Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai. Credit: Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai
While Dubai’s love for superlatives may certainly be its biggest claim to fame, you’d be mistaken to think that that’s all the city is about. As perhaps the most dynamic destination in the Middle East, Dubai loves exquisite design and welcomes aesthetic influences from around the world with open arms.
As a result, the metropolis is home to luxury hotels that don’t just raise the bar when it comes to hospitality and amenities, they’re also a delight for design lovers with an eye for detail. Book one of these stylish stays for your next UAE escape.
Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai
This luxurious retreat, with its Arabescato marble walls and coral-patterned, brise-soleil-covered exterior, is a vision of elegance on Jumeirah Bay Island — not that we wouldn’t expect anything less from the world-renowned jewelry brand.
Design aficionados will appreciate the work of Italian firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, evident in the attention to detail and the use of premium materials, such as gray Vicenza stone, Mongolian Shanxi black granite, Turkish marble and Iranian green onyx.
As a nod to Bulgari’s long-standing repute, the brand’s eight-pointed-star emblem has been incorporated into the design — check out the lobby floor for an example — as have framed vintage photographs of celebrities.
Even the accommodations feature designer elements, including handcrafted Italian furniture, and tasteful touches like Moroccan wool rugs and signature Bulgari lamps.
Palazzo Versace Dubai. Credit: Palazzo Versace Dubai
Palazzo Versace Dubai
Fans of neoclassical architecture will find themselves in awe at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property in Dubai’s Culture Village. Inspired by a 16th-century Italian palace, Palazzo Versace is surrounded by lagoons, three swimming pools and manicured gardens. A striking mosaic floor of 1.5 million hand-cut pieces, designed in partnership with Italian company Fantini Mosaici, greets you upon arrival.
Custom Versace furnishings, parquet flooring and Carrera marble bathrooms grace the hotel’s rooms and suites, and a sumptuous spa offers indulgent facial and body treatments.
And don’t miss the chance enjoy live music at Q’s Bar and Lounge, the first such venue from legendary record producer Quincy Jones.
Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre. Credit: Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre
Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre
A sleek boutique hotel in Dubai’s business district, this Five-Star getaway is for travelers with a penchant for sophisticated but understated design.
Envisioned by acclaimed designer Adam Tihany, the property’s contemporary interiors feature bold elements, such as shiny glass raindrops suspended from above, a geometric gold chandelier inspired by constellations and a ceiling that depicts falcons in flight that’s an homage to the property’s location (the falcon is the national bird).
Accommodations have earthy tones, marble tabletops, beautiful coffee tables and unique art, all of which work together to create a contemporary home away from home.
But when you do feel like exploring outside of your personal palace, the world-class galleries and museums of DIFC are at your doorstep.
One&Only The Palm. Credit: One&Only Resorts
One&Only The Palm
With the marriage of Arabesque and Moorish design influences at this fashionable Four-Star resort, we wouldn’t blame you for thinking you’ve stepped into a modern-day Arabian fairytale. A calm palette of ivory, cream and gold; Old World latticed arches; marble floors with floral motifs; and brass lanterns evoke a strong sense of place.
The beachfront resort is home to plenty of photo-worthy public spaces seemingly designed to fill your Instagram feed — think serene shaded courtyards with cascading fountains, candlelit pools, symmetrical arched corridors and regal gazebos.
The spacious rooms and suites carry out the same Arabesque theme with arched windows, splashes of color and latticed wood touches. But the real highlight is that each unit comes with a terrace overlooking the spectacular gardens.
Jumeirah Mina A’Salam. Credit: Jumeirah International LLC
Jumeirah Mina A’Salam
Get a glimpse of Old World Arabia’s grand palaces when you stay at this regal Four-Star hotel perched at the entrance to the massive Madinat Jumeirah resort complex. Home to romantic meandering canals dotted with traditional dhow boats, the property is filled with Arabesque flourishes, including latticed windows, dark wood accents and hanging lanterns.
Tiled mosaic floors, arched alcoves and Arabian-inspired furnishings in shades of purple, fuchsia and gold adorn the rooms, while the sumptuous suites take things up a notch with ornate chandeliers, striking patterned upholstery and spacious balconies with sea views.
