Fairmont Dubai
Area: Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
With a design inspired by the old Arabic wind tunnel – or ‘barajeel’ – and exceptionally fine service, the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai caters for a largely corporate clientele. There’s also a rare pedestrian walkway making it an easy stroll to the World Trade Centre and Dubai International Convention Centre.
Winner of Dubai’s Leading Meeting Hotel at the 2007 World Travel Awards, the Fairmont Hotel is a popular choice for those on business. That said, those pleasure-seekers are also well-catered for, and can enjoy day-round sun at either the sunrise or sunset pools as well as a pampering session at the Willow Stream Spa Rooms at the Fairmont Hotel are beautifully elegant, and the beds are unbelievably comfortable.
The Fairmont Hotel is famed for its signature restaurant, Spectrum-on-One, which introduced champagne brunches to Dubai, and which also specialises in eight different international cuisines, each with its own cooking station. There’s also a world-class cigar bar.
Price rating: $$$