Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Built to evoke an Ottoman palace, this lavish resort hits the mark in some respects, but is also overt in its projections of grandeur. Its best feature is its long stretch of gold-sand beach and some of the most well-appointed rooms in Dubai – a great combination for a family on a luxury beach holiday.

• Well-appointed and large rooms with great views of The Palm
• Enormous spa with an impressive Turkish hammam
• Gentle surf on a long and mostly private stretch of golden sand beach

Located on the artificial archipelago known as The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray currently enjoys a secluded location all the way near the end of the western crescent (imagine the shape of a palm tree with an outer ring like a halo – that is the crescent). “Currently” because its only neighbor at the moment is the One & Only The Palm, situated at the very end of the arc and about a mile from the Jumeirah property; everything else around is either under construction or an empty lot. In fact, the 20-minute approach from the entrance of The Palm to the resort feels a tad disconcerting, what with the numerous cranes, unfinished structures and heaps of sand piled high. It is this image of Dubai as a perpetually unfinished city that leads up to one of its most ostentatious resorts.

The Ottoman-inspired Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is a palace in the sense that it wants to be perceived as one. All the obvious indicators are there –gilded spiral columns buttressing the lobby, multi-tiered crystal chandeliers hanging from domed, golf-leaf ceilings, large fountains and marble halls--  and it plays to a certain sensibility that luxury equates to anything gold, gleaming or ornate. If the art for sale outside the Presidential Suite is an apt descriptor, it was a painting of an Arab man in traditional dress and shades facing a Bentley with the Grand Mosque in the backdrop.

Unlike the older and more iconic Burj al Arab, Zabeel Saray is the Dubai Royal Family-owned Jumeriah brand’s showpiece for contemporary Middle Eastern luxury. In truth, there is nothing particularly palatial about this five-story rectangular building, whose exterior is as bland as its interiors are lavish. Service is friendly, but lacking in five-star pedigree. To wit: the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Voi, serves delectable French Vietnamese cuisine, but its servers were lost on the request for a sommelier, or barring that, anyone who could speak to the wine selection.

That said, the resort has two key features that make it ideal for families on a beach holiday. The first is its secluded beachfront with soft, gold sand and clear, turquoise waters. All properties on the crescent face inward towards the palm fronds (as opposed to outward, facing open water), and the surf here is gentle and calm. Young kids can frolic here with parents never having to worry about big waves.

The second main draw is the resort’s large and tastefully decorated rooms, surprisingly, considering the rest of the hotels’ over-the-top aesthetic. The rooms have a subdued elegance to them, with a darker and more neutral palette and intricate, latticed woodwork. Starting at 600 square feet, the rooms are large and all come with a balcony (opt for the Palm View on a high floor). Larger families should consider the two-storey villas that come with their own garage, plunge pools and a private gym.

Zabeel Saray has 10 restaurants and bars, including Al Nafoorah–considered by many locals to serve the best Arabic/ Lebanese food in Dubai-- and a fun cigar lounge that also serves champagne and cognac. In addition, there is a live music venue (shows include popular international acts), a movie screening room (family features are regularly screened and free popcorn is served), a large pool, kids’ club, tennis courts, and an impressive spa with a Turkish-style hammam. There’s more than enough to keep a family busy without leaving the property.

Families with young kids will appreciate the uncrowded beach and gentle waters, plus numerous family-friendly facilities. With its inconvenient location from touring spots, Zabeel Saray is meant to be a self-contained holiday retreat with enough restaurants and activities to keep a family busy for days.