Hotels
The seven-star hotel in Dubai, and where to stay while it is closed
Burj Al Arab is the hotel people mean when they talk about Dubai's seven-star hotel. There is no seven-star rating, and the hotel is closed until October 2027. Here is what the label means, what a night costs, and the five hotels to book instead.
7 November 20267 min
Picolo Editorial
In short about the seven-star hotel in Dubai
The hotel called seven-star in Dubai is Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped hotel on its own island off Jumeirah Beach. No official rating goes above five stars, so the label describes the service, not a classification. Burj Al Arab closed in April 2026 for restoration and is scheduled to reopen in October 2027.
Our first choice while it is closed: Atlantis The Royal on Palm Jumeirah, the hotel with Dubai's most expensive suite and an infinity pool high above the Gulf. Check availability and prices
Where the seven-star label comes from
Star ratings in Dubai, as in most of the world, stop at five. When Burj Al Arab opened in 1999, the press began calling it seven-star. Five stars did not seem to cover its service and design, and the name stuck. Picolo knows Dubai first-hand, and in our view the label now says more about the city's ambition than about a standard. Several Dubai hotels match Burj Al Arab on service today, and one of them has a far more expensive suite.
What a night at a seven-star hotel costs
CNN Travel lists the Presidential Suite at Burj Al Arab from US$32,700 a night, from before the closure. The Royal Mansion at Atlantis The Royal is quoted at around US$100,000, on application. The Royal Suite at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach starts at US$21,800, and the Royal Penthouse at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira at US$20,420. Ordinary rooms at all of these hotels cost a small fraction of that, and they are where most guests stay. Read more about Burj Al Arab and its reopening.
Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab seen from the pool at Jumeirah Al Qasr. The hotel is closed for restoration until October 2027.
Five hotels to book instead of Burj Al Arab
Palm Jumeirah: Atlantis The Royal
Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023 at the tip of Palm Jumeirah and has the most expensive suite in Dubai, the Royal Mansion. The hotel stacks its rooms in a tower of shifted blocks, with pools on the terraces and restaurants from well-known chefs. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It is the obvious heir to Burj Al Arab for anyone who wants the most talked-about hotel in the city.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Atlantis The Royal
Bvlgari Resort Dubai
The beach at Bvlgari Resort Dubai on Jumeira Bay, with the skyline behind.
Jumeira Bay: Bvlgari Resort Dubai
Bvlgari Resort Dubai sits on Jumeira Bay, a private island shaped like a seahorse off the Jumeirah coast. It is quieter and more discreet than Atlantis, with a beach, a marina and Italian design throughout. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It suits couples who want luxury without the crowds.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Bvlgari Resort Dubai
Jumeirah Beach: Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira is a beach hotel on Jumeirah Beach Road, with rooms facing either the Gulf or the skyline. The Royal Penthouse is among the most expensive suites in Dubai, from US$20,420 a night. Guests rate the hotel 9.6 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It is the best choice of the five for a beach holiday close to Downtown.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Jumeirah Beach: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
The Four Seasons sits on a wide stretch of Jumeirah Beach between Downtown and Burj Al Arab, and from the pool you see the skyline with Burj Khalifa. The Royal Suite starts at US$21,800 a night. Guests rate the hotel 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It works well for families, with a large beach and a short taxi ride to the city.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Madinat Jumeirah: Jumeirah Al Qasr
Jumeirah Al Qasr is the closest hotel to Burj Al Arab, built like a palace in Madinat Jumeirah with canals and abra boats. The sea-facing balconies look straight at the sail. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 on Hotels.com. Book it if the view of Burj Al Arab is the point of the trip.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Jumeirah Al Qasr
Emirates Palace
The palace hotel on the Abu Dhabi Corniche has its own long beach and pools among the gardens.
Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
An hour and a half by car from Dubai, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is a palace hotel on its own beach along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, with domes, gold details and large gardens. It is often mentioned alongside Burj Al Arab when people talk about the Gulf's grandest hotels. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
See the hotel: Check availability and prices at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
For more choice in every price class, see our guide to the best luxury hotels in Dubai, and for record suites worldwide, the world's most expensive hotels.
Our pick while Burj Al Arab is closed
Atlantis The Royal: Dubai's most expensive suite, and rooms you can book
Atlantis The Royal is the hotel we would choose for the seven-star experience while Burj Al Arab is closed. It opened in 2023 at the tip of Palm Jumeirah, and its Royal Mansion is the most expensive suite in Dubai, quoted at around US$100,000 a night. An ordinary room gives you the same beach, the terrace pools and the restaurants, with the Aquaventure water park next door. Guests rate the hotel 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Frequently asked questions about seven-star hotels in Dubai
Is there a 7 star hotel in Dubai?
No, there is no official seven-star hotel in Dubai, because star ratings stop at five. Burj Al Arab is the hotel people mean when they say seven-star, and the label describes its service and design. Burj Al Arab closed in April 2026 for restoration and is scheduled to reopen in October 2027. Until then, Atlantis The Royal and Bvlgari Resort Dubai are the closest match.
What is the only 7-star hotel in Dubai?
Burj Al Arab is the hotel known as Dubai's only seven-star hotel, even though no official rating goes above five stars. It stands on its own island off Jumeirah Beach and opened in 1999. Every room is a suite over two floors, with a butler included. The hotel is closed for restoration until October 2027, so it cannot be booked for stays before then.
How much is a night at the 7 star hotel in Dubai?
The Presidential Suite at Burj Al Arab cost from US$32,700 a night, according to CNN Travel. Every room is a suite, so even the entry rooms cost far more than a standard hotel room. The hotel is closed until October 2027, and prices after the reopening have not been published. At Atlantis The Royal, Dubai's most expensive suite is quoted at around US$100,000 a night.
Is Burj Al Arab open?
No, Burj Al Arab is closed. The hotel closed in April 2026 for an 18-month restoration announced by Jumeirah, and Visit Dubai lists October 2027 as the reopening month. No exact date has been given. You can still see it from Jumeirah Beach and from Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Al Naseem next door, which both have views of the sail.
How many 7-star hotels are there in the world?
There are no official seven-star hotels anywhere in the world, because recognised rating systems stop at five stars. The label is used informally about a few hotels, most often Burj Al Arab in Dubai and sometimes Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. In France, the official Palace distinction is the closest thing to a rank above five stars.
Sources
The closure of Burj Al Arab and the October 2027 reopening are reported by Arabian Business and Gulf News. Suite prices are from CNN Travel. Guest ratings are from Hotels.com, last checked November 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
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