star hotel from homegrown hospitality brand Address is topped by the world’s highest infinity pool.

Rooftop restaurant Zeta Seventy Seven is the place for sundowners with views of the turquoise sea, neighbouring skyscrapers, and the new Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, although you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the army of influencers who come up here to snap the money shot.

Back on ground level, the hotel has a 100m private section of Dubai’s pristine beach, with loungers and full hotel services.

The location ­– on pedestrian-friendly The Walk – is great if you want to explore Dubai Marina’s many restaurants and bars on foot, while Bluewaters Island and the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel are also nearby. It’s welcoming of families, with Families a QIX Kids’ Club and a Splash Pad play area.

With its instantly recognisable sail-like shape rising from the waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Burj Al Arab is a true Dubai icon. Opened in December 1999 just in time for the millennium celebrations, the hotel dazzles with opulent interiors and jaw-dropping details such as 24-carat gold ceilings and the world’s largest atrium.

It’s pure hedonistic luxury. Al Muntaha, on the top floor, is home to French and Italian fine dining with a side of spectacular views. The luxury spa is a symphony of mosaic-clad columns and shimmering pools where your treatment might include gold leaf, diamond dust and frankincense.

The stretch of beach by the hotel is the loveliest the city has to offer. The Burj’s chic beach club ‘Sal’ is where you go to see and be seen in Dubai, and to nibble on Mediterranean delights in the adjacent restaurant housed in a mirrored cube.

The hotel is connected to the Madinat Jumeirah complex of restaurants, bars and shops, where little abra boats ply the waters, offering a fun way to get to dinner. You’re also within easy access of the restaurants in the other Jumeirah hotels on this stretch of beach – Rockfish and French Riviera are well worth wandering over to.