Dubai’s Next Wave of Luxury Hotels

Dubai’s Next Wave of Hotels Changes the Game

Dubai has a talent for making the impossible feel oddly normal. You can be driving along Jumeirah on an ordinary afternoon, passing a stretch of coastline that looks ready for a postcard, then hear someone mention a hotel that will float just offshore. Later, you look up at Sheikh Zayed Road, take in the skyline we already have, and realise another tower is on the way, taller again, with a sky lobby and a pool so high it sounds like a dare.

Privacy, Wellness, and Branded Residences

What makes this next wave of luxury hotels genuinely interesting is that it is not simply “more”. The city is shifting how it defines five star. Privacy is becoming a designed feature rather than a hopeful promise. Wellness is moving from the side menu to the centre of the experience. And more projects are blending hotels with branded residences, which says a lot about the direction Dubai is heading, people are not only coming to visit, they want a foothold.

Quiet Luxury Arrivals Worth Watching

Some of the most talked about arrivals are the ones that lean into quiet confidence. Aman Dubai, planned for the Jumeirah 2 beachfront with an expected opening in 2027, feels like a statement precisely because it is not trying to be loud. The concept points to an expansive private beach, lush greenery, private pools, spa facilities and wide views across the Arabian Gulf, the skyline and Burj Khalifa. If you are someone who likes your luxury calm, curated and discreet, this is the name that will sit right at the top of your list.

DIFC’s New Wellness Led Direction

In DIFC, Akala takes a different approach, one that feels built for the future. Expected by the end of 2029, it is described as a precision wellness destination, not just a pretty spa. Two 220 metre towers are planned, with a hotel and 534 branded residences, alongside high spec spa, fitness and clinical wellness facilities. It is the sort of place aimed at people who treat wellbeing like an investment, the kind of guest who wants more than relaxation, they want results.

Also expected in 2026, Baccarat Hotel and Residences brings a more design led kind of elegance. The tower is planned to offer views towards Dubai’s best known landmarks, with the hotel expected to have 144 rooms and suites, and the wider project featuring residences and multiple dining concepts. Baccarat tends to feel polished rather than showy, and that could translate beautifully in Dubai, especially for travellers who care about atmosphere and detail.

The Island and Entertainment First Resorts

Dubai also loves a destination that comes with its own energy, and that is where The Island development enters the conversation. The Bellagio Hotel Dubai is planned as part of this Vegas inspired waterfront project, expected around 2028. MGM Hotel Dubai is also linked to The Island, with public updates pointing to an opening in 2028. The direction here is not subtle, think promenades, restaurants, big entertainment, and a resort feel that draws people in even if they are not staying overnight.

World Islands, Heart of Europe, and Floating Concepts

If you want a completely different sort of escape, the World Islands and The Heart of Europe projects are shaping up to be a whole category of their own. Buddha Bar Hotel and Floating Villas, expected in 2027, is accessible only by boat, and that small detail changes the entire mood. The concept includes floating villas, hotel rooms and suites, a beach club, lounges, restaurants and a spa, a proper island style retreat without leaving Dubai behind.

The Heart of Europe also includes the Côte d’Azur Nice Hotel, expected in 2026, with a Mediterranean leaning, direct access to a major pool, French dining concepts and its own beach club. Floating Venice, expected in 2027, goes one step further into “only in Dubai” territory, a floating five star hotel planned with multiple underwater cabins and a Venice inspired theme. Honeymoon Island, also expected in 2027, is unapologetically romantic, planned in the shape of a heart and built around 121 floating seahorses, villa style units connected by boardwalks and jetties, framed by beach and gardens.

Not every luxury escape needs drama, and that is why Hygge Hotel, expected in 2027, stands out. Inspired by the Danish concept of comfort and contentment, it promises a warm, cosy, understated atmosphere. InterContinental Resort Portofino, expected in 2026, is the bigger resort play in the same cluster, planned with 466 rooms and suites, authentic Italian dining and the striking detail of large aquariums across multiple floors. Marbella Resort, expected in 2026, leans into nature and the sea, with coral reef development intended to make snorkelling and marine life part of the guest experience, not just something you admire from the shore.

Landmark Towers and City Defining Hotels

Back in the heart of the city, Dubai’s landmark projects are where the ambition becomes very visible. Corinthia Dubai, expected in 2030, is planned to rise above 500 metres on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Museum of the Future, with twin towers linked by a dramatic sky lobby about 200 metres up. The headline feature is the outdoor sky pool, expected to be the highest of its kind, paired with sweeping views that turn the city into a backdrop.

DIFC will also welcome Janu Dubai, expected in 2027, a sister concept to Aman with a more social personality. Think members club energy, terraces, balconies and green spaces, still ultra high end, but designed to feel lively rather than hushed. Along the coast, Jumeirah Asora Bay, expected in 2029 at La Mer South, is positioned as a discreet waterfront retreat, planned with 103 rooms and 20 villas, plus 29 residences ranging from four to six bedrooms for those who want to stay longer. It reads like an address built for privacy, not crowds.

For a hotel concept that literally lives on the water, Kempinski Floating Palace, expected in 2026, is planned off Jumeirah Beach Road as a 163 key floating property with restaurants, boutique shopping and a spa. The yacht docking element makes it feel like a genuine marine lifestyle destination rather than a novelty.

Dubai Islands and the Next Waterfront Story

Dubai Islands will add another strand to this story. Rixos Dubai Islands, Hotel & Residences is expected in Q4 2026, with a mix of apartments with terraces, duplexes with private pools, beach houses with gardens, plus luxury villas, all anchored by the brand’s signature service. Rosewood Dubai, expected in 2029, marks Rosewood’s Dubai debut on Jumeirah Beach, with a hotel and residences overlooking the water. Rosewood tends to attract guests who like refined luxury that does not need to announce itself, which could suit this setting perfectly.

Six Senses and the Rise of Wellness Living

Then there are the projects that show how strongly wellness is shaping luxury living now. Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina, expected in 2028, is planned to become the world’s tallest residential tower on completion, with a wellness theme that includes sound healing spaces and a significant lap pool, plus sleep focused concepts designed around recovery. Six Senses Residences The Palm, expected in 2026 on Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent, combines hotel rooms and branded residences, with a large social and wellness club expected to include longevity focused facilities alongside restaurants, pools and family friendly spaces.

Finally, Trump International Hotel and Tower is planned on Sheikh Zayed Road near Financial Metro Station, developed in collaboration with Dar Global. The tower is expected to rise to around 350 metres, with hotel suites, residences, private lounges, a members only club feel and sky pools, including at the penthouse level. The opening date is still to be confirmed, but the ambition is clear.

The Shape of Dubai’s Future to Come

Put together, these 21 openings tell a story about where Dubai is heading next. Not just higher, bigger, and shinier, but more thoughtful. More privacy. More wellness. More stays that feel like destinations, and more destinations that feel like places you could actually live. Dubai has always known how to impress, but what is coming feels like something else too, a city building not just for the next visitor, but for the next decade.