Nonstop Dan rating
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Unbeatable value, superb wellness and Dubai's best beach, held back only by a restless night's sleep.
What to Expect at Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai?
Jumeirah Beach Hotel logo
Jumeirah Beach Hotel exterior
Jumeirah Beach Hotel was opened in December 1997. And it was renovated in 2018. Eight years later, the rooms still look almost brand new, which is impressive. Jumeirah Beach Hotel has 598 rooms. If you’ve watched our videos before on my channel, you know we generally prefer hotels with fewer rooms.
We expected Jumeirah Beach Hotel to be a lesser version of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, which sits right next door. We had stayed at Marsa Al Arab first, assuming the newer property would be the better one. That’s not how it turned out.
This was one of our most surprising hotel stays yet. Over the course of our stay at the classic Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, we went from underwhelmed to completely blown away. It started with a disappointing check-in and ended with one of the most impressive sets of hotel facilities we have ever seen.
We stayed one night in February, the height of high season in Dubai, and paid $366. In my opinion, that is incredible value for a beachfront hotel. The average price for this room throughout the year is around $400 - $650 a night. It drops to as little as about $200 a night in low season, when temperatures reach around 50°C.
Since I am a travel advisor, I booked a rate with perks, the same as we can offer clients, which gave us the following perks on top of the regular rate:
$100 hotel credit
Free breakfast for two
Room upgrade
Early check-in and late checkout
When you book through us, you pay the same price as booking directly with the hotel while receiving these additional perks.
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Check-in Experience and Lobby
Our check-in was a rocky experience and took 20 minutes. Because the regular check-in desks were busy, we were sent to a separate club-style check-in area. Unfortunately, the agent checking us in had no idea what she was doing.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel check-in
Jumeirah Beach Hotel welcome drink
We told her we had booked through Jumeirah Passport to Luxury, the travel advisor rate that includes all of these benefits. She didn’t know what it was or which benefits we were supposed to receive. I would assume plenty of guests book this rate here, so the whole process felt pretty messy.
The lobby also feels a little dated. The pink and bright blue color scheme reminded us of restaurants going for a quirky look. At this point, the experience was not exactly wow.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lobby
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lobby
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lobby
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lobby
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lobby
Things improved once we went upstairs. The corridors are modern, wide, and nice looking, and the room numbers are easy to see. In the central areas there are flower inspired installations that keep opening and closing, which look very cool.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel corridors
Jumeirah Beach Hotel corridors
Jumeirah Beach Hotel room number
On the first floor there is a business room where you can print and use a computer. We also found a cute room set up for kids to eat breakfast and a pharmacy.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel business room
Jumeirah Beach Hotel business room
Jumeirah Beach Hotel kids room setup
Jumeirah Beach Hotel pharmacy
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Room Features and Amenities
We were assigned to Room 306 on the third floor. The upgrade moved us from the lowest room category, a Deluxe Ocean View Room without a balcony, to the same room with a balcony. The room opens into a long hallway lined with closets. The first closet is massive and incredibly deep, with a variety of hangers.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room closet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room closet
There are also hidden closets along the wall where the TV is, with more storage on either side. The hair dyers is store in one of the closet and also a large beach bag in the room, which we loved.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room closet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room closet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room TV
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room hair dryer
One holds the minibar, with a price list, a kettle, an espresso machine, and water. The minibar is weighted, so we didn’t touch anything inside, which included spirits and electrolyte drinks. Complimentary teas are provided, and a few types of coffee pods.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room minibar
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room minibar menu
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room minibar
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room minibar
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room coffee tea pods
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room snacks
The bed is plush and comfortable, with plenty of pillows. There are electronic curtain controls, a universal power outlet, nightstands on both sides, and reading lights built into the headboard.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room king bed
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room king bed
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room bedside ports
There’s also a small desk, although it’s not somewhere I’d want to spend hours working. Thankfully, the Wi-Fi was excellent, with impressive speeds, so at least that wouldn’t be an issue.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room desk
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room wifi connectivity
The one thing I don’t love is the seating area. The couch looks a little worn and feels randomly placed, and the two chairs next to it block the view outside.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room seating area
The windows are heavily tinted, which makes the room feel quite dark. On a cloudy afternoon with the windows closed, it felt like there’s a thunderstorm outside.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room windows
The balcony looks out to the Burj Al Arab, and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. The balcony itself, with chairs, gave me more of a Spanish tourist hotel feel. It didn’t feel especially exciting.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room balcony view
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room balcony view
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room balcony view
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room balcony
Our welcome amenity arrived later in the evening. It was gorgeous: a box of dates and chocolates, plenty of fruit, and a bottle of alcohol. My first instinct was to ask for something non-alcoholic, and the staff member offered to bring sparkling juice instead.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room welcome amenity
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room welcome amenity
Jumeirah Beach Hotel deluxe ocean view room welcome amenity
During our stay, there were a couple of other issues. When we first arrived, I noticed a smell but didn’t think much of it. When we came back later, it was clear someone had smoked in the room, and the smell lingered. We should have asked to change rooms from the start.
