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Inside the One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai’s Most Prestigious Resort

Florence Consul

Florence Consul

Located next to the famous Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the One&Only Royal Mirage is considered one of the best hotels in the world, so you’ll understand how excited I was to discover it! It’s hard not to fall under this luxury resort’s spell, with its 25 hectares of luxurious gardens, mile-long private beach, and of course its prestigious rooms and suites. Eight restaurants and a spa bring the finishing touches to this total immersion experience – the best the Emirates has to offer. More on my discovery of Dubai’s most emblematic hotel below!

A 25-Hectare Resort in the Heart of the City

Opened in 1999, the One&Only Royal Mirage was one of the very first establishments to take root in a city which has been expanding at breakneck speed ever since. A flagship address under the One&Only brand, this hotel has remained on the podium of Dubai’s best hotels despite the arrival of other luxury hotel chains. Its best feature is indeed a knock-out ‒ 25 hectares of beautiful gardens alongside a mile-long private beach and three pools. It’s the perfect playground to make the most of a visit to Dubai while still enjoying plenty of space and privacy!

Three Estates, Three Distinct Settings

The One&Only Royal Mirage includes three properties, each with its own distinct atmosphere: the Palace, the Arabian Court, and the Residence & Spa each celebrate the splendor of the Emirates, placing an emphasis on traditional Arabic design in spite of the modernity of this rapidly-expanding city. We opted for the Palace for two nights, and I have to admit that our arrival was just unbelievable: eight camels and their riders welcomed us as we entered the majestic lobby, which evoked the grandeur of days gone by with its fountains, palm trees, and vaulted ceilings. The Palace, with its 231 lavish rooms and suites, features an elegant contemporary design punctuated by Arabian-inspired elements.

As for me, I settled into one of the 33 suites. The 100 m² Executive Suite offers an incredibly cozy setting with patterned carpets, silk fabrics, and Middle Eastern influences, as well as a terrace with a view overlooking the pool. We also benefited from our membership at the Gold Club, which (on top of the food made available to guests throughout the day in the lounge) brings a substantial added value thanks to its reception and concierge service. It’s the kind of advantage that brings a new level of prestige to the establishment!

The Arabian Court and the Residence & Spa

The Arabian Court displays its own unique look, inspired by local culture: hallways bathed in natural light, domes that represent the seven Emirates, sculpted archways, and colorful mosaics lead the way to the 171 rooms, including eight suites and two Prince Suites.

In the third estate, named the Residence & Spa, guests can access the most exclusive experience offered by the hotel: with only 49 rooms, it’s a veritable sanctuary for a handful of visitors in search of privacy. The rooms and suites here are as opulent as can be!

Eight Restaurants to Delight Your Taste Buds

In the gastronomy department, no fewer than eight restaurants are on offer inside the One&Only Royal Mirage! Numerous nationalities are placed front and center, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of unique culinary experiences. The great thing at One&Only Royal Mirage is that you can enjoy your dinner just around the corner from your room, and yet feel like you’re being transported to an entirely new country and culture. At the Palace, you can start with the restaurant Olives, where Mediterranean cuisine is on the menu; meanwhile, Celebrities serves refined European cuisine in an ultra-glamorous setting.

We opted for the delicious Moroccan cuisine on offer at Tagine, with an ambience that catapulted us right into the heart of the medina in Marrakesh. The traditional Moroccan hospitality, along with fantastic dishes such as pastillas, tajines, and couscous, make for a fantastic dining experience. For lovers of seafood, the Beach Bar & Grill will satisfy even the most demanding customers with an enchanting beach setting, seafood platters, and grilled fish.

With its view of the superb sunsets and Dubai’s impressive skyscrapers, The Jetty Lounge is the trendy place to enjoy a drink with your feet in the sand. This fashionable beach bar (where we spent our first evening) is a must for relaxed pre-dinner drinks with lounge music!

Inside the Arabian Court, the restaurant Nina pays tribute to Indian cuisine, while at The Rotisserie’s, guests can enjoy Middle Eastern and Northern European cuisine. We opted for lunch at Eauzone, where the menu emphasizes international cuisine with Asian influences.

The Latest Trend in Dubai: Drift Beach Club

One of the city’s most recent additions, a beach club called Drift, is the new place to be in Dubai. Tourists and locals alike flock here to settle into deckchairs alongside the pool or on the beach. The ambience is chic, the music lounge is inviting, and the high-quality Provencal cuisine served at the restaurant pays homage to southern French tradition: Niçoise salad, stuffed vegetables… These fantastic flavors are topped off by a lovely, sophisticated ambiance. For our last morning at the One&Only, we were truly spoiled!

A Spa with Unique Treatments

Welcome to the Health & Beauty Institute, a 2000 m² cocoon dedicated to physical and spiritual wellness! Up one floor, the spa has 12 treatment rooms where therapists administer body treatments featuring the famous ESPA brand, and facials using Carita products. But the floor below offers another unique experience: a hammam inspired by ancient Moroccan traditions. In this peaceful oasis, we escaped the outside world for a few hours and enjoyed a truly relaxing afternoon. The spa proposes eight different treatments, including the 50-minute “Traditional Hammam Experience” which my husband and I chose. This body treatment alternates humid heat from the steam bath and exfoliation with soft soap, followed by a light massage. We left feeling profoundly relaxed, and with baby-soft skin!

The Verdict

The One&Only Royal Mirage is more than just a luxury resort. Its 25 hectares of gorgeous gardens and private beach are reason enough to visit, but the establishment also offers gorgeous rooms and suites in each of its unique estates. The high-quality restaurants and the Health & Beauty Institute with its hammam experience are the perfect finishing touches to the One&Only’s top-of-the-range facilities. As for the personnel, they’re worthy of a five-star in Paris ‒ we were pampered throughout our entire visit by a very professional and welcoming staff. It’s official: the One&Only Mirage is one of the most prestigious hotels in the world, and the place to be in Dubai!

  • The exemplary service, especially at the Gold Club, where we were truly spoiled! One of the hotel’s best assets!
  • The resort is a haven of peace, allowing guests to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Dubai
  • Plenty of excellent restaurants that take you on a trip around the world!
  • Nothing to say here ‒ it’s the perfect hotel!

Practical Information

Thank you to the One&Only Royal Mirage for the invitation to explore their establishment.Of course, the content of this blogpost was left entirely up to me!

Florence Consul

About Florence Consul

Editor of Experiences Luxe since 2015, I love discovering new exclusive and authentic experiences all over the world. I left my home country (France) 6 years ago to become a global citizen, traveling 365 days out of the year. I am a foodie person and I make a point of tasting local specialities.