Downtown Dubai
The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountains. Central and modern, with the metro close by.
Sources and further reading · Downtown Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Hotels in Dubai
Dubai is long and car-shaped, so the district you choose matters. Decide between the towers and malls of Downtown, the beach and marina, or the older neighbourhoods around the Creek, then check the nearest metro station.
This guide helps you choose an area. Hotel prices and availability are checked when you search with dates and guests.
Get to know the area before choosing a hotel
Dubai Marina and JBR
A waterfront of towers, promenades and the beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence. For a stay by the sea with restaurants within walking distance.
Sources and further reading · Dubai Marina and JBRDeira and Bur Dubai
Old Dubai along the Creek: the gold and spice souks, abra boats and the historic Al Fahidi quarter. Traditional, busy and often good value.
Sources and further reading · Deira and Bur DubaiGetting in from the airport
Dubai International (DXB)
The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 and runs through the city, and taxis are easy to find outside every terminal. Some flights use Al Maktoum International (DWC) instead, far to the south — check your ticket.
Before choosing your address
- Distances are long and summers are very hot: a hotel near a metro station, or one with a beach of its own, saves a lot of travel.
- Dubai charges a tourism fee per room per night, usually paid at the hotel. Read the rate terms.
- “Beach access” can mean a private beach, a shared one or a shuttle. Read the hotel description.
Worth reading before you book
How to choose a hotel: what to check before you book
The right hotel is not the grandest on the list; it is the one that fits the days you planned. Five checks, in this order.
What you pay at the hotel: taxes, fees and the deposit
The booking closed at one price and the bill shows another. Usually that is not a mistake but a local tax.
How to read a flight before you book: times, stops, duration and the fare rules
Two flights at the same price can be very different trips. Everything that tells them apart is already on the result — it only has to be read in the right order.