Our tip is to skip the balcony upgrade. We would rather have had the regular ocean view room, where the room extends all the way to the window. I imagine that room is a lot brighter and has a better view. If you’re offered a balcony upgrade, just say thanks, but no thanks.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Bathroom
For a hotel in this price category, the bathroom is amazing, especially when you’ve stayed at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, which costs three or more times as much.
There is plenty of storage, a bum gun, towel racks on each side, and, double sinks. I love the brass finishes and the overall color scheme. Everything is new and clean, which tells you the hotel has been renovated and is being kept in great shape.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room bathroom toilet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room bathroom sink
There is no mouthwash, but we’ve noticed that isn’t really the norm. You also get a scale, extra towels, water, a makeup mirror, and charging ports.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room bathroom sink
The shower is new and clean. The bathtub looks a little small for someone like me at 6'2" (187 cm), but comfortable nonetheless. The bathrobes are incredibly soft, and the towels are plush.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room bathtub
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room bathrobe
The toiletries are from Amouage, an Omani fragrance brand. The smell of the soap turned up a woody and earthy scent. It is very Middle Eastern and very luxurious smelling. It’s not my usual preference, since I lean toward floral scents, but I liked it for the experience.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel ocean view room shower
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dining Experience
For dinner, we skipped the restaurants and ordered room service.
At first we wondered whether the small portion of dal was everything we’d ordered. Then we opened the hot box and found the rest: rice, roti, two burgers with fries, two mocktails, brownies, and the dal. They even added a real rose to the setup.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel in-room dining
Jumeirah Beach Hotel in-room dining
Jumeirah Beach Hotel in-room dining
Both mocktails were tastes good. The burgers were covered in caramelized onions and were by far the best vegan burgers we had in Dubai. The fries were good too. This was one of the best room service meals we’ve had while making these videos.
The total came to 500 dirhams (about $135), well above our hotel credit. There was no additional service or delivery charge. That is still a lot of money, but compared to some of the other hotels we’ve stayed at, we got a lot for it.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Breakfast
Our breakfast is a buffet, and it was included for two with our travel advisor rate. Since breakfast at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab next door was our favorite hotel breakfast so far, our hopes here were not quite as high. We still hoped to be pleasantly surprised.
We always want to be first at breakfast, so we arrived at 7:00 a.m., even though we were both still full from dinner. The first thing we spotted was lemon mint, and that's when you know it's going to be good. They also offer barista-made coffee, which was very nice.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
The buffet stretches along the edges of the restaurant. It covers everything from Western breakfast staples to Middle Eastern, Indian, and Asian sections. For us, the Middle Eastern selection is always the highlight in this part, and the Asian section is a superior part of any breakfast if you ask me.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
Jumeirah Beach Hotel breakfast buffet
I like that all the allergens are labeled. There is also a dedicated gluten-free section and dairy-free milks, so guests with dietary needs are well looked after.
