Discover the UAE’s best new hotel openings in recent memory

These luxe new hotels should be on your radar.

When a hotel opens in the UAE, it’s a blockbuster event with red carpets and celebrities. Just look back at Atlantis The Royal’s grand reveal weekend or One&Only One Za’abeel’s star-studded opening event with Jennifer Lopez. While not all hotel openings are created equal – they can’t all have Beyoncé – the properties come with the promise of unrivalled restaurant repertoires, new bars and spas. Here are the UAE’s best new hotels in recent memory.

FIVE LUXE: March 2024

Fans of FIVE will already be familiar with the brand’s Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Village properties. FIVE LUXE takes over the beachfront at JBR, bringing 222 luxury rooms and suites and 274 residences to the Dubai shoreline. Expect a ReFIVE Spa, a social pool and a swathe of private beach, in addition to seven culinary and nightlife venues, including Paradiso, Playa Pacha, Ronin and the cabaret club, Lio Ibiza. The property’s Pool Party Rooms and Signature Suites, replete with private swimming pools, are not to be missed.

GO: Visit https://luxejbr.fivehotelsandresorts.com for reservations and more information.

Anantara Santorini: February 2024

Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat offers uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, away from the towering skylines of the capital. Crafted to reflect the buildings of its namesake island, the low-lying white buildings of Anantara Santorini blend gently with the surrounding landscape and house a collection of 22 ultra-private accommodations, complete with spacious interiors, sun-drenched terraces, and uninterrupted sea views. Guests will find relaxing moments on the resort’s private beach and an expansive outdoor pool overlooking the Gulf. The indoor cinema, meanwhile, provides private screenings on demand with the option of late-night movies with custom gourmet cuisine. Bespoke spa treatments can be enjoyed in private beachside cabanas, while 24-hour butler service will ensure guests’ needs are fulfilled around the clock.

GO: Visit www.anantara.com for more information.

SIRO One Za’abeel: February 2024

If you love to start (and end) the day with a workout, sprint on over to SIRO One Za’abeel. As Dubai’s first fitness and recovery hotel, the inaugural property from fitness brand SIRO aims to fill a gap in the market and develop an immersive hospitality experience that specialises in fitness, recovery, nutrition, mindfulness and sleep. Each of SIRO One Za’abeel’s 132 room and suites provide a haven of well-being, fully soundproof and equipped with amenities, a dedicated stretching bar, an in-room refuel bar with healthy bites, personalised modular dining, and access to virtual classes on the 2.5m projected television. Elsewhere, the two-floor Fitness and Recovery Lab spans 2,000 sqm on the 30th and 31st floors of the sky-high hotel, including dedicated pilates, spin, and yoga studios and a gym. The Recovery Lab offers specialised treatments such as compression therapy, cryotherapy, dry needling, IV therapy and more.

GO: Visit www.sirohotels.com for more information. 

The Lana, Dorchester Collection: February 2024

The Dorchester Collection’s first hotel in the Middle East has brought together blockbuster chefs and Insta-worthy views in a central city location. The hotel boasts a sleek, stunning structure. Spanning 30 floors, The Lana, Dorchester Collection is connected by a central podium, The Lana Promenade, and is home to 225 rooms and suites. Chefs Angelo Musa, Jean Imbert and Martín Berasategui have brought their MICHELIN magic to Dubai and head up four of the eight on-site dining concepts, including the modern Mediterranean restaurant, Riviera, the Basque restaurant, Jara and rooftop bar, High Society. The hotel will be home to the first Dior Spa in Dubai in April.

GO: Visit www.dorchestercollection.com for more information.

Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort: January 2024

If you’ve been daydreaming about a trip to the Maldives, you can now experience exotic island life a little closer to home. Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort has 174 guest rooms and suites and several swoon-worthy overwater villas. Featuring its own sunken bar, a large outdoor pool is located just steps from the resort’s beach, where motorised water sports such as paddleboarding and kayaking are available. Come dining, Mekong is home to Southeast Asian cuisine, while Beach House serves grilled fish and seafood. Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is also home to the first overwater villas in the emirate, offering a terrace with sweeping views of the lagoon, sea or surrounding landscapes and a private pool.

GO: Visit www.anantara.com for more information.

One&Only One Za’abeel: January 2024

One&Only One Za’abeel officially opened its doors with a star-studded soirée attended by Idris Elba, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Ronson, Naomi Campbell and Vanessa Hudgens. Billed as Dubai’s first vertical resort, One&Only One Za’abeel is all about the wow factor, with two bold skyscrapers connected by The Link, a futuristic boulevard that defies gravity as the world’s longest cantilever. The Link’s floating boulevard boasts nine culinary concepts from Michelin-lauded chefs, including, Anatolian cuisine at Arrazuna by Mehmet Gürs, Thai delights at DuangDy by Bo.Lan, fancy French food at La Dame de Pic, Andalusian favourites at Qabu and Japanese dishes at Sagetsu. Denniston Architects has designed the chic city property, which features 229 rooms and stunning suites. The hotel is also home to the UAE’s longest-suspended infinity pool and state-of-the-art wellness facilities at the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie.

GO: Visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com for more information.

SO/ Uptown Dubai: June 2023

The sleek SO/ Uptown Dubai is located in DMCC’s up-and-coming Uptown Dubai district, complete with design-led rooms and statement suites, unique dining experiences, indulgent facilities, and striking views of the city skyline. Designed as a five-star urban resort, the hotel features 188 luxurious rooms and spacious suites that merge a fashion-forward outlook with indulgent elements to curate a sartorially inspired lifestyle. Elsewhere, premium dining and entertainment concepts pay homage to the hotel’s fashion-forward DNA, from the effortless appeal of Uptown Brasserie and Asian fusion cuisine at The Citronelle Club to Celeste’s entertainment-led dining experiences. For wellness, guests can enjoy a state-of-the-art gym and sky-high serenity at Uptown Spa by SO/.

GO: Visit https://so-hotels.com for more information.

Atlantis The Royal: February 2023

In the UAE, we are used to seeing structures rise from the sand and into the sky. Atlantis The Royal has been created one Tetris-like block at a time and officially opened in February 2023 following a performance from R&B sensation Beyoncé. The resort includes 795 rooms, 102 suites, celebrity chefs, a state-of-the-art spa and a private beach stretching two kilometres. In true UAE style, it is home to the world’s largest jellyfish tank (4,000, to be precise) and the Skyblaze Fountain (a fire-meets-water show). The most talked about hotel in the history of hotel openings is a day-to-night destination home to the FACT Award winning dining destinations Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, La Mar by Gaston by Gastón Acurio and the simply stunning Cloud 22 sky pool.

GO: Visit www.atlantistheroyal.com for reservations and more information.