Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts

From a single wave-shaped hotel on Dubai's coastline to a global collection spanning the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Jumeirah has spent nearly three decades redefining what luxury hospitality can feel like. Here is the story behind the brand, the experiences that set it apart, and how to unlock exclusive perks on your next stay.

From One Beachfront Landmark to a Global Icon

Jumeirah was founded in 1997 as part of Dubai's visionary transformation into one of the world's premier tourism destinations. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum commissioned the first project on land reclaimed from the sea, recruiting Irish hotelier Gerald Lawless to build a luxury hotel management company from the ground up. The inaugural property, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, opened that November with its now-famous wave-shaped silhouette and 598 rooms, marking Dubai's bold entry into international five-star hospitality. The company took its name from the exclusive coastal district of Dubai where it all began.

In 2004, Jumeirah became part of Dubai Holding, the personal corporate portfolio of Sheikh Mohammed, fueling expansion while keeping personalized service and cultural authenticity at its core. Today that ethos lives under the brand's "Stay Different" promise: the idea that no two guests, and no two Jumeirah stays, should ever feel the same.

One Brand, Four Distinct Worlds

As part of its growth strategy, Jumeirah has organized its luxury ecosystem into four clear pillars, each rooted in Arabian hospitality but built for a different kind of traveler and stay.

What Makes the Burj Al Arab So Iconic?

Opened on December 1, 1999, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah forever changed the face of luxury hospitality. Built on its own artificial island 280 meters offshore and linked to the mainland by a private curving bridge, its sail-shaped form, designed by Tom Wright to evoke a traditional dhow, rises 321 meters, among the tallest hotels on earth. Often called the world's first "seven-star hotel," the property holds 199 duplex suites ranging from 169 to 780 square meters, each with a team of dedicated staff and 24-hour butler service.

Its signature experiences read like a wish list: Al Mahara, reached via a simulated submarine voyage to a dining room wrapped around a 990,000-liter aquarium; Al Muntaha, suspended 200 meters above the Persian Gulf on a 27-meter cantilever; a 28th-floor helipad that has hosted everything from a Federer–Agassi tennis match to Red Bull stunts; and suites finished in gold leaf. More than a hotel, it is the image that put Dubai on the global luxury map.

A Brand on the Move: Mission 2030

Jumeirah today operates a portfolio of roughly 29 properties across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, supported by some 85 restaurants and lounges, around 20 of them recognized by the Michelin or Gault & Millau guides. But the brand is not standing still. Its "Mission 2030" strategy aims to double the size of the portfolio and rank Jumeirah among the top five luxury hotel brands in the world, with a sharpened focus on boutique-style properties, standout suites, villas, and branded residences.

A major milestone arrived with the opening of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, a superyacht-inspired beachfront resort that has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about addresses. And the pipeline ahead is just as ambitious.

Where in the World Is Jumeirah?

In the United Arab Emirates, the collection centers on Dubai's icons: Burj Al Arab, the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel with direct access to Wild Wadi Waterpark, and the sprawling Madinat Jumeirah complex, four boutique hotels (Al Naseem, Al Qasr, Dar Al Masyaf, and Mina A'Salam) woven together by landscaped gardens and traditional waterways. Add Jumeirah Emirates Towers for business travelers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on the Palm, the new Marsa Al Arab, and Jumeirah Creekside, plus Abu Dhabi's Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort.

Beyond the Gulf, the brand reaches Jumeirah Royal Saray in Bahrain; multiple properties in China; Jumeirah Frankfurt in Germany; the beachfront Jumeirah Bali in Indonesia; the art-filled Capri Palace in Italy; the all-villa Jumeirah Vittaveli in the Maldives; Jumeirah Mallorca in Spain; and two London landmarks, Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel.

The Marhaba Welcome: Hospitality as a Ritual

Every Jumeirah stay begins with the Marhaba Welcome, the brand's signature greeting and the heart of its Arabian hospitality. Guests arrive to traditional offerings of rose water and dates, a custom that has welcomed travelers across the region for centuries. It is more than a check-in; it is a small cultural immersion that sets the tone for everything that follows. Staff are trained to anticipate needs and personalize the experience, reflecting a philosophy that prizes warm, inclusive, heritage-infused service over mere opulence.