The breakfast is nothing like Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab or Atlantis The Royal, but by any global standard, it's amazing, with a great international selection.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel vegetarian breakfast
Jumeirah Beach Hotel vegetarian breakfast
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Gym, Wellness, Pools and Beach
The gym might be our best hotel gym ever. It is way better than Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab’s, and better than some paid gyms. There’s an impressive range of strength and cardio equipment, and plenty of space to work out.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
The hotel has also given a lot of the view to the gym: every cardio machine faces a window.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym equipment
There is infused water and a separate yoga studio. I can already say you won’t find a better hotel gym in Dubai, and possibly in the world.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym events
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym towels
Jumeirah Beach Hotel gym refreshment
Jumeirah Beach Hotel wellness studio
Jumeirah Beach Hotel wellness studio
Outside is a lap pool with an iconic view. There is also an outdoor gym and a bench, so you can work out in the Dubai weather if you want to. Further along, there are plenty of tennis courts, which I assume are chargeable.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lap pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lap pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel lap pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel outdoor gym
Jumeirah Beach Hotel outdoor gym
Jumeirah Beach Hotel outdoor gym
In the evening, we did the sauna and cold plunge. The cold plunge had two options, 11 to 14°C or 2 to 4°C, and of course we chose the tough one. We did two rounds of sauna and ice plunge, and we had the best time. You can also borrow free flip-flops at the spa.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel cold plunge
Jumeirah Beach Hotel cold plunge
Jumeirah Beach Hotel cold plunge
The resort map shows several pools, including a suite-only pool like the one at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. That’s a shame if you’re not in a suite. Hotel guests also get free access to the Wild Wadi water park, which is great if you’re traveling with kids. The hotel offers babysitting as well, so it’s very kid-friendly.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel map
On our sunset walk, we passed what I assume was a free outdoor screening of Toy Story on bean bags, with the Burj Al Arab in the background. You can tell this hotel focuses on health and family.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel outside screening
One downside is that, just like at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, the pools don’t open until 9:00 a.m. The lap pool opens at 6:00 a.m. That is too late for early risers like us. I suspect the beach follows the same hours.
We walked around the pools after breakfast, before anyone else arrived. A family pool has a play area and it has sturdy umbrellas, plenty of four-seat groupings for families, and cabanas at the back. The pool was steaming, which means it’s heated. There are no water slides, which might have been fun.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel family pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel family pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel family pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel family pool sun loungers
Then, there’s a leisure pool. This is the regular pool for adults, with a view of the Burj Al Arab, plenty of sun loungers, and a small swim-up bar. It isn’t the liveliest pool in the world, and there isn’t much shade. Huge pools like this aren’t really my thing, so I would rather lie on the beach.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel leisure pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel leisure pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel leisure pool
Jumeirah Beach Hotel leisure pool
You can also take a buggy around the complex. You can go to Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab for dinner, to Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and even to the beach.
The beach is incredible. It has a view of the Burj Al Arab, minimal waves, and crystal-clear water with no seaweed, just pure sand on the bottom. Even outside a city, it’s hard to find better beaches than this unless you’re somewhere like the Maldives.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel beach
Jumeirah Beach Hotel beach
Jumeirah Beach Hotel beach
Jumeirah Beach Hotel beach
There are cabanas and rows of sun loungers those who want to spend the day soaking up the sun.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel sun loungers
Jumeirah Beach Hotel sun loungers
Jumeirah Beach Hotel cabanas
The beach menu includes mocktails and an iced latte. A watermelon platter costs 90 dirham, making it the most expensive dessert on the menu. They know everyone wants it.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel beach menu
Is the Service Good at Jumeirah Beach Hotel?
Check-in was the low point of the stay, but beyond that, the staff were very nice and helpful.
In the evening, the team came for turndown service. They pulled back the cover as we had asked and set out slippers, which look very nice. They also left a bottle of water and an Elemis eye recovery gel by the bed, from the same brand you get on British Airways.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel turndown service
Jumeirah Beach Hotel turndown service
Down at the beach on a foggy morning, the sun lounger covers were a little damp. The attendant offered to lay down double towels so we would have a dry seat, and he also brought us cold water. Overall, we found the service better than at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel cold water
Where Is Jumeirah Beach Hotel Located?
Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a beachfront resort overlooking the Arabian Gulf. It is also close to the Madinat Jumeirah complex and Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel hotel exterior
Is Jumeirah Beach Hotel Worth It?
We had no idea we would like this place as much as we did. We didn’t even love Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, so we assumed the older, much cheaper hotel next door couldn’t be any better. As it turns out, it outperforms its neighbor in several areas, even at the lower price.
The room service is much better here, as are the overall service, gym, and wellness facilities. The beach is basically the same, although Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab obviously has the nicer room.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel doesn’t feel ultra-luxurious in the same way, but it’s luxurious enough for us, and we have high standards. Not being the “it” hotel anymore also works in its favor when it comes to the other guests. A lot of people come to Dubai for a particular crowd and scene, and that shows more at newer, flashier places like Atlantis The Royal or Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, where people go to be seen.
