It’s Official, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Has Become The Ultimate It-Hotel
Jumeirah’s Marsa Al Arab is setting the standard when it comes to offering an understated but deeply luxurious experience
It’s become a badge of honour. Post a picture from the newly-opened, Shaun Killa-designed Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel. The more ‘insider’ the better. An image of a signature Pierre Hermé pastry alongside a frothy cappuccino in the discrete lobby? Entry level points. A Greek feast at show stopping destination eatery Iliana, with spectacular views of Burj Al Arab? Serious kudos. A trip to the three floor Talise Spa, featuring everything from a signature Grounding massage to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chamber and Neuro Calm programme? Definitely impressive. But the ultimate flex? Booking a staycation so you can not only have personalised, monogrammed slippers (take a suite and you get a robe and pillows with initials, too), and free rein to explore the four swimming options – our top pick is the Iliana Pool Club – plus the kids club, 15 restaurants, and access to an 82-berth superyacht-friendly marina alongside the Marsa Al Arab promenade with superlative people-watching. And only those who stay will know to open the mini-bar – Fix Chocolate 24/7 – capping off what is arguably the ultimate Dubai luxury experience.
Architect Shaun Killa has already made his mark in the region with marvels like the Museum of the Future in Dubai and Shebara on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. And with this latest hotel, he’s further cemented his position as one of the pre-eminent names refashioning the design scene in the Middle East.
Sitting aside its fellow Jumeirah properties – the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and wave-like Jumeirah Beach Hotel – within walking distance of Madinat Jumeirah, curvaceous Marsa Al Arab, which echoes the lines of a sleek yacht – bucks the trend of many hotels nowadays. Its entrance is a case in point. Intricate, offering privacy – not overwhelming and sprawling – with 3D-printed blue ceramic walls that echo aquatic patterns and sand hues that evoke the desert giving a subtle, immediate sense of place. There’s even a custom scent that fills the air. Modern mashrabiya-designed partitions in the ‘lobby’ ensure tucked-away areas ideal for negotiations while enjoying feather-light rose madeleines taken away from prying eyes.
The hotel itself is built on reclaimed land, extending 470 metres out to sea, and its length means that, like a ship, the core is where you access your rooms via elevators, head out to the pool or access the bustling D Marin Marsa Al Arab Marina. It’s impressive that a resort on this scale, with 386 rooms and suites, still feels intimate, but that is largely due to its clever design.
No matter where your room is located, you are guaranteed quintessential Dubai vistas from spacious balconies – and floor-to-ceiling windows – of either the Burj Al Arab or Burj Khalifa skyline. Rooms are a particular highlight, traversing that tricky line of impressing all tastes, while still being imbued with character. Interiors feel expensive, with a fully-stocked Negroni bar and easy-to-navigate tech, Dyson hairdryers and Rossano Ferretti amenities. Plus of course, the aforementioned personalised touches (that we defy anyone not to take home as mementos.
Breakfast is served at The Fore, with sumptuous buffets and live stations serving everything from spicy dossas to lobster Benedict and slivers of avocado on toast. But at night, through the use of sliding walls and shifting panels, this space gets divided into four restaurants. Mirabelle evokes the Côte d’Azur; The Bombay Club puts the spotlight on Indian fare; Umi Kei specialises in Japanese, while Asian cuisine is offered at Madame Li.
A gastronomic highlight that cannot missed is the signature Italian restaurant, Rialto. The fresh pesto pasta, prepared table-side for added flair, will instantly transport you to Italy, as affable waiters ensure your Prosecco glass is always topped up, urging you to try the justifiably famous tiramisu.
Despite the property being so new, its grounds are lush and fully developed, with thick foliage giving the whole space a tropical feel. Dotted around are its four pools – from the adults-only Kinugawa to the shallower yet still chic family offering. Steps away is the soft sand beach, with a waterfront that stretches all the way to the other properties, too.
Prior to it’s opening, there was a lot of hype around this new hotel. Our verdict? It’s fully justified. Book ahead, as its popularity shows no sign of waning. jumeirah.com
Imagery supplied.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Interiors Summer 2025 Issue.