21-03-2025
13 tips for a luxury holiday to Dubai
Recently, Dubai added a new jewel to its crown of luxury resorts — the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. The super-yacht inspired property made waves two years ago when one of its under-construction penthouses sold for $115m (£88m).
Eye-watering price tags aside, this Shaun Killa-designed hotel complements its siblings, the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the sail-like Burj Al Arab to form a striking architectural troika in the Gulf.
Sitting pretty on its own private peninsula, the Marsa Al Arab features 386 lavish rooms and suites, a marina, a 3,500 square metre spa, private pools and 11 restaurants.
A family suite starts at AED 11,700 (£2,466) per night, but the Presidential and Royal Suites offer next-level luxury — we're talking Bentley transfers, butlers and private plunge pools.
Of course, Dubai isn't new to this game. Nearly 25 years ago, the all-suite Burj Al Arab set the gold standard, earning its seven-star stripes with perks like helicopter transfers and a fleet of Rolls Royces.
Read more: How to save money on a holiday to Dubai
So while Dubai may offer plenty of charms for the budget traveller, when it comes to luxury indulgence and bucket list experiences, Dubai delivers.
Here are 13 superlative experiences for those with credit cards with no limits:
Fancy relishing poached scallops with green melon, blanched kumquat, lemon gel and roasted almonds, paired with Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016? Or how about a seared Chilean sea bass with a glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial?
These are just two of 18 dishes featured in a curated "champagne and cuisine" menu set to take off this May for business class flyers on select Emirates routes.
Fine dining at 40,000 feet might be its latest perk, but Emirates has always set high standards for its elite passengers with privacy doors, an onboard shower spa, mood lighting and a lounge bar.
Be it beachside escapes on the Palm Jumeirah (the largest man made island in the world), edgy futuristic towers in Downtown or Arabian opulence in central Dubai, where you splash your cash depends on your definition of decadence.
Check out the pink-hued Atlantis, The Palm for AED 45,805 (£9,644) underwater suites, beach clubs and celebrity-chef restaurants (Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa among them).
Its bolder cousin, Atlantis The Royal, ups the ante with 795 plush rooms, 92 pools, including a 90-metre sky pool, and 17 dining venues by chefs including Heston Blumenthal and Ariana Bundy. Its Royal Mansion is a declaration in OTT luxury — a four-bedroom, two-level penthouse with a private foyer, terrace and a 12-seater dining room.
Be it the Italian flair of the Bvlgari Resort, the discreet elegance of The Lana (Dorchester Collection) or the Arabesque bedouin villas at Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai hotels provide the perfect setting for a champagne lifestyle.
Dubai's love for bling spills into its world-class dining scene. Quirky creations like the gold-infused charcoal ice cream at Scoopi Café and AED 5,000 gold-laced karak tea at Boho Café can liven up your Instagram and the ultra-upscale Nusr-Et steakhouse (charismatic butcher-chef Nusret Gökçe aka Salt Bae's brand) serves up bling with golden tomahawk steaks worth AED 5,000 (£1,053).
Try a lavish breakfast at on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa or a floating breakfast at Zeta Seventy Seven's sky-high infinity pool.
For a blowout brunch, go for gourmet glamour at Traiteur, Park Hyatt ( AED 895) or the champagne-fuelled Bubbalicious at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi (AED 795).
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Ossiano's 10-course tasting menu (AED 2,600) with its underwater dining is your stop for a show-stopping dinner. For 'intimate dining experiences' see the 27-seater FZN by Björn Frantzén's AED 2,000 set menu, KRASOTA's 8-course AI-powered meal marrying haute cuisine and visual arts (AED 1,830) and Michelin-starred Tresind Studio's Indian degustation menu (AED 1,095).
Nothing exudes luxury quite like sailing the Arabian Gulf on a private yacht.
Go all out with Xclusive Yachts' fully crewed, bespoke experience, with prices ranging from 40,000 dirhams (£8,418) to 150,000 dirhams for superyachts.
One of the most opulent available for charter is the 150-foot Behike, which features a spacious lounge, elegant dining area, a sky lounge and a sun deck with a jacuzzi.
The Sunseeker Superyacht offers views from a 40m tri-deck vessel. At AED 995 for three hours, guests enjoy an omakase sushi experience, free-flowing bubbly, live music and unlimited drinks.
A trip to Dubai Mall is a retail haven that knows how to pamper its VIP customers. The Fashion Avenue has invitation-only lounges with personalised services, while Level Shoes offers access to limited-edition collections with complimentary champagne.
For the ultimate VIP experience, the Platinum Lounge provides dedicated butlers, limousine pick-ups and private fitting rooms.
Dubai Mall has expanded to include The District — a new arena with 60 luxury boutiques and restaurants adding to its already impressive lineup of over 1,200 outlets.
Desert safaris aren't all about dune bashing and belly dancers. Add a glamorous touch by going on a VIP Desert Safari in a ruggedly stylish Land Rover Defender.
Spotting Arabian oryx, gazelles and other desert dwellers, a falconry show and a camel ride are all part of the AED 13,300 (£2,799) tour which ends in a secluded, lantern-lit oasis with a private six-course feast under the stars and opportunities to try shisha or henna or stargaze with an astronomer.
The Nest Experience by Sonara is a sunset-to-sunrise glamping affair that includes sundowners and lounge access, soft archery, camel trek and breakfast, beginning from AED 2,380 per tent.
On the other hand, the popular desert party destination Terra Solis offers a beautifully designed pool lodge with amenities you'd find in a five-star hotel.
For a (rather steep) price, you can ring in the new year with envy-inducing extravagance. Sign up with luxury hotspots around the Burj Khalifa to enjoy breathtaking vantage points of the legendary NYE fireworks with packages that combine dining, panoramic views and unparalleled service.
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk's Presidential suite package worth AED 150,000 (£31,568) and Dubai Opera's AED 100,000 private dining experience with fireworks views, premium meals and spectacular entertainment set records for most expensive celebrations last year.
In a city where even the police cruise in Lamborghinis and taxis use Teslas (TSLA), high-performance cars are everywhere. Feel the adrenaline behind the wheel of a Ferrari (RACE), Maserati or Porsche ( and hit the UAE's roads on a self-drive tour.
Providers like VIP Rent A Car or Paddock charge from around AED 300 to AED 4,500 per day depending on the car.
Sightsee with a touch of altitude with a private helicopter tour over the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands and other Dubai landmarks. Helidubai's charters start at AED 1,780 for 30 minutes.
Prefer to turn heads on the ground? Cruise past Dubai's most iconic venues in a GMG Gucci stretch limo from Skye VIP Limousine, complete with designer interiors, party lights and a premium sound system.
At Madinat Jumeirah, a 5-star waterfront resort, a simple boat trip turns extraordinary with the 'Afternoon Tea and Beverage' package (AED 1,480). Glide through serene waterways on a private, lavishly designed abra with bubbly and bites.
Five Hotels & Resorts' 9H-FIVE is a private jet that can be hired for around AED 47,000 per hour.
With plush seats, LED-lit interiors, a dining table for eight, a king-sized suite with a shower, caviar and champagne, this flying nightclub delivers a haute experience.
Ain Dubai is the world's highest observation wheel. Buy a VIP Plus experience (from AED 2,800), for an entire private premium cabin. You get access to the Seaview Lounge and eight digital images per person.
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