Hotels
Best hotels in Dubai: 8 luxury stays for a long weekend in November
A private island, the Palm, a beach facing the Burj Al Arab, Downtown and tented suites in the desert. These are eight of the best hotels in Dubai for a long weekend in November.
November is when Dubai becomes pleasant again. The summer heat has eased, the days are long and sunny, and a long weekend from Friday to Monday is enough for beach, pool and an evening beneath the Burj Khalifa. The only question is which of the best hotels in Dubai to choose.
We have looked through the city's highest rated luxury hotels and picked eight that each give you a different side of Dubai: a private island, the Palm, a classic beach resort, Downtown with its skyline and a desert reserve. Choose the dates that suit you on the hotel page.
Good to know: The hotel links are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay in Dubai
Dubai is big and spread out, so the area you choose shapes much of your stay. Taxis are easy, but a long weekend is better the less time you spend in a car.
Palm Jumeirah: the man-made palm-shaped island with beach resorts and views of the skyline. Best if you want beach and pool without leaving the hotel.
Jumeirah: low-rise, long beaches and the Burj Al Arab on the horizon. Shorter journeys to both the centre and the airport than from Palm Jumeirah.
Downtown and Business Bay: the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the fountains. Stay here if you want to go out in the evening, shop and see the city from above.
The desert: a drive out of the city. Silence, starry skies and dunes, and a completely different Dubai from the one you see from the beach.
8 of the best luxury hotels in Dubai
Bvlgari Resort Dubai
The resort sits on its own small island, with a private beach and views of the skyline.
Bvlgari Resort Dubai: a private island with its own beach
Bvlgari Resort is on Jumeira Bay, a small island just off the Jumeirah coast, and you notice it straight away: little traffic, a private beach and views straight to the skyline. The style is Italian luxury in a calm, modern form.
The Bulgari Spa has eight treatment rooms, including rooms for couples, plus a steam room and sauna. Jumeirah Beach Road and Dubai Canal are close by when you want to head into town. Choose Bvlgari for a true resort feel with a short trip to the centre.
Book the long weekend: See Bvlgari Resort Dubai
One&Only The Palm
The hotel is on the West Crescent, the outer ring around the Palm.
One&Only The Palm: a quiet resort on Palm Jumeirah
One&Only The Palm is on the West Crescent, the ring that wraps around Palm Jumeirah, and is one of the quietest addresses on the island. Low Moorish-style buildings, palms, reflecting pools and a private beach feel more like a Mediterranean resort than a big city.
The hotel has a gourmet restaurant, beach bar, roof terrace and spa, and guests rate it among the very best. Choose it if you want your luxury on the quiet side, with a sunbed on the beach and the pool close by.
Book the long weekend: See One&Only The Palm
Atlantis The Royal
The infinity pool looks straight out over the Palm and the sea.
Atlantis The Royal: an infinity pool above the Palm
Atlantis The Royal is the hotel you have seen on Instagram: towers of stacked blocks at the tip of Palm Jumeirah, with an infinity pool high up looking straight out over the Palm and the Gulf.
The hotel has no fewer than 16 restaurants, a private beach, a spa and buffet breakfast, and Aquaventure Waterpark and The Lost Chambers Aquarium are around a quarter of an hour away on foot. A good choice for groups who want plenty to do without taking taxis.
Book the long weekend: See Atlantis The Royal
Jumeirah Al Qasr
The view of the Burj Al Arab is part of the experience.
Jumeirah Al Qasr: an Arabian palace facing the Burj Al Arab
Al Qasr is part of Madinat Jumeirah, a resort built like an Arabian town with canals, palms and a souk. Many balconies look straight at the Burj Al Arab, and Souk Madinat Jumeirah with its restaurants and shops is a three-minute walk away.
The hotel has a private beach, a large pool, a roof terrace and a spa, and is one of the best rated luxury hotels in Dubai among guests. Choose Al Qasr for classic Dubai glamour and evenings by the canals.
Book the long weekend: See Jumeirah Al Qasr
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Rooms facing inland look out over the skyline and the Burj Khalifa.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira: a beach hotel close to the centre
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira is on the waterfront in Jumeira 1, with the La Mer beachfront nearby and Mercato shopping centre a two-minute walk away. Many rooms look out over the skyline and the Burj Khalifa, others over the sea.
The hotel has a spa with nine treatment rooms, a pool, a bar and a lounge. The airport is close, so you get as much pool time as possible on a short trip.
Book the long weekend: See Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Al Maha Desert Resort
Breakfast by your own pool, with dunes as far as the eye can see.
Al Maha Desert Resort: tented suites in the desert
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa is in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, a nature reserve in the desert outside the city. The suites are inspired by Bedouin tents and each has its own small pool and furnished terrace facing the dunes.
This is all about silence, sunsets and desert safaris. Combine one night here with two nights in the city and you get both sides of Dubai in one long weekend.
Book the long weekend: See Al Maha Desert Resort
The Lana
The rooftop pool has the Downtown skyline as its backdrop.
The Lana: a rooftop pool and skyline on Dubai Canal
The Lana is the Dorchester Collection hotel in Dubai, set on Dubai Canal right by the Burj Khalifa district. The rooftop pool has the Downtown skyline as its backdrop, and Dubai Mall is only a few minutes away by car.
The hotel has five restaurants, a bar and lounge, a spa and a roof terrace. Choose The Lana if you want a modern, central base and evenings out in the city.
Book the long weekend: See The Lana
Palace Downtown
The fountains and the Burj Khalifa are right outside the door.
Palace Downtown: walk to the fountains and Dubai Mall
Palace Downtown is in the heart of Downtown Dubai, a three-minute walk from the Dubai Fountain and right by Dubai Mall. The hotel is built in Arabian style, with a long pool framed by palms, and from the terraces you see the fountains and the Burj Khalifa.
The hotel has a spa, a pool bar and a children's pool, so it also suits families who want to stay central. Choose Palace Downtown if you want to walk to the big sights and eat out in the evening.
Book the long weekend: See Palace Downtown
Dubai in November: when is the best time to go?
November to March is the most comfortable time to visit Dubai. It is warm enough for the beach and pool, but not so hot that you need to stay inside in the middle of the day. The summer months are very hot, and much of the day is then spent indoors or in the pool.
Long weekends in November and early December are popular, so book your hotel early. Check the latest entry requirements for the United Arab Emirates before you travel.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Dubai
Is there a 7 star hotel in Dubai?
No, the official classification only goes up to five stars. The Burj Al Arab is often called a seven-star hotel, but that is a nickname rather than an official rating. The hotels in this guide are all in the top luxury category, and from Jumeirah Al Qasr you look straight at the Burj Al Arab.
Where is the best area to stay in Dubai?
The best area to stay in Dubai depends on what you want to do. Palm Jumeirah suits beach and resort life, Jumeirah gives you beaches close to the centre and the Burj Al Arab, and Downtown is best if you want to walk to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and restaurants in the evening. For peace and nature, add a night or two at a desert resort.
Is a long weekend enough for Dubai?
Yes, three nights is plenty for beach, pool and a couple of the big sights. Choose a hotel in Downtown or Jumeirah and you will spend little time on transport. If you also want a night in the desert, four or five nights will feel more relaxed.
Is November a good time to visit Dubai?
Yes, November is one of the best months for Dubai. The summer heat has gone, rain is rare and the days are sunny. It is also before the Christmas holidays, so you avoid the busiest period. Hotels are still in demand, so book early.