T+L’s hotel review of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Hotel in Dubai

Centuries ago, long before the creation of the United Arab Emirates—before the fossil fuel industry, the international tourists, and the glassy skyscrapers towering over artificial islands—Dubai was a quiet maritime area unknown to most of the world. In the sparsely settled areas, people fished for grouper, sea breams, and scuba dived to find pearls. the occasional trader or pirate. Even after the City of Dubai It was established in the early nineteenth century as a fishing community with narrow covered streets and mud-brick houses on a saltwater creek.

Today, the city has changed a little. A recent stay at the new Jumeirah Marsa Al ArabAfter living in Abu Dhabi for a decade, I was surprised at how much Dubai has changed. As I flipped through the coffee-table book “Seafarers of the Emirates” in my apartment, I thought of the Dubai of the distant past. The collection showed boating and fishing photos from the mid-20th century before the UAE started exporting oil and became independent. In the Dubai shown in those photos, there was no resort. But someone wanted to show me where this global metropolis originated by buying an out of print title from 2003.

Dubai’s maritime roots are evident in the newest hotel of the Jumeirah Group. You just have to know where to look. The long, narrow building was designed by architect Shaun Killa to look like a sleek superyacht. It has wraparound windows on the exterior and a seamless white finish. The opening capped off a trio of nautical structures on this stretch of beach—right next door is the iconic swoop of the Jumeirah Burj Al ArabThe full sail is inspired by a traditional dhow. Jumeirah Beach HotelThe first ever Jumeirah Hotel, with its wave-like silhouette.

The undulations in the blue glazed-tiled walls of the entrance hall, the flowing riverine crystal chandelier in the lobby and the delicate ceramic sculpture that hangs on the wall of my suite are all reminiscent of branching corral. The subtleties of these design elements helped to create a link between my 19th-century fishing town and the sparkling city surrounding me.

One afternoon I read a chapter of “Seafarers of the Emirates”. A picture of a wooden boat immediately brought to mind a sombre scene from my time in the UAE. I had spent a day window-shopping at Deira’s gold souk, on the north bank of Dubai Creek. It immediately conjured a dusky scene from my time in the UAE—a long-ago day spent window-shopping in the gold souk in Deira, on the north bank of Dubai Creek, before taking a one-dirham abra ride to the other side. I asked if a driver could be arranged to bring me back. I recognized the painted flat boats and dhows zigzagging through the water. Some of them were soon to head out into the sea. Back at Jumeirah, Marsa al Arab that evening I watched as the sunset faded across the water from my balcony and thought about the many boats that had passed that horizon.

Continue reading to learn more about my stay at the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

The Rooms

The nautical theme is carried through to the 300 guest rooms and suites. These are a mixture of cream, beige, blue, and orange, with leather, marble, and lacquered wooden accents. The floor-to ceiling windows in all accommodations offer a beautiful view and a private balcony. Some have views directly over the sea while others overlook the Marina, the Beach, the Burj Al Arab or the skyscraper-dominated silhouette downtown Dubai. The Ocean Terrace Suite, located at the very end of the building had a huge wraparound balcony from which I could enjoy the view.

Rooms and suites in every category have king beds (or the option for two twins, plus a pull-out sofa bed), walk-in closets, Nespresso coffee machines, and well-stocked minibars, as well as amenities like Dyson hairdryers and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The bathrooms feature walk-in and deep bathtubs. Suites with one or two bedrooms offer a separate lounge area, butler service, and a complimentary breakfast. The highest categories of suites also include roundtrip airport transfers. Additional apartment-style residences (with a minimum of one week) are available for long-term stays.

Food and Drink

There are an impressive 11 restaurants and four bars—a density of dining options that has made Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab a very popular stop for locals, too. During my visit, evenings brought a nonstop stream of luxury cars pulling up into the porte-cochère for reservations.

It was difficult to choose a favorite restaurant among the many I tried during my three night stay. But one that stood out from the rest was The Bombay Club by Chef Manav TuliChef Kumaran Balaji created a menu that was inspired by Mumbai’s cuisine. Some of the most memorable dishes were tandoori lamb biryani with wild mushrooms, and wagyu wagyu cheek. jalfrezi That I was happy to find didn’t cut back on the spices.

Lunch was also enjoyable at IlianaA breezy indoor/outdoor Greek restaurant, where the vegetables are as good as the fresh fish, and an unforgettable nightcap at Rialto BarA small, hidden venue decorated in marble.

Activities and Experiences

Iliana Pool Club is exclusive to guests staying in suites. Other hotel guests are charged a fee. The pool club includes a waterfront with loungers. However, it ends at a breakwater so you can only view the Gulf and not go in. All guests of Marsa Al Arab have access to a large area on the private beach that is shared with the Jumeirah resorts. You can get a lounger, an umbrella and dip your feet into the water.

There are also a number of other amenities, including a gym that is open 24 hours a day with cutting-edge equipment and a beautiful view of the ocean, a sports center equipped with kayaks and Jet Skis, yacht rentals with room for 20 guests, and of course a marina where you can tie up your yacht. The concierge desk is able to arrange Dubai tours, as well as other excursions.

The Spa

The sage Talise Spa The spa is three-stories high, with a floor for women only. There are many opportunities for high-tech treatments on top of the more standard spa offerings—there’s cryotherapy, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, an infrared sauna dome, and more.

There are also relaxation areas and an indoor pool with a calming effect. A VIP suite is available, which includes a hammam.

Family Friendly Offerings 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab’s kids club has indoor and outdoor play zones and supervised activities. It is for children aged between three and 10. Guests can also enjoy complimentary access at Jumeirah’s Wild Wadi Waterpark. This waterpark features outdoor slides, wave pool, and lazy river.

Accessibility and sustainability

The resort offers five accessible rooms. The main lobby, elevators and restaurants are accessible to guests with wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

In this part of world, heat is a problem. But the hotel’s energy-efficient temperature control comes from insulated windows and a unique terrace design which passively shields windows from direct sun, reducing HVAC energy usage by about 40%. Landscapes were designed to use less water. The irrigation system was linked to a weatherstation to automatically adapt to the conditions. Grey water recycling systems have also been installed. The resort has a policy of not using single-use materials.

Location 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is located in Umm Suqeim—a coastal area adjacent to Dubai‘s famed Jumeirah neighborhood, after which the hotel group is named—and north of Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah islands. Old Dubai (the historic district clustered around Dubai Creek) and Downtown Dubai can be reached in 20 minutes. The hotel can be reached in 25 minutes by car from Dubai International Airport DXB or between 60 and 90 minutes by car from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport AUH.

Dubai has a lot to offer a metro systemEquiti Station, the nearest stop to Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, isn’t easily walkable. You can reach it in 10 minutes by taxi. There are plenty of taxis available, and resort staff can arrange private transportation. You should rent a vehicle if you are planning on making several stops in the UAE.

Book Now

Jumeirah offers a loyalty programme. Jumeirah OneTravelers can earn points for spa treatments and meals at Jumeirah’s restaurants. Other benefits include discounts for members. You can exchange your points for frequent flyer mile with Emirates and Saudia Airlines.

Get special rates on nights at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Start from as low as $1,500

Every T+L review is written either by a reporter, or an editor who has actually stayed in the hotel. Each hotel selected also adheres to our core values.