Dining and Wellness, Elevated

Across its portfolio, Jumeirah runs roughly 85 food and beverage venues, with about 20 recognized by Michelin or Gault & Millau and a clutch of Michelin stars among them. The range is remarkable, from underwater dining at Al Mahara to sky-high tables at Al Muntaha, often through in-house concepts and partnerships with names like the Japanese specialists at Zuma.

Wellness is anchored by Talise Spa, the group's global wellness brand, with serene retreats across Dubai, London, the Maldives, and Bali offering bespoke treatments that blend Arabian traditions with contemporary therapies. At Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Talise Spa unfolds across three floors with a 22-meter indoor pool, 13 treatment suites opening onto private terraces, and Gulf views framing the Burj Al Arab. For those who want more, the members' J Club at Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Madinat Jumeirah pairs a 1,200-square-meter Talise Spa with state-of-the-art fitness studios, tennis, squash, and padel courts, and a wellness restaurant. Your $100 Passport to Luxury credit can be applied toward spa services, and many properties add a complimentary 30-minute extension on qualifying 50-minute treatments.

Built for Families, Too

Jumeirah excels at family-oriented luxury, especially at its beachfront resorts. The flagship Jumeirah Beach Hotel was designed with families in mind, offering direct access to Wild Wadi Waterpark, the region's first themed waterpark with more than 30 rides drawing some 700,000 visitors a year, alongside a 600-meter private beach and extensive recreation. The vast Madinat Jumeirah complex adds summer houses and villas ideal for families, plus 25-plus restaurants set among gardens and waterways. Kids' clubs, family suites, children's pools, and all-ages activities round out properties like Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, Jumeirah Vittaveli, and Jumeirah Bali.

Your Exclusive Perks Through WhataHotel

Booking Jumeirah through WhataHotel unlocks the exclusive Passport to Luxury benefits at no extra cost, with rates matching Jumeirah's best available flexible rate. You'll receive a $100 USD food and beverage or spa credit (once per room, per stay), daily buffet breakfast for two, a room upgrade based on availability at arrival, early check-in and late checkout, VIP status with a welcome amenity and a personalized note from the General Manager, a complimentary one-way airport transfer for suite guests at select properties, and unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi. The program is invitation-only and available exclusively through hand-selected travel agencies like WhataHotel.

Booking Terms at a Glance

There is no minimum stay requirement, so the benefits apply even to a single night. Rates are booked at Jumeirah's best available flexible rate and are fully prepaid, including a $10.95 booking fee, with standard cancellation terms that vary by property and season. The $100 credit is issued once per room, per stay regardless of length, which makes it especially valuable on shorter trips. Room upgrades are prioritized for Passport to Luxury bookings and confirmed at arrival based on availability. For the best room selection and to ensure every perk is applied, we recommend booking as early as possible, particularly during peak seasons.

Featured Jumeirah Properties Available Through WhataHotel

Dubai, UAE is home to the brand's most celebrated names. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah remains the icon, a sail-shaped landmark on its own private island with 199 suites and round-the-clock butler service, while the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers 598 rooms, a 600-meter private beach, and direct access to Wild Wadi Waterpark. Within the Madinat Jumeirah complex you'll find Jumeirah Al Naseem with its pearl-diving heritage design, the palatial Jumeirah Al Qasr, the summer-house-style Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf, and Jumeirah Mina A'Salam. Rounding out the city are Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, an Ottoman-inspired retreat on Palm Jumeirah, the downtown Jumeirah Emirates Towers, the waterfront Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, and the brand's newest beachfront resort, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab.

In Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers brings 382 rooms and suites to the emirate's iconic towers complex, while Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort sits beachfront on a pristine natural island.

Beyond the UAE, the collection spans the globe. In Bahrain, Jumeirah Royal Saray delivers beachfront luxury in Manama. China is represented by Jumeirah Guangzhou, the distinctive in-city Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai, and the serviced residences of Jumeirah Living Guangzhou. Germany offers the sophisticated Jumeirah Frankfurt in the country's financial capital, while Indonesia's Jumeirah Bali blends Arabian and Balinese influences on the beachfront.

Across the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, Italy's art-filled Capri Palace graces the island of Capri, the all-villa Jumeirah Vittaveli floats in the Maldives' North Malé Atoll with beach and overwater villas, and Jumeirah Mallorca anchors the Balearic island in Spain. Finally, in the United Kingdom, two London landmarks complete the portfolio: the Knightsbridge Jumeirah Carlton Tower and the boutique Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in Belgravia.