The Mandarin Oriental Jumeira: The New Luxury Hotspot in Dubai

During my stay in Dubai, I was thrilled to discover the brand new Mandarin Oriental, freshly opened this past February. I’m a fan of this famous luxury hospitality group (and have already stayed at the Mandarin Oriental hotels in Tokyo, Bangkok, and Geneva), which is exploring new horizons by opening its first establishment in the Middle East. In only a few months, this luxury resort has worked its way up through the rankings of the city’s most luxurious hotels. Let’s jump in!

Mandarin Oriental’s Long-Awaited Arrival in the Middle East

2019 has been an important year for this prestigious Hong Kong company, with the opening of numerous establishments across the globe. Launched this past February, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in Dubai paved the way for the group’s highly-anticipated arrival in the Middle East. Its location is to die for; facing the sea to one side and the city skyline to the other, this hotel offers two fantastic views to suit every taste. In this extremely competitive city, the Mandarin seeks to bring tourists and local residents together to spend a few relaxed hours (or a few luxurious days) in one of Dubai’s most prestigious hotels. And it’s been wildly successful since it first launched, creating a lively, cosmopolitan ambience that mirrors the city itself ‒ resolutely modern and multicultural.

A Hotel with a Contemporary Look

Inside, this five-star establishment mixes the best of both worlds, combining the glamour of Dubai with the laid-back atmosphere of a beach resort. As I stepped into the lobby, resembling an urban oasis with its shallow pools of water, I was immediately captivated by this elegant and contemporary space created by designer Jeffrey Wilkes. But I was swept off my feet by the two pathways lined with bronze tree sculptures, each covered with dazzling Bohemian-style lamps made of crystal. The pathways extend into the hotel garden with a series of real trees for an astonishing result.

A Seaside Resort in the Heart of the Metropolis

The Mandarin resort has so much to offer that it’s tempting never to leave it! That said, it’s also the ideal luxury hotel for exploring the city and its major tourist sights, such as the Burj Khalifa just 15 minutes away by car. It’s easy to combine city trips in the morning and down time in the afternoon, with both a private beach and a pool facing the sea available to hotel guests. Another option that I particularly loved is the infinity pool on the top floor, offering an incredible view of the gulf below!

Top-Notch Service!

I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira only one month after its opening, and the service was already world-class. Every staff member was welcoming, enthusiastic, and professional, as well as attentive to our needs. Along with the One&Only Royal Mirage, it’s at the top of my list in Dubai when it comes to service!

256 Luxurious Rooms and Suites

The Mandarin Oriental Jumeira benefits from its proximity to the sea, creating a delightful resort atmosphere in its 256 rooms and suites. Opting for a contemporary style, the interior decorator selected interesting combinations of textures and materials, such as velvet couches and armchairs, but also mixed a large palette of natural colors with bright tones, such as orange, turquoise, and gold. Most suites include a balcony or terrace so that guests can take in the view of the city’s skyscrapers or gaze at the hypnotizing blue of the sea below.

We settled into our Junior Suite with Sea View, an ideal space for a getaway of a few nights; spacious and ultra-comfortable, this piece of paradise is also as “Instragrammable” as can be! I was completely taken with the interior design as well as with the seaside panorama, which I admired from our balcony!

Tasca: The Trendiest Restaurant in Dubai

The Mandarin Oriental Jumeira includes six restaurants and bars, with two signature restaurants that are already the talk of the town. For starters, there’s Tasca, a gourmet option directed by José Avillez, a famous Portuguese chef who has garnered two Michelin stars in his home country and has chosen Dubai for his first international restaurant. We took a seat at a table facing the skyline (we could also have chosen to sit next to the pool) and discovered a variety of Portuguese dishes. The food was of course a delight for our taste buds, but the ambience also contributed to a lovely evening!

And the Others!

The restaurant Netsu proposes a different atmosphere, with a beautiful contemporary dining room featuring Japanese-inspired décor. This steakhouse offers warayaki cuisine, a traditional Japanese cooking technique which gives the meat a very particular flavor, as well as sushi and sashimi for seafood lovers.

The Bay is always full at any time of day; we discovered it in the morning with a gargantuan breakfast buffet, which we enjoyed at our table overlooking the gulf. What a wonderful way to start the day! For lunch and dinner, this restaurant serves international cuisine with a focus on healthy eating, all presented in a relaxed, chic atmosphere.

The Noor Lounge is probably the most cosmopolitan eatery in the resort; local clients have already fallen for the Mandarin Oriental’s charm, and in a matter of just a few weeks it has become the favorite meeting place in all of Dubai, with visitors stopping in for an afternoon tea or an early-evening cocktail. With my sweet tooth, I couldn’t resist a dessert from the Mandarin Cake Shop, where pastries are displayed like works of art.

An Ultra-Modern Spa

The enormous spa (2000 m²) offers its guests a veritable holistic experience. It feels like an oasis, inspired by desert landscapes with an interior design that’s evocative of sand dunes. In one of nine treatment cabins, you’ll be well taken care of by an expert therapist, with a selection of treatments that take their cues from rituals in Asia and the Middle East. After that, the moment of wellness continues with a jacuzzi, a steam room, and a sauna, along with a relaxation room.

The fitness room displays yet another ambience, and is well worth a visit as it will motivate even the most unwilling guests to exercise; features include extensive equipment, workout classes, and a personal trainer available upon request.

The Verdict

The Mandarin Oriental company has made a big splash with its first establishment in the Middle East, and I couldn’t wait to check it out! This resort is a veritable haven of luxury between the sea and the city, offering the best of both worlds. In just a few weeks, it has become the place to be for both chic travelers and local residents. Its best assets include the gorgeous private beach, the stylish rooms and suites with their contemporary design, and the restaurants, several of which (like the Tasca) have become new hotspots in Dubai. In a city that’s incredibly competitive when it comes to luxury hospitality, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira has aimed for excellence – and its bet has paid off!

I loved:

The central location despite being a coastal resort: you get the best of two worlds in one place!
Contemporary and well-executed interior design
Very professional service, attentive to every need and with lots of little extras here and there!

I disliked:

There were still a few small adjustments to be made, as I arrived only a month after the hotel’s opening, but nothing too serious!

Practical Information

More information available at https://www.mandarinoriental.com/dubai/jumeira-beach/luxury-hotel
Junior Suite starting at € 1080 per night in March 2019

Thank you MO Jumeira for the invitation to explore their establishment.Of course, the content of this blogpost was left entirely up to me!