Review: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Dubai

Review: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Dubai

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Friend of the blog Andrew B is back to share his experience with a 5-star hotel during a recent trip to Dubai. Yes, this is the same Andrew who won the trip to Helsinki several years back, and who wrote the hilarious “Airbus To Megabus” trip report earlier in the year. Thanks for sharing your experience, Andrew!


Don’t ask me why I chose to spend my Labor Day weekend in Dubai. The average high temperature in late August/early September is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and with the heat index it can feel like 120.

The good news is that this isn’t a peak tourism time in the UAE, since most sane people wouldn’t voluntarily endure this kind of heat. Hotel occupancy rates are low, so rooms are cheap. That combined with the fourth night free benefit from my Citi Prestige card meant that my dollar (or dirham) could go a lot further than usual, which inspired me to splurge.

On my first two trips to Dubai, I was my usual cheapskate budget-minded self and stayed at an Ibis and a Holiday Inn, which were perfectly fine, but this time I wanted to really experience the over-the-top glitz for which the city is (in)famous.

Perhaps the most prominent local hotel chain is Jumeirah. They have several amazing-looking properties around town, including the Burj al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and the Madinat Jumeirah.

After researching all of them, I got a great deal on a stay at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray (“Saray” rhymes with “Dubai,” in case you were wondering). Citi’s concierge was able to book it with no problem.

The hotel turns five this year, so the prepaid, non-refundable rate I booked (the cheapest available) was their 5-year anniversary rate, which included daily breakfast at their buffet. More on that later. After taking into account the fourth night free benefit, the total I paid for the room was about $240 per night.

I arrived fairly late at the hotel. I was amazed at how long it took to get there. It’s located on the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago accessible by bridge from Dubai. After you cross the first bridge, it’s still a good 20 minutes until you arrive at the hotel.

It was worth the trip: the hotel is stunning. It looks like a palace. Every crevice and corner is decorated in an opulent Arabian style, and the level of detail is amazing.

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Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Lobby
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Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Lobby
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Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Lobby

Upon arrival, my boyfriend and I were escorted to the front desk, where we were offered some juice. The employee at the desk noticed on my passport that my birthday had been a couple weeks prior. She wished me a happy belated birthday and escorted us to our room.

The room was just as glamorous as the rest of the hotel. We had an incredible view of the Persian Gulf and the Dubai Marina skyscrapers from our balcony (though I hardly spent any time out there, since it was so damn hot).

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I had a little trepidation about staying with my boyfriend in a room in Dubai with just one bed. Ben wrote a very helpful post where he talks about traveling to the UAE as a gay male, and that was reassuring, but he’s never stayed at an Emirati hotel chain like Jumeirah.

Of course an American-branded property like Hyatt would likely accept (and perhaps even provide training to employees on) our cultural norms, but could I expect the same at a chain that was locally based?

It turns out that my concerns were unfounded. Nobody batted an eye, and I never felt like we were treated any differently from any other guests. In fact, on our second night we came back to the room and found that our bed had been decorated with this:

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As I was in a silly mood, I quickly rearranged the swans in more suggestive positions (not pictured here).

One thing I can’t convey here is how amazing the hotel smelled. The property always had the most amazing scents throughout. For me, it really added to the atmosphere and made it feel like a special place.

The breakfast buffet at the Imperium restaurant was, in a word, magnificent. The restaurant itself is decorated with ornate columns and archways, and lit by crystal chandeliers. It feels like a Middle Eastern Versailles. The variety of food at the buffet was huge: there was an omelet station, a fruit cutting station, and crepe machine.

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They had Indian breakfast options, pork products, all kinds of pastries, pancakes, cereal, cheeses, and about a million other things. Every day they had a few different foods, which kept things interesting. I had to loosen my belt a notch by the time the fourth day rolled around.

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A few other things I noticed:

  • The hotel has its own beach. Attendants come around with cold bottled water, popsicles, and other free amenities. Even with the cold water, I couldn’t stay out there long without frying.
  • The pool area is also very pretty, though it seemed to mostly serve as a place for kids to play.
  • There are several high-end shops in the hotel. I never saw a single customer in any of them during my entire stay.
  • Parking is by valet only. It’s free, and it never took more than 5 minutes for them to bring my car around.
  • Stays at Jumeirah hotels include free admission to the Wild Wadi Water Park, right next to the Burj Al Arab. It’s nothing to write home about, but fun for a couple hours. Honestly, after all that buffet food at the hotel, the last thing I wanted was for anyone to see me in a swimsuit.
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Grounds
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Grounds
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Pool Area
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Pool Area
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Pool Area
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Pool Area

I’m so glad I stayed here, since I rarely treat myself to high-end hotel stays (I just live vicariously through Ben’s trip reports – hopefully some of you can relate). Lesson learned: once in a while, it’s ok to #treatyoself.

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  1. Andrew OMAAT

    @David W: Hah, I don't think I'm going to write about it...I hardly took any photos, and I slept for a lot of the flight! But I do recommend it.

    @LJR: Yes, the glasses were still in the room in the little boxes...hopefully they've been cleaned once or twice in the time between your stay and mine!

