Hotels in Dubai

This luxury retreat draws on the classic image of Dubai in times gone by as an Arabian desert land, crossed by nomadic tribes. The 'eco-friendly' design endeavours to impose as little impact on the surrounding desert as possible. The emphasis is on personal service, with a staff-to-guest ratio of three to one. Al Maha Resort can organise 4-wheel drive desert safari trips or camel treks into the surrounding desert. Getting to the city centre can take over an hour but surrounded by a protected nature reserve, that hour can seem like a blissful world away.

The 'Arab Tower' has become one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of Dubai and for good reason. Visible from the air above the early morning steam clouds, and a beacon of postmodern chic from the becalmed night-time seas, it shimmers in the heat haze like the sail of the dhow that inspired its design. Quite simply, it's a spectacular piece of architecture. The interior, however, is another matter. The decadent and ornate colour scheme is quintessentially Middle Eastern and not to everyone's taste. Still, who cares when rooms, depending on price, come with dining tables and individual business centres, Jacuzzis, snooker tables, cocktail bars and even a private cinema.

Voted 'Best Business Hotel in the Middle East' in 2005 by Business Traveller , these two ultra-modern skyscrapers are among the tallest buildings in the Middle East. Part office, part hotel, the towers are very conveniently located right at the heart of the Central Business District. Each state-of-the-art room is geared towards business guests - there is access to the Internet via high-speed modem points and the in-room TVs as well as individual fax/printer/copy machines, each with their own fax number. The deluxe rooms even have their own chaises longue.

The Madinat Jumeirah is a resort that is impressive in both its scale and attention to detail. There are two 'grand boutique' hotels as well as 29 ultra-exclusive traditional courtyard summer houses, with a total of over 800 rooms. The resort has been created along a stretch of Jumeirah Beach with an eye to Arabic décor. Neat touches include the 3.7km (2.2 miles) of waterways, which use boats to connect guests between their rooms and the 45 restaurants that are located on site. There is also a 1km (0.6-mile) stretch of private beach and the decadent Six Senses Spa among an array of leisure facilities. The Madinat Arena (a concert and events venue) can house up to 4,550 guests.