The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai is the Dubai Marina beach resort to choose if you prefer low-rise living: Mediterranean-inspired buildings, gardens and a private beach at the foot of the JBR towers (Jumeirah Beach Residence, the seafront tower district). All 294 rooms and suites have a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea. Forbes Travel Guide, the American guide that rates hotels after inspection, gives it five stars, its highest rating.

Location, its first asset

The hotel sits on JBR beach, a few steps from The Walk, the promenade lined with shops and restaurants, and close to the marina. You can walk out for dinner in town and come back to a quiet garden. The district is served by the Dubai Tram and the Metro Red Line (see getting around Dubai and our Dubai Marina, JBR and Bluewaters page).

The hotel also runs a 30-minute guided walk along JBR after sunset, ending with a barefoot meditation on the beach.

Every room faces the sea

The resort has 193 guest rooms, 60 Club rooms and 41 suites. Rooms measure 50 m², suites 100 m² and up. All have a balcony or terrace.

Club rooms give access to the Club Lounge on level 3, with sea views and a dedicated concierge; the One Bedroom Ocean Club Suite adds a separate living room on the upper floors. Families take the Family Suite, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and for a special occasion the Emirates Suite has a 75 m² private terrace facing the Gulf and Palm Jumeirah.

Our tip: for a family of four to six, the Family Suite saves booking two rooms; for a couple, a Club room is worth the extra if you like a quiet breakfast.

Six pools and a private beach

There are six pools, including one for children. At La Baie, a Mediterranean restaurant with a swim-up bar and cabanas, the pool is for guests aged 21 and over, although children are welcome in the restaurant. On the sand, Caña is a palapa-style beach bar. Activities include tennis, archery, volleyball, yoga and water sports. See also our Dubai beaches guide.

Nine restaurants and bars

• Blue Jade: Southeast Asian and Japanese cuisines;
• Splendido: Tuscan-inspired cooking, a marble bar and a terrace;
• Tamoka: a beachfront restaurant with Caribbean flavours;
• Amaseena: open-air Middle Eastern dining after dark;
• La Baie: Mediterranean, beside the adults' pool;
• Caravan: the breakfast buffet;
• The Gulf Pavilion: relaxed and family-friendly;
• The Lobby Lounge for afternoon tea, and the Library Bar, modelled on a gentleman's club.

Alcohol is served to guests aged 21 and over (see Dubai's alcohol rules).

The spa

The Ritz-Carlton Spa has 12 treatment rooms, three with a private terrace, eucalyptus steam rooms, a sauna, hot and cold plunge pools and an outdoor relaxation pool. Its signature ritual, Arabia Felix, draws on regional ingredients: a scrub of Dead Sea salt and Emirati sand, a camel-milk foot soak, a warm argan oil massage and frankincense vapours. See our spa and wellness page.

With children

Ritz Kids welcomes children aged 4 to 12 from 9 am to 6 pm local time, with daily activities and a dedicated playroom. Add the children's pool, The Gulf Pavilion and the Family Suites, and the hotel works well for families (see our family page).

Practical information

• Getting there: about 35 km from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and 75 km from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH). The hotel has no airport shuttle; parking is free.
• Languages spoken: English, Russian, German, French and Mandarin.
• Prices: in October 2026, for a stay in March 2027, the cheapest room was offered at around €510 a night for two adults, with breakfast and free cancellation, including taxes and fees, with a possible per-night tourism fee on top.

Sabaro's view

Who it's for: families, couples who want both the beach and neighbourhood life, and travellers who prefer a low-rise resort to a tower.

Strengths: a sea view from every room; JBR and the marina on foot; six pools and Ritz Kids; a 9.1 out of 10 rating on Booking.com (1,397 reviews); good value for a Forbes five-star hotel.

Good to know: the JBR promenade next door is lively; there is no airport shuttle; the La Baie pool is off limits to under-21s.