Pros

  • Impressive pyramid-shaped building surrounded by lush gardens and grounds
  • Central Dubai location close to the airport and a short drive to most sights
  • Huge Wafi Mall complex adjoins the hotel
  • Luxurious interiors blend Middle Eastern and Asian design
  • Large rooms and suites with sumptuous decor, private terraces, and 24-hour butler service
  • Lovely outdoor pool area with swim-up bar
  • Extensive spa facilities with saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs
  • Seven restaurants and bars include a Japanese restaurant, Italian bistro, and a cocktail bar
  • Popular and stylish nightclub located on the top floors
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel
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Cons

  • Far from the beach
  • Not within walking distance of most sights
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Bottom Line

The 252-room luxurious five-pearl Raffles Dubai rises out of lush gardens and grounds in an impressive glass-and-stone pyramid structure. Spacious, light-filled interiors are sumptuous yet understated, tastefully displaying a blend of Middle Eastern and Asian design influences. Huge rooms and suites are cloaked in luxurious fabrics and materials with handcrafted decorative details, modern technology, lavish bathrooms, private terraces, and personal butlers on call 24/7. The hotel’s expansive features include seven restaurants and bars, a gorgeous pool with swim-up bar, and expansive spa facilities in the gardens. The hotel is far from the beach, however, and not within walking distance of most sights.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Raffles Dubai

Scene

Luxury hotel housed in a pyramid-shaped building surrounded by gorgeous gardens

Understated opulence is the name of the game at Raffles Dubai, a five-pearl luxury hotel housed in an impressive 19-story pyramid-shaped building inspired by the great pyramids of Egypt. The glass-and-stone structure rises out of gardens and manicured grounds that include a beautiful pool area and a botanical garden with a glass dome centerpiece, the Eye of Horus. Spacious and airy interiors are filled with sunlight streaming through huge floor-to-ceiling windows and cloaked in a sumptuous yet subtle elegance that blends Middle Eastern and Asian design influences. The gleaming marble-clad lobby features massive pillars decorated with Egyptian-style carvings, giant urns, with plush seating scattered about the vast space, including round ottoman-style seats and modern sofas and armchairs.

The hotel’s seven restaurants and bars feature fresh, clean, and contemporary design, such as the sunlit Azur Restaurant bedecked in white with warm wood floors and details, or the elegant, yet relaxed, Crossroads Cocktail Bar that is full of cream-colored and wood furnishings, with light-green accents and plenty of seating throughout the space.

The hotel attracts a well-heeled clientele of leisure and business travelers. The property also caters to families, and has a small playground on its premises, baby-sitting services, and extensive recreational facilities at the neighboring Wafi Mall, though guests won't find many kids running around the pool. Past guests have continually praised the highly attentive service.

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Location

Central Dubai location adjoining the Wafi Mall, and a short drive to most sights

The Raffles Dubai is located on Sheikh Rashid Road in the Bur Dubai area. It adjoins the Wafi Mall, a giant complex with 300 shops and 30 restaurants, as well as entertainment and recreational facilities for kids. The hotel is right by Dubai Healthcare City, which is full of medical and educational facilities. The nearest metro station is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Most sights are a short drive away. The Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque, and the Al Fahidi historic district, which are all about 10 minutes away by car, take upward of 30 minutes via public transportation. The nearest beach is a bout a 15-minute drive. Dubai International Airport is about a 10-minute drive away.

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Rooms

Spacious, sumptuous rooms and suites with large private terraces, loads of modern comforts, and 24-hour butler service

Plush and spacious rooms and suites at the Raffles Dubai are among the largest in the city. All have large private terraces offering lovely views over the grounds and Dubai skyline. Contemporary decor is sumptuous, but the opulence is tasteful and understated. Light and airy rooms are cloaked in neutral tones, luxurious fabrics and materials, and handcrafted decorative details that include intricate wood carvings and latticework on shutters and doors. All rooms are equipped with large flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, iPod docks, well-stocked minibars, Nespresso machines, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour butler service. Club Rooms and Suites offer Club Lounge access, which includes daily breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapes, as well as use of meeting rooms. Lavish bathrooms include large walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs, and high-end toiletries.

Suites include huge living rooms, and many also have dining rooms, kitchenettes, and private offices. Large bathrooms have inset flat-screen TVs, walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs, as well as hot tubs in many units.

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Features

Seven restaurants and bars, extensive spa facilities in the lush gardens, beautiful outdoor pool

The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens with four distinct areas representing the essential elements of life: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. The hotel’s extensive spa facilities are situated in the gardens, with seven treatment rooms, men’s and women’s hair salons, and separate male and female saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs, with a wide variety of treatments available, including the Egyptian Gold, a 24-carat gold facial treatment. There’s also a beautiful outdoor pool overlooking the gardens with a swim-up bar that serves cocktails and light meals.

