With as little as a few years, the Dubai skyline has changed drastically from that of a small oil-mining emirate with scattered towering buildings, to that of a city  with its sky littered with towers of concrete, glass, and steel. Contributing to its construction frenzy is the seemingly unrelenting emergence of hotels in the city. 

Fueled by the city’s burgeoning tourism industry, hotels that range from the most luxurious star-service range to the ones that operate in the lower end of the market, have all established themselves firmly to tap into one of the city’s fast-growing major contributor to its income revenue.  In 2006, the combined revenue of Dubai hotels and hotel apartments has crossed the AED 11 billion mark.  With such influential personalities such as Donald Trump and Giorgio Armani putting their stake on the city’s hotel industry, interests to join-in in this enormously lucrative venture is growing as exponentially as the growth of the hotels themselves.

Quite obviously, the accommodation market in Dubai is in a rapid boom.  This growth impetus is due to the construction of these hotels which, incidentally, makes up 85% of the market.  The hotel industry’s largest growth in terms of percentage occurred in 2004 when hotel sales climbed from 2003’s AED 5 billion to AED 7 billion.  By 2005, a total of nearly 300 chained hotels are already in operation in Dubai.

There is now currently a wide range of hotel accommodations found in the city.  These hotels vary from the most luxurious star-service resort hotels, to the mid-range types, to the least expensive and hotel apartments.

The latest edition in Dubai’s roster of luxury hotels is the Grand Hyatt Dubai Hotel.  Set amidst 37 acres of lush landscaped gardens, the luxury hotel combines the modern facilities of a first-class hotel with the facilities and amenities of a resort.  It features over 600 hotel guestrooms and suites, a residential complex that consists of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments for long-staying guests, 14 bars and restaurants that serve the best international and regional cuisine, the Gran Spa that houses Zen-inspired treatment rooms, a spa bar, sauna, and steam rooms  among others, and ample area for conferences and banquets.

The Le Meridien Dubai is a two-storey 5-star deluxe hotel that stands in close proximity to the city’s commercial and shopping districts, as well as to the city’s primary airport.  The Le Meridien Dubai is located 3 kilometers from the Dubai International Airport, therefore allowing a hotel guest to reach the hotel grounds within five minutes.  Two other airports within the region are in close proximity to the Le Meridien Dubai.  These are the Sharjah Airport, which stands 40 kilometers away, and the Abu Dhabi Airport, that stands 140 kilometers from the hotel.  It features guestrooms and suites, a choice of 16 restaurants and bars, a health and fitness club, and facilities for children as well as provisions for babysitting services.

Located in central Dubai, the Moevenpick Hotel Bur Dubai is the ideal hotel for leisure travels who seek to experience the thrills of the city’s duty-free shopping and the various family-oriented attractions set in the city, such as Wafi City, Al Nasr Leisureland, Lamcy Plaza, Children's City, and Wild Wadi Water Park.  One of the hotel’s most frequented attractions is the Fountain Restaurant that provides 24-hour service and serves international cuisine to its guests at the hotel’s award-winning atrium.  Other notable cafes and dining establishments found in the Moevenpick Hotel Bur Dubai include La Veranda Italian, Fakhreldine Lebanese Restaurant, Somersets, Roof Top Bar, and Jimmy Dix.  Other attractive features found in the hotel include a golf course, spas and health clubs, massage services, heated outdoor swimming pools, and a spacious banquet area.

Another premiere establishment set-up in Dubai that can efficiently cater to the needs of both business and leisure travelers is the Crowne Plaza Dubai.  Set as the largest hotel facility in the region, it is conveniently located in close proximity to several of Dubai’s attractions, as well as having been equipped with the most modern facilities for any business and formal occasions.  Some of the attractions found near the Crowne Plaza Dubai include the Deira Covered Souk, The Creek, Golf Emirates Club, Safari, Nadi Al Shiba Golf and Racing Club, camel racing, Dubai Creek Golf and Yachting, Formula One track, Dubai Shooting Club, Majils Gallery, and Jumeira Beach Park.  Meanwhile, the hotel’s facilities geared towards catering to the needs of a business traveler include a 500-seat auditorium with simultaneous translation, Arabian Majlis, an 1800-seat Al Jumairah ballroom, and 17 additional   conference and boardrooms.

One of the city’s top resort-hotels is the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, which stands on a private beach on the famous Jumeirah strip.  It provides its guests with a myriad of outdoor water activities and leisure facilities set amidst a private beach and garden.  Yet in spite of its overt appearance as a leisure resort-hotel, the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa is well-equipped to provide for its customer’s needs for business conferences and formal gala events. 

Some of the world-class luxury hotels found in Dubai are Sofitel City Centre Hotel and Residence Dubai, The Metropolitan Hotel Dubai, and Holiday Inn Dubai.

Four-star and three-star hotels are as widely popular in Dubai as their deluxe counterparts.  Although not as grand as the luxurious 5-star hotels, these establishments usually feature the most of the same basic accommodations and utilities, and other leisure and business features.  Some of the city’s most notable four-star hotels include:

•    Al Bustan Residence
•    Atel Hotels
•    Al Sondos Suites by Le Meridien
•    Arabian Courtyard Bur Dubai
•    Ascot Hotel
•    Avari Dubai Hotel
•    Burjuman Rotana Suites
•    Chelsea Hotel
•    Chelsea Tower
•    Coral Oriental Dubai
•    Dubai Concorde Hotel and Residence
•    Dubai Park Hotel
•    Dubai Seaview Medotel
•    Flora Grand Hotel
•    Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai
•    Golden Tulip Aeroplane Hotel Dubai
•    Grosvenor House Dubai
•    Hallmark Hotel Dubai
•    Jumeira Rotana Hotel
•    Khalidia Hotel Apartments
•    Le Meridien Fairway
•    Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina
•    Majestic Hotel
•    Mayfair Hotel Dubai
•    Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
•    Oasis Beach Hotel
•    Rihab Rotana Suites Hotel
•    Rydges Plaza Dubai
•    Seaview Hotel
•    Towers Rotana Hotel, and
•    Villa Rotana Suites.  

Some of the most credible three-star hotels found in Dubai include Admiral Plaza, Al Khaleej Hotel, Arabian Park Hotel, Claridge, Courtyard by Marriott Dubai, Deira Panorama, Dubai Palm Hotel, Highland Hotel, Karama Hotel, Palm Beach Rotana Inn, Seashell Inn Hotel, and the Tulip Inn Knowledge Village.

Whilst some leisure travelers’ interest to visit Dubai is heightened by a deluxe stay in one of the city’s most prominent five-star hotels, some business and leisure travelers see little use for the extravagance that comes with a stay in such establishments.  In addition, some tourists prefer to experience the various Dubai attractions at a much lower costs.  And cutting down on their cost in hotel accommodations is just one of the many ways to achieve this.  Two of the city’s much affordable two-star hotels include the Dream Palace Hotel and Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai.

With the continuous boom in Dubai’s property market and tourism industry, the city’s roster of hotels and accommodation facilities is far from getting to its end.  As the emirate recreates itself into a global city, these hotel infrastructures have no other direction but to go up and rise together with the city’s goals and success.