The United Arab Emirates is a hub of the world’s luxury. Whether it’s the towering skyscrapers, eclectic 5-star hotels, and stunning island resorts — the nation has gone from a barren desert into one of the world’s most loved luxury travel destinations. Although Abu Dhabi is a growing tourist destination, Dubai attracted 16.73 million visitors in 2019. That places Dubai just behind London, Paris, and Bangkok as the world’s fourth most-visited city.
Dubai is famous for being home to the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), the world-class Dubai Mall, and the magnificent skyline of Dubai Marina. However, the exceptional levels of luxury spearheaded by the oil boom in the mid-twentieth century put Dubai on the map. In context, Dubai produces enough oil to fill 4.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools daily.
Dubai decided to diversify its economy in the 1970s and build a robust tourism industry. Ever since the 1980s, Dubai has built luxury resorts that have attracted the world’s attention.
Here Are Some Statistics On Dubai’s Incredible Luxury:
- The Burj Al Arab — the world’s first seven-star hotel — has enough gold to cover the Mona Lisa Painting 46,000 times
- Dubai’s four listed billionaires have a wealth the size of Honduras total G.D.P.
- Dubai is building a climate-controlled city that’s 2.5 times bigger than Monaco, including air-conditioned boardwalks.
- Dubai is building a new scraper named ‘The Tower,’ and it’ll be taller than the Burj Khalifa — the world’s current tallest building — at over 3,000 feet tall.
Dubai continues to inspire, silence the doubters, and offer sensational luxury to all visitors. Nonetheless, Dubai has almost endless luxury resorts, and it can be hard to find the best options.
Thankfully, we’ve found the best ones for you — stay tuned!
1. Atlantis, The Palm
Atlantis is one of the world’s most famous resorts. The developers built Atlantis on Dubai’s man-made island, The Palm, otherwise known as the eighth wonder of the world. In 2021, Atlantis, The Palm is a stunning ultra-modern luxury resort.
The architects created the resort to blend Arabian heritage and the mystical city of Atlantis. You can see the hotel from most places in Dubai because it towers over the Dubai landscape. As a result, the views of Dubai’s skyline from the hotel are nothing short of spellbinding.
Furthermore, the resort is truly massive and spans over 64 Wembley football pitches. So are you worried about getting lost? Don’t worry; the hotel staff will guide you around on golf buggies!
The luxury resort’s facilities include:
- The ShuiQi Spa & Fitness Center
- Your own private beach
- An on-site salon
- Private watersports
- Various swimming pools
- World-beating food and drink
- An excellent kids club for your children
The Best Things To Do At Atlantis, The Palm
1. Aquaventure Waterpark
Aquaventure Waterpark is Dubai’s largest waterpark and one of the city’s leading attractions. The waterpark is ideal for those sweltering yet not uncommon 45 degree days in the summer.
If you’re looking for limitless water-based adrenaline, you love the Tower Of Neptune, the Leap of Faith, and the Tower of Poseidon. The waterpark even has the world’s largest waterslide.
2. Eat, eat, and eat some more
Atlantis is home to an incredibly diverse range of restaurants and bars. In fact, it doesn’t matter what your preferred taste is — this luxury resort has it.
Popular options include the award-winning Seafire Steakhouse and Bar, Indian cuisine at the Kaleidoscope, or underwater fine-dining at the Ossiano. Moreover, why not try the world-class seafood at White Beach Restaurant?
3. Learn about the lost city of Atlantis
The lost city of Atlantis is one of the world’s greatest stories, and you can learn about the city via a fascinating guided tour.
The tour will take you behind the scenes, enabling you to learn from resident experts that’ll tell you facts and figures that will blow your mind.
2. The Burj Al Arab Jumeriah
You’ve probably seen the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah before. It’s that famous hotel that overlooks the gorgeous coastline with the iconic tennis court on top. The builders began constructing the hotel in 1994, and it cost around 1 billion USD to complete.
But did you know it was the world’s first seven-star hotel? In true Dubai-style, this hotel became a pioneer of the ultra-luxury travel industry by breaking all conventions. Many travel experts regard this masterpiece as the world’s most luxurious hotel.
The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, in typical Dubai fashion, isn’t the smallest of buildings. It stands at 920 feet above sea level, and that’s only 100 feet smaller than the Eiffel Tower and The Shard in London. Nevertheless, the hotel officially opened in 1999 and was a catalyst for Dubai’s growing fame worldwide.
