Dubai’s coastline is lively and inviting, offering year-round sunshine and tranquil, warm waters. It’s the perfect place to experience a range of water activities. The resorts along the shore provide access to private beaches, where you can enjoy special perks. For an even more luxurious experience, some ultra-luxury resorts offer private coastline villas and laid-back beach bars.
This list includes the best resorts in Dubai.
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1. Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection
Musk Al Faya, a striking building in the UNESCO-protected Mleiha region, an hour east of Dubai, offers a unique alternative to typical high-rise hotels on the Emirates coastline. Originally an abandoned 1960s structure, it has been transformed into a five-room property available for exclusive hire.
The bedrooms are cozy and comfortable, featuring skylights for nighttime stargazing. The highlight for many is the saltwater pool, appealing especially to design enthusiasts. The hotel’s concrete and steel shutters reveal the surrounding desert and mountains.
The spa, includes a Himalayan salt therapy room, herbal sauna, and a water therapy room, allowing guests to relax at their own pace. The small restaurant serves modern dishes like drip coffee, avocado toast, and burgers. For dinner, there’s an option for a BBQ feast prepared by the resort’s culinary team.
2. Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
Al Maha Resort, a 45-minute drive from Dubai, is a unique environmentally-friendly oasis set in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the only property within this 200-kilometer protected area. The resort features 42 luxurious tented villa suites, each boasting its own private infinity pool with sweeping desert views.
The term ‘tent’ is a modest description, as each suite is equipped with Arabian antiques, super king beds, large marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, and Bulgari amenities.
Guests can enjoy Arabian-inspired spa treatments and afternoon tea in the terrace bar. The Al Diwaan all-day restaurant offers five-star dishes like the Bedouin platter, and meals can also be served in your room. Although it’s one of Dubai’s pricier options, the all-inclusive system, which covers wildlife horseback tours, nature drives, and champagne sunset camel rides, makes it a worthwhile indulgence.
3. Bab Al Shams A Rare Finds Desert Resort
Bab Al Shams, opened in 2004 and recently refurbished, remains one of the top hotels in the UAE for a tranquil getaway. Located just a 50-minute drive from Dubai, this local favorite maintains its cherished Arabic architecture, featuring desert-facing infinity pools and fortress-like walls.
Inside, contemporary elements like Berber rugs and an earthy color palette complement the traditional design, with arched windows offering views of the desert. The spacious rooms come with private courtyards surrounded by palm trees, and the suites provide captivating views of vast sand dunes.
The resort includes three pools and five new restaurants. A highlight is the Al Hadheerah nightly dinner show, complete with singing, horse riding, and belly dancing. Guests can enjoy a menu of flame-grilled seafood and regional specialties, such as tender lamb ouzi and sticky date pudding, under the stars.
4. One&Only The Palm
One&Only The Palm, located at the end of The Palm’s West Crescent, stands as one of Dubai’s most luxurious and environmentally conscious hotels. This serene retreat is surrounded by lush gardens, flowing fountains, and a private beach with golden sands. The property, designed in Andalusian style, is relatively intimate with only 90 rooms, which is modest for Dubai.
The rooms are spacious, featuring king-size beds, rain showers, standalone marble bathtubs, and Acqua di Parma products. All suites come with private pools.
For those looking to dine, the two-Michelin star restaurant Stay by Yannick Alléno offers a menu that combines local ingredients with exquisite French culinary techniques, drawing food enthusiasts from around the world.
5. Four Seasons Resort Dubai At Jumeirah Beach
In Dubai, a city known for its rapidly emerging hotels, the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach stands out with its timeless charm. The resort is conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from Downtown Dubai and the DIFC.
The resort’s prime location on Jumeirah Beach means guests rarely feel the need to venture out. It boasts expansive grounds with two lagoon-style pools and a private beach area with shaded sun loungers. The guest rooms are spacious, with high ceilings and balconies or terraces offering views of either the Arabian Sea or the sparkling Dubai skyline.
Dining options at the resort include some of Dubai’s top restaurants, like Matthew Kenney’s plant-based Folia and the renowned Nusr-Et steakhouse. For a perfect evening, visit the rooftop Mercury Lounge, where you can enjoy citrusy Sicilian cocktails and breathtaking sunsets.
6. Fairmont The Palm
This beachfront hotel offers a laid-back atmosphere while being close to the city. It features palm-shaded pools and views of the distant Dubai Marina skyscrapers. It’s suitable for both families and couples, boasting a top-notch spa, an adults-only pool, and an excellent kids’ club. The hotel has four pools and an 800-metre private beach equipped with volleyball nets, table tennis, speedboat rides, and watersports. The hotel’s elegant and luxurious design includes creamy marble and a color scheme of beige, tan, and aquamarine, reminiscent of sand and sea.
7. Atlantis, The Palm
This underwater-themed resort features a popular waterpark, two pools, and almost a mile of artificial beach. It has luxurious suites and fine-dining restaurants for those seeking a high-end experience, but Atlantis is primarily a lively family resort. If you go with the flow, you’re sure to have a great time. The playful under-the-sea decor, including shell-patterned carpets, clam-shaped lights, and fish-shaped handles, might not be everyone’s style, but it adds to the fun atmosphere. The resort offers over 1,500 rooms, each with a balcony that overlooks the ocean or The Palm.
8. JA Palm Tree Court
A trendy all-suite resort located on a beautiful beach, surrounded by lush gardens. It features several pools, a variety of restaurants, and numerous activities. The resort is designed to be suitable for both families and couples, offering an adults-only pool and a spacious lawn by the beach. The series of low-rise buildings are nestled among gardens filled with streams, waterfalls, and peacocks, creating a very relaxing atmosphere. The resort’s contemporary interior design, with its high ceilings, large windows, and neutral color palette, enhances the overall feeling of relaxed luxury.
9. Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa
Le Royal Meridien, one of Dubai’s oldest beach resorts, remains a top choice for families, thanks to its large swimming pools, expansive stretch of white sand, and excellent facilities for children. Situated at the far end of the extensive Jumeirah Beach, the resort’s location is ideal for those who prefer water sports, sunbathing, and leisurely dining and drinking, rather than exploring the cultural and historical attractions of Old Dubai. It’s a perfect spot for those looking to enjoy the beachside aspects of Dubai.
10. One&Only Royal Mirage
This modern Arabian palace exudes opulence and luxury. When you’re not unwinding in your plush bedroom, you might be enjoying sheesha under palm trees at the Courtyards bar, savoring fine Moroccan cuisine at Tajine, or relaxing in the Oriental-style hammam. The location is also convenient, being close to Jumeirah Beach and the Mall of the Emirates. The rooms are lavishly furnished with costly carpets, drapes, and bedspreads, large marble bathrooms, Oriental lanterns, exquisite toiletries, and either balconies or terraces. It’s a blend of luxury and comfort with easy access to some of Dubai’s best attractions.
