Hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Hotels

A superlative-loving city of modern architectural marvels, Dubai sits like a gleaming desert utopia on the Persian Gulf coast. A destination for city breaks and beach vacations alike, Dubai is known for its glamorous hotels, fine multicultural dining, and some of the coolest nightlife in the Middle East. Shopping here is a must too – whether you want to bargain hunt in a fragrant souk, or splurge on luxury labels in a palatial shopping mall. For the adventurous, a camel ride through the bumpy desert dunes is not to be missed.

Things to see

Towering high above Dubai’s futuristic skyline, Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. The shimmering skyscraper stands at a dizzying height of 829 meters, and is home to offices, hotel accommodation, private residences, and an observation deck. At its base sits the famously flamboyant Dubai Fountain, which performs an animated show every half hour during the evenings. A musical spectacle of light and color, jets of water are propelled as high as 500 feet into the air. Nearby, Dubai Mall will test even the hardiest of shopaholic’s mettle. The world’s largest shopping center, it boasts over 1,200 stores, and features restaurants, cinema screens, an ice rink, an indoor theme park, and the mesmerizing Dubai Aquarium. With its ornate façade and towering minarets, Jumeirah Mosque is quite possibly the best looking one in Dubai. It’s also the only mosque in the city that offers tours to non-Muslims, should they fancy a snoop around its lavishly adorned interior.

Hotels in Dubai

With its reputation as a playground for the super-rich and fabulously famous, the luxury hotels in Dubai come in suitably ostentatious 5-star style. High rise hotel or beach resort, you can expect glittering chandeliers, plush suites with ocean views, indulgent spa pampering, and every amenity under the sun. Whilst the city isn’t exactly known for being a budget-friendly destination, there are some cheaper hotels in Dubai that provide a comfortable stay. The only downside however is that some of them may keep you a little out of the city center action.

Where to stay

Downtown Dubai is the city’s shiny skyscraping heart, home to big-scale attractions like Burj Khalifa, and the glossy Dubai Mall. For those who like dicing with financial ruin, there are many other shopping hubs here too, as well as numerous upscale restaurants and nightspots to live it up in. If R&R is as equally important to you as retail therapy, then basing yourself at Jumeirah Beach allows you to retreat to the sun, sea, and pristine white sand once you’re spent. Many hotels here feature their own private beaches, whilst the Jumeirah Mosque and Wild Wadi Water Park are also located here too.

How to get to Dubai

A city full of the biggest, tallest, and the best, Dubai’s main airport is no exception. The busiest in the world, Dubai International Airport provides non-stop links to destinations throughout the Middle East, as well as scheduled services to cities all over the world. Once you’ve landed getting to your accommodation should be a breeze, with the airport’s well-connected metro station and plentiful bus services. Alternatively, many hotels provide their own airport transfers with prior arrangement. International travelers can also land at Al Maktourn International Airport, which serves a smaller number of destinations.