Hotels in Dubai
and Abu Dhabi

Before looking at hotels, it is worth answering four questions. They narrow the choice down to one or two areas, and from there it is much easier.

• Is this your first time in Dubai? Downtown or Business Bay. The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the fountains are within walking distance or a short drive, and the Red Line metro runs directly from the airport.
• Is the sea the main thing? The Marina, JBR, Jumeirah or Palm Jumeirah. JBR has a long public beach and a promenade. The Palm has resorts with private beaches.
• Are you travelling with children? A resort with a water park or a kids' club, on the Palm or in Jumeirah. For families with small children coming for Legoland, there is also the Dubai Parks area, outside the city.
• Is the budget limited? Deira and Bur Dubai, 15–20 minutes from the airport with two metro lines, or Al Barsha, near Mall of the Emirates and on the Red Line.

And if the answer is "both", you can split: a few nights in the city for the attractions, and a few nights at a resort on the sea. A split like this saves long drives, and feels like two different holidays in one trip. Anyone planning the days themselves will find sample itineraries on the home page and on the attractions page.

Dubai has almost every kind of accommodation, but most travellers choose between three main types:

A city hotel connected to a mall. In Downtown, Address Dubai Mall is connected directly to Dubai Mall, and Vida Dubai Mall has direct access to the mall, according to the hotels' sites. In the midday heat this is a real advantage: you leave your room and reach the Aquarium, the shops and the fountains without standing in the sun.

A beach resort. On Palm Jumeirah and in Jumeirah there are resorts with a private beach, several pools and kids' clubs. Here the hotel is part of the holiday, and less a base for going out into the city.

A hotel with a water park. At Atlantis The Palm, according to the hotel's site, entry to the Aquaventure water park and to The Lost World aquarium is included in the stay, and you can use the park on departure day too, after check-out. At Atlantis The Royal, daily entry is also included with all room types. At Grand Hyatt Dubai, on the Creek and about 10 minutes from the airport, there is the hotel's own water park, 20,000 m² with 16 attractions.

A themed hotel for families. The LEGOLAND Hotel Dubai is right next to the park, with LEGO-themed rooms for up to 5 guests and family suites for up to 8. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00, according to the hotel's site.

Distances in Dubai are greater than they look on the map, so the hotel's location affects every day of the trip. A few figures worth knowing:

• The Marina and Downtown are about 23 km apart. Anyone staying in the Marina who wants to visit the Burj Khalifa will travel quite a way each time.
• Deira and Bur Dubai are 15–20 minutes from the airport, and have two metro lines. This is the closest area to landing.
• From Atlantis The Palm to DXB airport is 40–60 minutes, depending on traffic, according to the information we collected on the hotel.
• The LEGOLAND Hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Dubai Marina, on Sheikh Zayed Road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There is an RTA bus route from Ibn Battuta metro station.

Public transport from the hotel: the Red Line metro runs through Downtown, Business Bay, Al Barsha and the Marina. The Marina and JBR also have a tram. The Palm has a monorail, which connects to the tram at Palm Gateway station. Jumeirah has no metro, so you depend on taxis. For details on the Nol card, taxis and apps, see the Getting around Dubai page. And for getting from the flight straight to the hotel, there is the Airport transfers page.

2026 is a year of major renovations at Dubai's hotels. Some hotels are closed completely, and some are open but with a pool, a restaurant or a club that is not operating. The full list of closed hotels appears above on this page, but it is worth knowing the in-between cases too:

• Paused restaurants: according to Khaleej Times, in April 2026 several of the restaurants at Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal were temporarily paused, with no return date.
• Renovation in phases: at JW Marriott Marquis the rooms are being renovated in phases. One tower is open to guests while the other is under renovation.
• Water park closed: Wild Wadi, next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, closed on 25.3.2026 for safety inspections.

So before booking a hotel, it is worth asking: are all the pools open on our dates? Is the kids' club operating? Is there construction work near the room? If the hotel was chosen for a particular facility, such as a water park or a beach, it is worth getting the answer in writing. Every hotel page on our site shows a status with a check date and a source. And for hotels where renovation is expected to finish in the coming months, such as the Armani Hotel, which according to Gulf News will open to guests in March 2027, it is worth checking again close to the date.