Here are some fascinating facts about the resort:
- The hotel offers 17 types of pillows to guests on its pillow menu
- The hotel broke the record for the world’s most expensive cocktail at around 735 USD
- The hotel’s designers crafted the interiors with 24-carat gold
- Are you looking for relaxation? you’ll find the hotel’s amazing spa 150 meters above sea level
- The Terrace, a man-made luxury beach, is the first facility of this kind worldwide
- The hotel’s top two chefs have five Michelin stars between them
So, how does that sound for a luxury resort?
The Best Things To Do At Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah
1. Eat world-class food
Feeling a little hungry? The Burj Al Arab is perhaps the world’s greatest hotel if you’re feeling slightly peckish. The hotel has an eclectic mixture of fine dining establishments, and these include the following options:
- Al Mahara
- Scape Lounge & Restaurant
- Bab Al Yam
- Junsui
- Sahn Eddar
- Skyview Bar and Restaurant
- Gold on 27
- Al Iwan
- Al Muntaha
The hotel houses six restaurants and three bars with the world’s most outstanding food. It will spoil you for choice.
2. Relax at the Burj Al Arab Terrace
If you’ve enjoyed a long day exploring the United Arab Emirates, you’ll need somewhere to relax. The Terrace is the ultimate place to relax at the Burj Al Arab. You’ll enjoy two stunning state-of-the-art swimming pools, a world-class restaurant, and a bar with the finest drink.
Moreover, you’ll even get your own private beach area, vast amounts of comfortable sunbeds, and butler-serviced cabanas. In fact, The Terrace is good that you may even decide to spend your entire day there.
3. Enjoy incredible watersports
Dubai is famous for its world-class watersports. After all, the entire city is right next to the sea. So if you decide to stay at the Burj Al Arab, you’ll enjoy diving, kayaks, luxury yacht cruises, scuba diving courses, and Hobie Cat Sailing.
And that’s not all. Guests also love the waterskiing, windsurfing, and deep-sea fishing options. The hotel has fun for people of all ages.
3. Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
It was only fifty years ago when Dubai was a desert with zero skyscrapers. In truth, when you visit Dubai today, that’s incredibly hard to believe. However, the United Arab Emirates is home to some of the world’s most beautiful deserts, and Al Maha’s luxury resort is in the heart of it!
This outstanding luxury resort mixes pristine high-end luxury with traditional gulf culture. You’ll enjoy secluded tranquility blended with endless Arabian artifacts, and the resort houses two private pools with incredible desert views.
The designers created the resort with inspiration from the Bedouins. So much so that they built the suites to match the style of Bedouin tents. The resort offers endless activities to enjoy, including horse riding, nature walks, camel trekking, and desert safaris.
Other facilities include:
- Buggies to take you around the resort
- The Timeless Spa a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, in-suite massages, and a fully equipped fitness center
- Every room has its own chilled-plunge pool to escape the desert heat
- The designers filled the resort with endless Arabian historical artifacts
- Each room offers sensational views of the desert
Best Things To Do at Al Maha
1. Enjoy falconry
You might have seen the images on social media of people with eagles and falcons in Dubai’s vast desert and wondered how you can do that? Al Maha will take you directly to the display site, where you’ll witness the traditional Arabic art of falconry.
Furthermore, these birds have been a focal point of Emirati culture for centuries. That’s because the Bedouin hunters used them for centuries to hunt their prey. As with everything Al Maha offers — it will give you a unique insight into Emirati culture that you’ll struggle to find in the city.
2. Go camel trekking
Al Maha offers a 25-minute camel trek into the heart of the desert. From here, you’ll witness a glorious Emirati sunset, enjoy endless photo opportunities, and even get the opportunity to walk the desert with your group.
However, that’s not the only animal experience. You have the opportunity to go horse riding on the back of an Arabian horse and a wildlife drive where you’ll find the famous Arabian Oryx.
3. Relax at the spa
Let’s be honest; the Dubai desert is scorching hot. So you’ll need to escape the blistering sunlight as much as possible and relax. That’s why you’ll enjoy the hotel’s incredible luxury spa that offers sleep treatments, de-stress treatments, and various massage therapies.
Furthermore, once you’ve finished relaxing at the local spa — you should check out the endless food options. For example, the resort has deck dining, dune dining, and in-suite dining.
4. The Armani Hotel
You’ve probably seen the Burj Khalifa before. It’s the world’s tallest building, and it stands at over 828 meters. Therefore, the tower is just over half a mile high! Pretty tall, huh? If you want sensational views of this incredible masterpiece, you’ll love the Armani Hotel because they’ve built the hotel within the Burj Khalifa.
