Six of the best hotels in Dubai

published 16 December 2014

TheWaldorf Astoria: Understated eleganceThe Waldorf sits right on the beachfront of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' city on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, and it is a "tranquil" spot, says Soo Kim in The Daily Telegraph. The architecture has a traditional Arabian feel, "from the horseshoe archway entrances and balcony frames to calligraphy artwork with Arabic script along the walls of a sprawling lobby". The 346 rooms and suites are "understated and elegant", and adventurous travellers can enjoy a range of water sports from deep-sea fishing to scuba diving. Alternatively, you can enjoy "dune buggy rides with the option of afternoon tea in the desert at sunset".

Prices start from £227 (waldorfastoria3.hilton.com).

Barjeel Heritage: A more authentic experience

To get closer to the traditions of the United Arab Emirates, check in to Barjeel Heritage, says The Sunday Times Travel Magazine. "It's right in the heart of the old quarter overlooking... various souks, and is a stroll from the handy Al Ghubaiba metro stop." It's "more low-key and thoughtfully cultured than Dubai's mostly mega resorts" and offers "a less boozy, less bling and more authentic experience". The rooms are decorated in modern Arabic style . "Persian rugs and patterned bedspreads accompany free Wi-Fi and 24-hour butler service."

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Rooms cost from £45 room only (barjeelguesthouse.com).

Anantara: A restful spot in a Hectic city

Anantara offers guests "a rare restful spot in a hyperactive city", says Sunday Times Travel not only does it have the largest spa in the UAE,but it is also located out in the ocean, perched on stilts. The rooms are "soothingly bland: dark woods, enormous beds and ornate bathrooms come with baths positioned to give the best city skyline views".Opt for the privacy of a beach villa.

Prices start from £253, B&B (dubai-palm.anantara.com).

The Marriott: The world's tallest hotel

The Marriott is a twin-towered behemoth and is "the coolest place to be in the city, thanks to its status as the world's tallest hotel", says Sunday Times Travel. The bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, which means "you'll get a knockout view if you request one facing the sea". The rooms are "impressively techy" and you won't be short of dining options as there are 13 on-site restaurants.

Deluxe rooms from £135, B&B (marriott.com).

Armani: A stay in an icon

If you fancy staying in Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa, opt for the Armani hotel. It occupies the concourse to level eight and levels 38 and 39 of the 828-metre skyscraper. It's "part-residences, part-hotel although the same brooding style underpins everything", says Cond Nast Traveller. "Sharp lines, neutral tones, stone and mahogany predominate."

For a real treat, book one of the rooms "with vast balconies overlooking the Dubai Fountain", from which the water "shoots as high as 150 metres into the air".

Prices start from £337 per night (dubai.armanihotels.com).

The Palace: Arab style in the heart of it all

If you like to be at the heart of it all, stay at The Palace. It's five minutes from the vast Dubai Mall and close to the Burj Khalifa too. It "feels like a Middle Eastern club built on Western five-star foundations", says Lizzie Porter in The Daily Telegraph. The public areas hold "inlaid pearl tables, Moroccan lanterns and, in typically Arab style, keyhole-shaped doors". The slightly corporate feel to the rooms "is offset by pretty Middle Eastern-style carved-wood panelling". All have good views of either Burj Lake, Old Town or the Dubai Fountain.

Prices from £283 (theaddress.com).

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping among many other titles both online and offline.