  2. Lord Potato Guest

    Twice at the Zabeel Saray and twice very happy. The only two disadvantages: The location is not that great if you head to the Marina or Downtown. They have a shuttle to MoE. The beach is not great. I wouldn't swim there and I haven't seen anyone else while staying there.

    The bathtub is enormous. After 30 minutes, the tub still wasn't even remotely full...

  3. LJR Guest

    I stayed there one night, when it was new, do they still have the drawer with the foam inserts with crystal glasses and champagne flutes? It was lovely....I was on the western side with a great terrace, I moved from the Jumeirah Beach for a night as they were full...The Saray was a great experience and it smelled great then too! Glad you liked it, thanks for the report!

  4. pepe Guest

    My partner and I travelled quite a bit in the middle east, even Iran, and we never experienced any difficulty as a gay couple. Just be discreet. If someone asks about your relationship, tell them you are friends. Which, I hope, is the truth.

  5. Malc Guest

    Great report – very well written

  6. her Guest

    saray itself means palace!

  7. Evan Guest

    I appreciate that it may be part and parcel of Dubai but I have to say the aesthetics of that particular hotel do nothing for me. Nice report though.

  8. Roberto Guest

    I traveled 4x to dubai since 2008 with my husband and we were also bit reserved travelling as a gay couple. We stayed the first time at Jumeirah's Al Qasr (the castle) in a club twin room, we didnt encounter any awkwardness during our stay. Later upon befriending some staff, we learned it would be no problem booking a kingbed as staff are trained to be discrete and the policy of the hotel is to...

    I traveled 4x to dubai since 2008 with my husband and we were also bit reserved travelling as a gay couple. We stayed the first time at Jumeirah's Al Qasr (the castle) in a club twin room, we didnt encounter any awkwardness during our stay. Later upon befriending some staff, we learned it would be no problem booking a kingbed as staff are trained to be discrete and the policy of the hotel is to treat everyone as a an esteemed guest. We have been back to the same hotel ever since and no complaints just praises.

  9. Kobe Bryant Guest

    Pork products?! My holy God!!

  10. trup Member

    Did not know Jumeriah resorts include wadi wadi waterparks passes. Recently stayed at Atalantis Dubai with our kids and the hotel was amazing, and with kids it was great to be able to go to the waterpark and if it got crowded just to leave as you could do it again the next morning. May have to look at Jumeriah resorts in the future.

  11. Clem Diamond

    @Andrew great report, love your writing :)! Thanks for the tips about traveling there as a gay couple, I've always been a bit worried about that over there. Hope to read more from you on this blog!

  12. David W Community Ambassador

    @Andrew Thats fantastic! Did you fly on their 789 from IAD? If so, are yoy planning to write about it? I'd love to hear more about their business class on that plane

  13. Alan Diamond

    Lived in the UAE for 11 years and always loved the Hilton Jumeirah Beach Hotel - a home away from home (lived in Abu Dhabi). Now completely surrounded by high rises but still a great location. In 01 it was the only hotel on the beach.

    These other glitzy hotels are interesting I suppose from a North American perspective of people who have never visited the gulf but are so much "Dubai" which I associate...

    Lived in the UAE for 11 years and always loved the Hilton Jumeirah Beach Hotel - a home away from home (lived in Abu Dhabi). Now completely surrounded by high rises but still a great location. In 01 it was the only hotel on the beach.

    These other glitzy hotels are interesting I suppose from a North American perspective of people who have never visited the gulf but are so much "Dubai" which I associate with a cross between Disneyland and the worst of Las Vegas.

    The Hiltons on Jumeirah Beach, Abu Dhabi waterfront, the Creek in Dubai, in Fujairah, in Ras al Khaimah and in Al Ain are all quiet and very accomodating places to stay. Non of the artificial glitz of this hotel or others of the same ilk. Yuk!

  14. Soltatio Member

    That hotel room is gorgeous. I much prefer their decoration to the Burj (although yes I know it is a different league). Thanks for the report!

  15. Wes Pruett New Member

    I love Jumeirah in UAE. Etihad Towers in AUH has the best Executive Club spread I've ever seen...

  16. Andrew OMAAT

    @David W: I flew Etihad both ways, using American miles. On the way there I flew in business class, and on the way back I flew in the first class Apartment!

    @Ed: Yes, they provided the googly eyes, as I'd forgotten mine at home ;-)

  17. Ed Diamond

    Did they provide the googly eyes for the towel swans? Turning the the adorable into slightly creepy.

  18. David W Community Ambassador

    What did you do for flights?

  19. David W Community Ambassador

    Wow! Makes me want to stay here next time!

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Andrew OMAAT

@David W: Hah, I don't think I'm going to write about it...I hardly took any photos, and I slept for a lot of the flight! But I do recommend it. @LJR: Yes, the glasses were still in the room in the little boxes...hopefully they've been cleaned once or twice in the time between your stay and mine!

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Lord Potato Guest

Twice at the Zabeel Saray and twice very happy. The only two disadvantages: The location is not that great if you head to the Marina or Downtown. They have a shuttle to MoE. The beach is not great. I wouldn't swim there and I haven't seen anyone else while staying there. The bathtub is enormous. After 30 minutes, the tub still wasn't even remotely full...

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Matt New Member

SWINE?! Yikes!

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