The list of areas above gives the bottom line. Here we try to describe what an ordinary day feels like in each of them, because that is what really decides whether you will love the hotel.

Downtown and Business Bay: the city at its peak

In the morning you go out for coffee facing the Burj Khalifa, at midday you head into air-conditioned Dubai Mall, and in the evening you watch the fountains from the promenade. Downtown suits anyone who wants to feel modern Dubai at every moment. Business Bay is right next door, with towers along the Dubai Canal, and is sometimes a little quieter. There is no beach, so for sea days you travel.

The Marina, JBR and Bluewaters: the sea and the promenade

Beach in the morning, the pool in the afternoon, and in the evening a promenade with restaurants and lights. JBR has a long public beach and The Walk promenade, the Marina has a walk along the canal between yachts, and Bluewaters, a small island opposite JBR, has a few beach hotels near the Ain Dubai observation wheel. The shared downside: far from the airport and from Downtown.

Palm Jumeirah: a holiday inside the resort

On the Palm the hotel is the main thing: a private beach, several pools, restaurants and sometimes a water park. It suits a honeymoon and families who want to rest. There is a monorail, but for trips into the city you depend mainly on taxis.

Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim: quiet by the sea

Low-rise buildings, beaches such as Kite Beach and Sunset Beach, and views of the Burj Al Arab. Jumeirah suits families who want the sea without the bustle. There is no metro in the area.

Old Dubai and Creek Harbour: close to the airport

Deira and Bur Dubai are the cheapest area and the closest to the airport, with the Creek and Al Fahidi. Creek Harbour and Festival City offer hotels on the water, quieter, and still relatively close to the airport.

Al Barsha, JLT and JVC: value for money

Al Barsha is right next to Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, with the Red Line metro. JLT is near the Marina, with towers around lakes and metro stations. JVC and Motor City suit a long stay or anyone hiring a car.

Jebel Ali and Dubai Parks: outside the city

Jebel Ali and Dubai South are large beachfront resorts, in the direction of Abu Dhabi, about 40 km from the centre. Dubai Parks suits families coming for Legoland. Both areas are good for resting, less so for a city trip.

The same hotel can be perfect for a couple and not suit a family with three children at all. Here are starting points by who is travelling.

Families with small children

Look for a resort with a shallow pool, a kids' club and a calm beach. The Palm and Jumeirah have them. At Atlantis The Palm, according to the hotel's site, entry to Aquaventure is included in the stay, which makes the water park part of the holiday. For families coming for LEGO, the LEGOLAND Hotel is right next to the park, with family suites for up to 8 guests.

Families with older children and teenagers

Here the location matters more than the facilities. JBR and the Marina give you a beach, a promenade and restaurants within walking distance, and teenagers can enjoy relative freedom. Al Barsha is close to Ski Dubai and Mall of the Emirates.

Couples and honeymoons

A resort on the Palm, a beach hotel on Bluewaters, or a city hotel in Downtown with a view of the Burj Khalifa. Ask about a room with a view of the sea or the tower: that is the difference between a good room and an unforgettable one.

A group of friends

The Marina and JBR, with restaurants, a beach and evening life, and a metro and tram connecting to the rest of the city. For a large group, ask about connecting rooms or hotel apartments.

Budget

Deira and Bur Dubai are the cheap option, close to the airport and with two metro lines. Al Barsha and JLT give good value with easy access to the metro. Think about the cost of taxis too: a cheap, distant hotel can cost more in the end.

With Abu Dhabi in the plan

Anyone planning a few days at the Yas Island parks, or landing in Abu Dhabi, can split the stay between the two cities. On Yas you will find, among others, W Abu Dhabi and Hilton Yas Island. All the areas and hotels there are brought together on the Abu Dhabi page.

Two hotels in the same area, with the same number of stars, can be completely different. This list helps you ask the right questions before booking.

Room and occupancy

• How many people are allowed in the room. Not every room allows two adults and two children. Large families sometimes need a family room, a suite or two connecting rooms.
• Type of beds. One double bed or two separate beds? And if you need a cot for a baby, request it in advance.
• View. "Sea view" and "partial sea view" are not the same thing.

