Destinations

Once inhabited by Bedouin traders and pearl divers, Dubai is now the commercial center of the United Arab Emirates, one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Here, among the mosques and spice souks, you’ll find prestigious shopping malls and haute couture boutiques. You’ll also find a thriving golf scene. Embark on a desert safari, complete with camels and belly dancers. Take up falconry. Or give sand skiing a whirl. Everything here is larger than life.

Virtuoso-recommended hotels and resorts in Dubai:

Park Hyatt Dubai

• This waterfront hotel enjoys an enviable location adjacent to the world-famous Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
• Spa King Rooms feature private patios and built-in treatment areas for in-room massages
• Each treatment room in the Amara spa has its own garden and rain shower

Burj Al Arab

• The world’s tallest hotel, it resembles the billowing sail of an Arabian dhow
• Guests arrive by helicopter (there’s a landing pad on the top floor) or Rolls Royce
• Every room is a duplex suite, complete with a living room on the lower level, a bedroom on the second floor and two bathrooms featuring Hermes toiletries

One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai

• Dubai’s most stylish beach resort, it commands 65 acres of lush landscaped gardens with water fountains
• The resort offers three distinct properties: the Palace, Arabian Court and Residence & Spa
• Feast on extravagant dinners  from Mediterranean cuisine at Olives to Moroccan dishes at Tagine; in all, you have eight different restaurants from which to choose

Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

• A desert oasis just 45 minutes from Dubai this luxe resort resides within an award-winning conservation area where indigenous wildlife abounds
• Resort activities range from camel treks to four-wheeling adventures
• The spa’s signature treatments feature products made from Arabic dates and frankincense