Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPalm Jumeirah
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Gilded Ottoman palace
Palm Jumeirah Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Opened
2011
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Wellness Resort LuxeOutside the door
The house
JumeirahGilded Ottoman palace
The resort brings imperial Istanbul to the Palm with soaring gilded columns, hand-painted murals, and private beachfront on the Gulf.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Three marble Turkish hammams and a refrigerated snow room across two spa floors.
Remarkable
Private crescent beachfront with a fifty-nine-metre infinity pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The look is Turkish, inspired by the Ottoman Empire, though it’s an open question whether the historical Ottomans ever managed to construct anything quite so ornate as this.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The Palm's outer crescent borders quiet open water, while the high-rises of Dubai Marina sit twenty-five minutes away by taxi.
The rooms
Bathrooms have deep Turkish marble soaking tubs, and bedrooms open past carved latticework onto furnished balconies.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Heated indoor thalassotherapy pools sit beneath vaulted arches. Outside, cabanas border the 59-meter infinity pool along the beach.
The spa and gym
The fitness studio offers functional performance training. In the spa, forty-two treatment suites sit beneath painted domed ceilings.
Restaurant
Zenzi Beach
The beachfront restaurant sits directly on the sand, serving South American coastal dishes and cocktails under sheer drapery.
Located on the West Crescent of the palm, beachside Jumeirah Zabeel Saray exudes regional Arabian style, with hand-painted murals, lavish gold fixtures, and other Ottoman-inspired touches.
At the table
Crystal chandeliers and gilded columns line the palatial dining hall. In the lounge, afternoon tea and Turkish coffee accompany a grand piano.
How it began
Forty-five Turkish designers shaped the public spaces over six months, using thirty thousand square meters of imported marble.
Dubai
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.