T+L’s Hotel Review of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai

Centuries ago, long before the creation of the United Arab Emirates—before the fossil fuel industry, the international tourists, and the glassy skyscrapers towering over artificial islands—Dubai was a quiet maritime area unknown to most of the world. People in the region’s sparse settlements dove for pearls and fished for grouper and sea bream, and were visited by the occasional trader or pirate. Even after the city of Dubai was officially established in the early 19th century, it was more of a fishing village with narrow covered alleys and mud-brick buildings on a small saltwater creek.

Today, the city looks a little different. During a recent stay at the new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, which opened in March 2025, I was amazed at how much Dubai had changed since I’d been there last during my time living in Abu Dhabi a decade ago. And I thought about the Dubai of the past while flipping through “Seafarers of the Emirates,” which I pulled from a stack of coffee table books in my suite. The collection of boating and fishing photographs showed glimpses of life on the water in the mid-20th century, right before the UAE began exporting oil and gained independence. The resort would not have existed in the Dubai of those photographs, but clearly someone wanted me to see where this global metropolis came from, buying an out-of-print title from 2003 for a future guest to eventually pick up.

At the Jumeirah group’s newest hotel, Dubai’s maritime origins provide a narrative and aesthetic throughline that becomes explicit if you know to look for it. Architect Shaun Killa’s long and narrow building points toward the Gulf, designed to evoke a slick superyacht with its wraparound windows and seamless white exterior. The opening capped off a trio of nautical structures on this stretch of beach—right next door is the iconic swoop of the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, inspired by the full sail of a traditional dhow, and the cresting Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the first-ever Jumeirah hotel, its silhouette like a wave about to break.

You can also sense the rhythms of the water in the undulations of the custom blue glazed-tile walls in the entry hall, the riverine crystal chandelier that flows through the lobby, and the delicate ceramic sculpture hanging on the wall in my suite, reminiscent of branching coral. Design touches like these, however subtle, helped make the ties between the 19th-century fishing village and the gleaming city around me.

One afternoon, I turned a page of “Seafarers of the Emirates” to a picture of a small wooden boat. It immediately conjured a dusky scene from my time in the UAE—a long-ago day spent window-shopping in the gold souk in Deira, on the north bank of Dubai Creek, before taking a one-dirham abra ride to the other side. I asked if the front desk could arrange a driver to take me back there. The painted dhows and flat boats zigzagging along the water were just as I remembered. Some of them would soon head out to the sea; back at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab that evening, I watched from my terrace as the sunset glow faded over the water and thought about all the boats that had crossed that horizon before them.

Keep reading for more details from my stay at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai.

The Rooms

The nautical theme extends into the resort’s 300 guest rooms and 86 suites, which tend toward cream and beige with blue and orange accents, along with rich leather, lacquered wood, and marble. No matter where you’re staying, you’ll have a private terrace and an attractive view through the floor-to-ceiling windows; some accommodations look directly out at the sea, while others have views of the marina, the beach and neighboring Burj Al Arab, or the skyscraper-dominated silhouette of downtown Dubai. My Ocean Terrace Suite was located at the end of the building, and from my huge wraparound terrace, I could see all of the above.

Rooms and suites in every category have king beds (or the option for two twins, plus a pull-out sofa bed), walk-in closets, Nespresso coffee machines, and well-stocked minibars, as well as amenities like Dyson hairdryers and Bang & Olufsen speakers. Bathrooms have deep bathtubs and walk-in showers. The one- and two-bedroom suites offer a separate living area and come with butler service and complimentary breakfast, while the highest suite categories also include round-trip airport transfers. An additional 82 apartment-style residences are available for longer-term stays (there is a one-week minimum).

Food and Drink

There are an impressive 11 restaurants and four bars—a density of dining options that has made Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab a very popular stop for locals, too. During my visit, evenings brought a nonstop stream of luxury cars pulling up into the porte-cochère for reservations.

I didn’t have time (or room in my stomach) to eat at every restaurant during my three-night stay, but a standout among those I did try was The Bombay Club by Chef Manav Tuli, who collaborated with chef Kumaran Balaji on a menu loosely inspired by the cuisine of Mumbai. Memorable dishes included tandoori wagyu beef cheek, gorgeous lamb biryani, and a wild mushroom stir-fried jalfrezi that I was glad to find didn’t skimp on the spice.

I also enjoyed lunch at Iliana, a breezy indoor-outdoor Greek restaurant where the vegetables were just as delicious as the fresh seafood, and a memorable nightcap at Rialto Bar, a small, somewhat hidden venue, decked out in colored marble.

Activities and Experiences

There are four pools at the resort with various levels of exclusivity, including one that’s adults-only and another, the Iliana Pool Club, offering complimentary access only to suite guests (other hotel guests can enter for a fee). The pool club also includes a waterfront area with loungers, though it ends in a breakwater, which means you can only look at the Gulf, not get into it. But all Marsa Al Arab guests have access to an area on the large private beach shared by the neighboring Jumeirah resorts, where you can grab a lounger and umbrella and dip your toes into the water.

Other amenities include: a sleek 24-hour gym with state-of-the-art equipment and water views; a water sports center with kayaks and jet skis; yacht rentals that can accommodate up to 20 guests; and, of course, a marina for tying up a yacht of your own. The concierge desk can set up Dubai tours and other excursions upon request.

The Spa

The serene Talise Spa spans three stories, including a women-only floor. There are many opportunities for high-tech treatments on top of the more standard spa offerings—there’s cryotherapy, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, an infrared sauna dome, and more.

The spa also includes relaxation areas, a calm indoor pool, and a VIP suite, complete with a personal hammam.

Family-friendly Offerings 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab has a kids’ club with indoor and outdoor play areas and supervised activities for children aged three to 10. Guests also get complimentary access to Jumeirah’s Wild Wadi Waterpark, with outdoor water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers just a short golf cart ride from the resort.

Accessibility and sustainability

The resort has five accessible rooms. The main lobby, elevators, restaurants, spa, and residences are also accessible for guests in wheelchairs or other mobility aids.

Heat is a challenge in this part of the world, but the hotel achieves more energy-efficient temperature control through insulated glass and a unique tiered terrace design that passively protects windows from direct sunlight, cutting HVAC energy use by around 40 percent. The landscaping was designed with lower water use in mind, and the irrigation system is linked to a weather station to adapt automatically based on the conditions; grey water recycling systems are also in place. The resort avoids single-use plastics.

Location 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is located in Umm Suqeim—a coastal area adjacent to Dubai’s famed Jumeirah neighborhood, after which the hotel group is named—and north of Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah islands. Downtown Dubai is reachable in about 20 minutes by car, and Old Dubai, the grouping of historic districts around Dubai Creek, in half an hour. The hotel is around 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport (DXB), or 60 to 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH).

Dubai does have a metro system, though Equiti station, the closest stop to Jumeirah Marsa al Arab, is not easily walkable (you can get there in a 10-minute taxi ride). Taxis are easy to come by, and the resort can also arrange private transportation. Renting a car is a good idea if you’re planning to make several stops around the UAE during your visit.

Book Now

Jumeirah has a loyalty program, Jumeirah One, that lets travelers earn points to redeem for future stays at the group’s hotels, plus spa treatments, meals at Jumeirah restaurants, and more. The program also comes with other perks, like members-only discounts. Points can also be exchanged for frequent flyer miles with Emirates or Saudia Airlines.

Nightly rates at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab start from $1,500.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.