What is included

• Breakfast. Included or extra? Large hotels sometimes have several restaurants for breakfast.
• Beach and pools. The hotel's private beach, a nearby public beach, or only a pool? Are all the pools open on your dates?
• Shuttles. Some hotels offer a shuttle to the mall or the beach.

Costs worth knowing

• The city tourism fee (Tourism Dirham). In Dubai a fixed charge is collected per room per night, usually directly at the hotel. It does not always appear in the price you see when booking.
• A deposit at check-in. Many hotels ask for a credit card for a deposit at check-in. It is worth asking in advance what the procedure is.

Timing

• Check-in and check-out. Usually check-in in the afternoon and check-out in the morning. With an early landing or an evening flight, ask about early check-in, late check-out or luggage storage.
• Renovations. Every hotel page on our site shows a status with a check date. Even so, it is worth asking about work at the pool or in the restaurants on your dates.

Those who keep kosher should also check whether the hotel has a supervised kosher restaurant, or whether kosher catering can be ordered to the room. The "Kosher food" filter at the top of the page helps, and the full details are on the Kosher Dubai page.

In Abu Dhabi too, the area decides the character of the holiday, and the distances between areas are large. There is no metro in the city, so you get around by taxi or by car.

Yas Island: parks and families

Yas is the natural choice for families: Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld are minutes away, and the airport is about 15 minutes from there. The island is on the side closest to Dubai. The downside: about 30 minutes from the city centre.

Saadiyat: beach and culture

Saadiyat offers a long, quiet beach, luxury resorts, and the Cultural District with the Louvre, teamLab Phenomena and new museums. About 15 minutes to the city centre. It suits couples and anyone who wants a combination of the sea and museums. Hotels such as The St. Regis Saadiyat and Jumeirah Saadiyat sit on the beach.

The Corniche and the city centre: an urban atmosphere

The Corniche is a promenade of about 8 km along the water, with a public beach and restaurants. At its end is Emirates Palace, with a 1.3 km private beach, and next to it the Qasr Al Watan palace. It suits a first visit and anyone who wants to explore the city.

In what order

Anyone landing in Abu Dhabi can start on Yas or Saadiyat, and move to Dubai later by private transfer. Anyone starting in Dubai can finish on Yas, close to Abu Dhabi airport. The transfer details are on the Transfers page.

Hotel prices in Dubai change from day to day, according to the season, events in the city and occupancy. So we do not show a fixed price for a hotel, but check it for your dates.

What to send

• Dates: the arrival day and the departure day.
• Who is travelling: how many adults, how many children, and how old they are. Age changes the room type and the price.
• Number of rooms, and whether you need connecting rooms.
• A preferred area or hotel, if you have one. If not, tell us what matters to you: a beach, being close to the metro, a water park, quiet.
• Meals: room only, breakfast, or more.
• Special requirements: kosher, accessibility, a cot, a high floor.

What you get

We come back with options in writing: the hotel name, the room type, what is included and the terms. You can compare at your own pace, ask questions, and ask for alternatives. Only when everything is clear do you book.

Together with everything else

In the same conversation you can add an airport transfer straight to the hotel you chose, and attractions for the days of the trip. That way all the details, from landing to the last day, are in one place.

• Choosing a hotel from a photo of a beach, and finding out the beach is public and far away. Check whether the hotel has a private beach, or how many minutes' walk it is to the nearest beach.
• Staying in the Marina and spending every day in Downtown. 23 km each way, twice a day, adds up. If most of your attractions are in Downtown, stay there.
• Forgetting that the Palm is cut off. An amazing resort, but every trip into the city is a drive. Plan whole days at the hotel.
• Not checking the room occupancy. A family of five in a room for four will be asked to upgrade at check-in.
• Ignoring the renovations. 2026 is a year of major renovations in Dubai. Check the status on the hotel page.
• Forgetting the city tourism fee. A fixed charge per room per night, usually paid at the hotel.
• Not thinking about departure day. A night flight and a morning check-out leave a whole day without a room. Ask in advance about luggage storage and use of the facilities.

And anyone who has not yet fixed their dates can start with the When to fly to Dubai guide, because the season affects both the price and what is open at the hotel.