World-famous designer Giorgio Armani designed the details of this hotel, and the hotel serves an incredible mixture of Indian food, Japanese food, Mediterranean food, and Italian food. Moreover, if you want to enjoy the sizzling Dubai sun — you should dip in the outdoor swimming pool that wraps itself around a corner of the Burj Khalifa.
The views from the hotel are nothing short of tremendous. You’re inside the Burj Khalifa, so you’ll witness window views of this inspirational mega-city from either the 8th floor or the 38th or 39th floor of the world’s tallest building. Armani Dubai includes a world-class spa with various amenities to enjoy after a long walk around the Dubai Mall.
If that’s not enough, the hotel includes:
- Vast surrounding green space
- An outdoor deck with bars and two rows of loungers
- The second-highest swimming pool in the world on the 76th floor
- You’re next to the Dubai Mall, one of the world’s most important shopping districts
- Your own butler-concierge
Best things to do at the Armani Hotel
1. Explore the Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is perhaps the world’s most luxurious mall. Of course, there are some excellent shopping malls in the Western world, but this mall takes it to the next level. And better still — your hotel is only minutes away from the mall.
Here are some facts about the Mall of the Emirates:
- It’s the world’s first shopping resort
- The mall has over 100 restaurants
- 80 luxury stores
- 7900 parking spaces
- Over 630 retail outlets
2. The Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
An enormous perk of staying at the Armani Hotel is that you’re under one of the world’s tallest observation decks. From the top of the deck, you can witness the whole of the U.A.E. In fact, it was the tallest observation deck in the world until the Shanghai Tower opened in 2016.
The best time to visit the observation deck is at sunset. Although tickets are more expensive, you’ll see breathtaking sunsets over the Persian Gulf. You can even see Iran from the top on a clear day!
3. Visit the Dubai Aquarium
Dubai Aquarium and Zoo is the largest suspended aquarium in the world. This architectural masterpiece houses over 33,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, crocodiles, clownfish, and much more.
In addition, tourists can cage dive and get close to the sharks. If that’s not enough, there’s even an underwater tunnel straight through the aquarium for the most incredible aquatic experience possible.
5. Four Seasons Resorts at Jumeriah
The Four Seasons Resorts at Jumeirah offers pristine 5-star luxury in a fantastic location. It’s the closest beachfront resort to Dubai International Airport and Downtown Dubai, so you’re perfectly located next to the main attractions. In addition, you’re only 12.4 miles from Palm Jumeirah, 20 minutes from the Mall of the Emirates by car, and 6.2 miles from Gold Souk.
The resort is perfect for families and couples because of its spacious interior, stunning ocean views, and relaxed ambiance. The resort’s focal point is the open-air mercury lounge, where you’ll find stunning views of the Burj Khalifa. Alternatively, spend your day relaxing by the poolside as you enjoy your own private cabana. You can also enjoy an excellent workout at the state-of-the-art fitness center.
Furthermore, you’ll love the spacious gardens where you can relax during the day and spend your nighttime enjoying Hendricks Bar. All rooms offer a large flat-screen T.V. and the opportunity to rent an Xbox or PlayStation.
Other facilities include:
- Two tennis courts
- Programs for children
- Two outdoor swimming pools
- Free WiFi in all areas
- Every room has a deep soaking tub and a separate rain shower
Best Things to do at Four Seasons Resorts Jumeriah
1. Eat at the Restaurant Village
You’ll never be short of delicious food when you stay at the Four Seasons Resorts Jumeirah. The Restaurant Village includes Mimi Kakushia modern-chic restaurant serving signature Japanese dishes. You’ll enjoy music from the famous Japanese trumpeter Fumio Nanri while you enjoy your food.
Nammos is another excellent restaurant at the Restaurant Village, and the restaurant offers delicious Greek food with a luxurious touch of Eastern elegance.
2. Take a short drive to the local attractions
You can get to Old Dubai and Downtown Dubai quickly from this hotel. In Downtown Dubai — which is only 20 minutes from the hotel — you can get to The Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa.
Moreover, the Jumeriah Mosque, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Zoo are only a 13-minute drive away. You’re also only a 30-minute drive from Deira’s historic sites.
3. Relax at the Four Seasons Spa
After a hard day exploring the city, the Four Seasons spa is the perfect spot to unwind. The spa includes massage selections, low-touch therapies, signature services, and Biologique recherche therapies.
Moreover, the spa includes a fitness steam room and sauna where you can relieve your stress before a night of eating food.
Final Thoughts
Dubai is the world’s hub of luxury, and choosing the best resort can be very challenging. But, with that said, these five resorts won’t disappoint you.
You’ll enjoy every luxury you can imagine, next to Dubai’s prominent attractions.
It’s the perfect post-pandemic luxury escape.
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