The hotel’s seven restaurants and bars include a Japanese restaurant, Italian bistro, cocktail bar, and alfresco dining in open-air cabanas in the garden. People by Crystal is a popular nightclub located on the top two floors, with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Dubai skyline.

There’s also an on-site boutique with a wide selection of luxury products, as well as a business center with 12 meeting rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and all rooms come with 24-hour butler service.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Raffles Dubai

Scene

Luxury hotel housed in a pyramid-shaped building surrounded by gorgeous gardens

Understated opulence is the name of the game at Raffles Dubai, a five-pearl luxury hotel housed in an impressive 19-story pyramid-shaped building inspired by the great pyramids of Egypt. The glass-and-stone structure rises out of gardens and manicured grounds that include a beautiful pool area and a botanical garden with a glass dome centerpiece, the Eye of Horus. Spacious and airy interiors are filled with sunlight streaming through huge floor-to-ceiling windows and cloaked in a sumptuous yet subtle elegance that blends Middle Eastern and Asian design influences. The gleaming marble-clad lobby features massive pillars decorated with Egyptian-style carvings, giant urns, with plush seating scattered about the vast space, including round ottoman-style seats and modern sofas and armchairs.

The hotel’s seven restaurants and bars feature fresh, clean, and contemporary design, such as the sunlit Azur Restaurant bedecked in white with warm wood floors and details, or the elegant, yet relaxed, Crossroads Cocktail Bar that is full of cream-colored and wood furnishings, with light-green accents and plenty of seating throughout the space.

The hotel attracts a well-heeled clientele of leisure and business travelers. The property also caters to families, and has a small playground on its premises, baby-sitting services, and extensive recreational facilities at the neighboring Wafi Mall, though guests won't find many kids running around the pool. Past guests have continually praised the highly attentive service.

See More Scene

Location

Central Dubai location adjoining the Wafi Mall, and a short drive to most sights

The Raffles Dubai is located on Sheikh Rashid Road in the Bur Dubai area. It adjoins the Wafi Mall, a giant complex with 300 shops and 30 restaurants, as well as entertainment and recreational facilities for kids. The hotel is right by Dubai Healthcare City, which is full of medical and educational facilities. The nearest metro station is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Most sights are a short drive away. The Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque, and the Al Fahidi historic district, which are all about 10 minutes away by car, take upward of 30 minutes via public transportation. The nearest beach is a bout a 15-minute drive. Dubai International Airport is about a 10-minute drive away.

See More Location

Rooms

Spacious, sumptuous rooms and suites with large private terraces, loads of modern comforts, and 24-hour butler service

Plush and spacious rooms and suites at the Raffles Dubai are among the largest in the city. All have large private terraces offering lovely views over the grounds and Dubai skyline. Contemporary decor is sumptuous, but the opulence is tasteful and understated. Light and airy rooms are cloaked in neutral tones, luxurious fabrics and materials, and handcrafted decorative details that include intricate wood carvings and latticework on shutters and doors. All rooms are equipped with large flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, iPod docks, well-stocked minibars, Nespresso machines, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour butler service. Club Rooms and Suites offer Club Lounge access, which includes daily breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapes, as well as use of meeting rooms. Lavish bathrooms include large walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs, and high-end toiletries.

Suites include huge living rooms, and many also have dining rooms, kitchenettes, and private offices. Large bathrooms have inset flat-screen TVs, walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs, as well as hot tubs in many units.

See More Rooms

Features

Seven restaurants and bars, extensive spa facilities in the lush gardens, beautiful outdoor pool

The hotel is surrounded by lush gardens with four distinct areas representing the essential elements of life: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. The hotel’s extensive spa facilities are situated in the gardens, with seven treatment rooms, men’s and women’s hair salons, and separate male and female saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs, with a wide variety of treatments available, including the Egyptian Gold, a 24-carat gold facial treatment. There’s also a beautiful outdoor pool overlooking the gardens with a swim-up bar that serves cocktails and light meals.

The hotel’s seven restaurants and bars include a Japanese restaurant, Italian bistro, cocktail bar, and alfresco dining in open-air cabanas in the garden. People by Crystal is a popular nightclub located on the top two floors, with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Dubai skyline.

There’s also an on-site boutique with a wide selection of luxury products, as well as a business center with 12 meeting rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and all rooms come with 24-hour butler service.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Smoking Rooms Available

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.