Dubai Hotels: The Hotel Superlative List

Where else in the world can you find the hotel in the world’s tallest building, the world’s only 7-star hotel and a hotel with a refrigerated beach—all in one place? Dubai: the continually evolving desert oasis; a Middle Eastern mecca for glitz, glam and, some would say, gaudiness. Dubai luxury hotel construction is rampant, as is the quest for bizarrely unique architecture and breaking world records. With interest for United Arab Emirates (UAE) travel still hot, new Dubai hotel properties continue to pop up, adding to Dubai’s growing list of adjectives:

HOTEL IN THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDING*: Armani Hotel in the Burj Dubai. My fellow Amazing Race 15 racers arrived in Dubai last Sunday, paying a visit (which thankfully did not include bungee jumping) to the world’s tallest building. Not only does the Burj Dubai’s 206 floors (measuring a whopping 2,684-feet) house office and residential space, but 37 of the lower floors will include the world’s first Armani Hotel. Of course the building and hotel have to be completed first, so in the mean time we will keep our fingers crossed that Giorgio Armani’s impeccable classy taste shines through. *The “world’s highest hotel” is currently the Park Hyatt Shangai.

HOTEL WITH THE WORLD’S FIRST REFRIGERATED BEACH: Palazzo Versace Hotel. Perhaps the Palazzo Versace Hotel couldn’t build a more standard superlative like world’s tallest or world’s biggest, but they will be making history with a “world’s first” title: the “world’s first refrigerated beach.” Forget spraying mist machines (a la Vegas) that keep guests cool during desert heat waves, as this beach will have heat-absorbing pipes built under the sand, coupled with giant wind blowers. Extravagance at its extreme.

HOTEL WITH THE MOST QUESTIONABLE NAME: The Address. While we still can’t figure out why this hotel is named “The Address,” we are guessing the head honchos figured they would choose the best addresses in Dubai. And with multiple properties across the city, they really do. Whether facing the Dubai Fountains, directly connected to the world’s largest shopping mall or on the Dubai Marina, the addresses of these “ultimate in-vogue” five properties will not disappoint. The Address Hotel Dubai Hotel Deals.

HOTEL IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST, UNINTERRUPTED SAND DESERT: Anantara Resort at Qasr Al Sarab. A far cry from super modern, skyscraper-filled Dubai, this brand new resort pays homage to the traditional Emirati desert culture with tranquil desert surroundings and subdued earth tone hues. Gold-plated toilets are traded for handcrafted wooden chests and doors out here—with the occasional flat-screen TV and other high tech amenities included as well. Visit the “hammam” (“silent doctor”) at the resort’s spa for ancient elixirs to cleanse the body and soul. Anantara Resort at Qasr Al Sarab Hotel Deals.

HOTEL WITH THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE PRIVATE PARTY/OPENING: Atlantis The Palm. If you’re going to build a mega-resort in a place dubbed “Vegas on Crack,” you better have a mega grand opening called “Party on Crack.” Atlantis’ The Palm opened in 2008 with a star-studded party complete with Dom Pérignon, the world’s largest fireworks display (7x bigger than Beijing’s Olympic Games opening ceremony) and a Kylie Minogue concert. Price tag: $20 million. Atlantis The Palm Hotel Deals.

WORLD’S ONLY “7-STAR” HOTEL: Burj Al Arab. Standing tall on an artificial island, this popularly photographed, iconic building practically started the wave of insanely creative architecture in Dubai with a frame designed to resemble a billowing sail. While hotels use a standard five-star rating guide, the Burj Al Arab touts itself as being seven stars. As one of the most expensive hotels in the world, the property features gold-leaf railings and mosaic tiling, with the priciest suites offering private cinemas, private elevators and rotating four-poster canopy beds. Burj Al Arab Hotel Deals.