If you value health and exercise, this is the place to stay in Dubai. We would come back just for the gym, sauna, cold plunge, outdoor lap pool, and outdoor gym.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Detailed Scoring Breakdown
Room: 7/10. This is a strong seven, but we’re being critical. The room is dark even with all the lights on, and there was the lingering smoke smell. The seating area is an odd choice for socializing, and the balcony feels like an afterthought. It’s still a gorgeous room.
Bathroom: 9/10. The only thing missing for a 10 is a window with a view outside. It’s gorgeous, functional, and luxurious.
Night’s Sleep: 6/10. This is our lowest score. Doing the sauna and cold plunges may have confused our body temperatures, but we found the cover far too warm and were sweating all night, while the room itself was freezing. The AC was also odd: at 22°C it was frigid, and raising it by just 0.5°C made it hot. That may have been partly our own problem. The bed is also a lot firmer than the one at Marsa Al Arab, which has one of the most magical beds we’ve tried, and the pillows didn’t give us the same marshmallow feel. The bright bathroom nightlight didn’t help either.
Value: 10/10. I realized during this stay that value is really all I care about. At an average of $400 a night, or between $200 and $650, everything you get for the money is impressive. Even if you inquire about booking through us on a peak date, when rates can go higher, this is extremely good value.
Breakfast: 9/10. This is a weak nine. It’s still amazing, but we’re comparing it to Marsa Al Arab and Atlantis The Royal, and this wasn’t close to those. The scale is skewed in Dubai, since most breakfast buffets here are much better than in the rest of the world. Anything lower than a nine would be ludicrous.
Condition: 9/10. There are a few stains and scuffs in the room. The couch feels a bit stained, and the carpet isn’t very clean. Everything else is gorgeous and feels new. There is a clear difference between the rooms and the common areas, which don’t seem as recently renovated.
Service: 4/5. Check-in was about a one, but everyone else was very nice and helpful.
Dining: 5/5. This was one of the best room service meals we’ve had while making these videos, and the best vegan burgers we had in Dubai. It’s still expensive, but not outrageous.
Location: 5/5. It’s central, with the beach, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, the Jumeirah complex restaurants, and the water park all included.
Amenities: 5/5. The soaps, bathrobes, towels, and hair dryer are all excellent.
Wellness: 5/5. We wanted to give it a six, but you can’t go above the scale. It really deserves a 10.
Pool/Beach: 5/5. The pools other than the lap pool aren’t our favorites, but the beach makes up for it. We think it’s the best beach in Dubai.
Overall Feeling: 8/10.
Final Score: 87/100. This makes Jumeirah Beach Hotel the current second-highest-ranked hotel. See how it compares to other properties in our full luxury hotel rankings.
Positives of Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai
Outstanding value, with $366 paid in peak season and an average rate of around $400 a night
Travel advisor perks: $75 credit, breakfast for two, an upgrade, and early check-in and late checkout
Possibly the best hotel gym we’ve seen, with a view from every cardio machine
Sauna, cold plunge, outdoor lap pool, outdoor gym, and tennis courts
Gorgeous bathroom with double sinks, a bum gun, Amouage toiletries, and very soft robes
Huge amount of closet storage for a standard room
Excellent room service, with the best vegan burgers we had in Dubai and no service or delivery charge
Extensive international breakfast with allergen labels, a gluten-free section, and dairy-free milks
One of the best beaches in Dubai, with clear water and a direct view of the Burj Al Arab
Free access to Wild Wadi, plus babysitting and family-friendly facilities
Central location, with a buggy to Marsa Al Arab, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and the beach
Thoughtful turndown service and a generous welcome amenity
Helpful staff, including the beach attendant’s double-towel gesture
Areas of Improvement of Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai
Slow, disorganized check-in, where the agent didn’t recognize the Jumeirah Passport to Luxury rate or its benefits
Dated lobby, and common areas that feel less recently renovated than the rooms
Heavily tinted windows that make the room feel dark
Worn couch and an awkward seating layout that blocks the view
Balcony that feels like an afterthought, making the upgrade not worth it
Lingering smoke smell in our room
Bathroom nightlight we couldn’t switch off
Duvet too warm and AC hard to regulate
A bed firmer than the one at Marsa Al Arab
Small bathtub for taller guests
Some stains on the couch and carpet
Pools don’t open until 9:00 a.m. (lap pool at 6:00 a.m.)
Little shade at the leisure pool, a suite-only pool, and chargeable cabanas
Large property with 598 rooms
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
