The Ultimate Luxury Trip to Dubai in 2026
The ultimate luxury trip to Dubai in 2026 is built around Atlantis The Royal, the only Three MICHELIN Key hotel in the UAE, because the Burj Al Arab closed in April 2026 for an 18-month restoration. Around that base you can add a Michelin-starred dinner, a day at Dubai Mall, a run down Ski Dubai’s indoor slope and a look at the unfinished World Islands.
| Stop | What it is | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantis The Royal | 760-room resort on the Palm Jumeirah | Open, Three MICHELIN Keys |
| Burj Al Arab | Sail-shaped icon, opened 1 December 1999 | Closed since April 2026, reopening expected around October 2027 |
| Trèsind Studio / FZN by Björn Frantzén | Dubai’s two Three Star restaurants | Both kept three stars on 6 October 2026 |
| Dubai Mall | 1,200+ shops, aquarium, 22 cinema screens | Open, expansion announced in 2024 |
| Ski Dubai | Indoor ski slope, 85 m high | Open at Mall of the Emirates |
| The World Islands | 300 artificial islands shaped like a world map | Mostly undeveloped, a few islands in development |
Where should you stay for a luxury trip to Dubai?
Atlantis The Royal: the current top address
Atlantis The Royal sits on the Palm Jumeirah with 760 rooms, 16 restaurants and the world’s largest jellyfish aquarium. It opened to the public on 10 February 2023. In the 2026 MICHELIN Keys selection it kept its Three Keys, and it is still the only hotel in the UAE at that level. Its top suite, the Royal Mansion, is reported to cost more than $100,000 per night.
The restaurant roster alone could fill a week. It includes Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Estiatorio Milos, Nobu by the Beach, Ling Ling and Carbone.
Other Michelin Key hotels worth a night
Three Dubai hotels hold Two Keys in the 2026 selection: One&Only The Palm, Bvlgari Resort Dubai and The Lana, Dorchester Collection. If you want the full ranking of where to sleep, our best hotels in Dubai list goes deeper.
What happened to the sail-shaped icon?
The Burj Al Arab, 321 m tall on its own island 280 m offshore, closed in April 2026. Jumeirah announced a restoration of about 18 months, led by French interior architect Tristan Auer, the first major one since the opening in 1999. Visit Dubai now lists October 2027 as the expected reopening month, so treat that date as a plan, not a promise.
Until then, its restaurants Al Mahara, Junsui and Al Muntaha are closed too. The hotel also never called itself a “seven-star” property. The label came from a journalist before the opening, and the official rating is five stars. Plan it for a 2027 or 2028 trip.
Where should you eat for a luxury dinner in Dubai?
The Michelin Guide Dubai 2026 selection was unveiled on 6 October 2026 at Atlantis The Royal and lists 122 restaurants. It holds two Three Star restaurants and four Two Star restaurants.
- Three Stars: Trèsind Studio and FZN by Björn Frantzén. Trèsind Studio became the first Indian restaurant in the world with three Michelin stars in May 2025.
- Two Stars: Orfali Bros (promoted in 2026, and the first Middle Eastern restaurant in Dubai at two stars), Il Ristorante, Niko Romito, Row on 45 and STAY by Yannick Alléno.
- New One Stars in 2026: Birch and KIGO. Ossiano also keeps one star.
Our pick for a first-timer: book one Three Star dinner weeks ahead, then eat the rest of the trip at the hotel restaurants you are already sleeping next to.
What should you do in Dubai besides eat and sleep?
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall opened on 4 November 2008 and has over 1,200 shops, 120 restaurants and cafes, 14,000 parking spaces and a 22-screen cinema. It also holds the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with more than 300 species. It drew a record 105 million visitors in 2023, and a June 2024 plan adds 240 new stores and restaurant venues. The old Sega Republic theme park is gone: it became VR Park in 2018 and Play DXB in 2022.
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa stands next to the mall and opened on 4 January 2010. At 828 m it is the tallest structure in the world, and At.mosphere on the 122nd floor, 442 m up, is listed as the world’s highest restaurant.
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai opened in November 2005 inside Mall of the Emirates and was the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. The mountain is 85 m high with five slopes, including a 400 m run, and a 3,000 m2 snow park. It stays between -1 and 2 degrees Celsius all year, and skis and jackets come with the ticket. Penguins are let out of their enclosures several times a day, and encounters can be booked.
Museum of the Future
This torus-shaped, seven-floor museum opened on 22 February 2022 and walks visitors through a fictional version of the year 2071. It is the newest must-see on our list.
The World Islands
The World is a 300-island archipelago in the shape of a world map, inside a breakwater about 6 by 9 km. Work began in 2003 and stalled after 2008. Most islands are still empty, and as of May 2025 no utility cables had been laid, so developers run their own diesel generators. Developments such as the Heart of Europe resort and Nakheel’s Coral Island are moving ahead on parts of it. An older version of this article said Richard Branson bought Great Britain island. That claim does not hold up, so we removed it.
Keep reading
- Best Hotels in Dubai: Top 10: more places to sleep while the Burj Al Arab is closed
- Best Nightclubs in Dubai: Top 10: for the evenings after dinner
FAQ
Can you stay at the Burj Al Arab in 2026?
No. The hotel closed in April 2026 for an 18-month restoration, and October 2027 is the expected reopening month.
What is the best luxury hotel in Dubai right now?
Atlantis The Royal, the only UAE hotel with Three MICHELIN Keys in the 2026 selection. One&Only The Palm, Bvlgari Resort Dubai and The Lana hold Two Keys.
Which Dubai restaurants have three Michelin stars?
Trèsind Studio and FZN by Björn Frantzén, both confirmed in the Michelin Guide Dubai 2026 announced on 6 October 2026.
Is the Burj Al Arab really a seven-star hotel?
No. The hotel says it never used that term. It came from a journalist before the 1999 opening, and the official rating is five stars.
Can you buy an island in The World Islands?
Islands changed hands over the years, but most are undeveloped and the project stalled after 2008. Pricing is private, so we do not quote a figure.
Last updated: October 2026.
