All-inclusive is changing – now meaning chic rooms, access to premium food and beverage options and even experiences thrown in
Near+Far
Despite their popularity around the globe, all-inclusive hotels haven’t made their mark on the UAE the way they have in other global destinations. But that isn’t to say they don’t exist, and premium ones, too. For an all-in stay in the UAE, with a typically elevated edge, check in to one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the UAE.
The best all-inclusive resorts in the UAE
All-inclusive resorts in Dubai
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
A far cry from stereotypical all-inclusive experiences, Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, is, first and foremost, one of the most luxurious (and romantic) hotels in the emirate. Set in the burnt orange dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation, guests stay in beautiful Bedouin-inspired tents and have private terraces overlooking the enigmatic dunes. Since opening in 1999, its sumptuous tents – complete with their own private pools, handcrafted furnishing and, of course, butler service – have attracted holidaymakers and residents on staycation seeking desert luxury nonpareil in a secluded setting. With each stay, guests can take advantage of full-board meals as well as two activities, from a selection that includes archery, camel rides and wildlife drives, making this one of the most stylish and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the UAE.
marriott.com
Riu Dubai
Dubai’s first 24-hour, all-inclusive resort, Riu Dubai is located on a beachfront plot and features 800 rooms and suites, many of which offer wonderful ocean views. There are no fewer than ten food and beverage options available to guests – from international buffet restaurants to swim-up bars – as well as an impressive array of leisure activities that will include three swimming pools, two children’s pools, a splash water park, a kids’ club, fitness centre and spa. To keep guests entertained from day to night, the resort offers an extensive programme of sports, entertainment, events and live shows.
riu.com
JA The Resort
Book a minimum two-night stay across JA The Resort and take advantage of the ultra all-inclusive package, giving guests unlimited access to an array of world cuisines and beverages across 25 restaurants and bars, access to no less than seven swimming pools and a wealth of activities. Whether guests prefer lazing away a day by the beach, or trying their hand at the nearby shooting range, tennis courts or golf course, they can do so with an ultra-all-inclusive staycation.
jaresortshotels.com
Rixos The Palm Hotel & Suites
This family-friendly beachfront retreat on Palm Jumeirah features luxury two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom suites, the latter boasting their own private pool, ideal for a family staycation or group getaway with access to your own private facilities. The first Dubai resort to offer an ultra all-inclusive concept – a hallmark of Turkish brand Rixos – an array of drinking and dining, leisure and family-friendly options ensure travellers of all ages can make the most of their vacation. Room rates start from AED 1,500.
allinclusive-collection.com
FIVE Palm Jumeirah
Dubai’s famous party palace on Palm Jumeirah, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, isn’t exclusively all-inclusive but offers all-inclusive packages for guests looking to make the most of their stay at the beachfront resort. Offering early check-in from midday, lunch, dinner, breakfast anfd unlimited drinks across the resort, guests can feast their way through Italian or Chinese cuisine at Cinque and Maiden Shanghai, enjoy sundowners at rooftop bar The Penthouse or graze on international bites poolside at The Pool Bar. All-inclusive rates start from AED 1,400 per room.
palmjumeirah.fivehotelsandresorts.com
The best all-inclusive resorts in Abu Dhabi
Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island
Situated on Saadiyat Island’s idyllic white sands, shaded by lush palm trees and lapped by the Arabian Gulf, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island is among the only all-inclusive hotels in Abu Dhabi and one of the most luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the UAE. Fitting for the Turkish brand, the resort features large amounts of gemstones in shades of green, blue and turquoise, drawing inspiration from the Ottoman Empire’s palaces. Its 366 suites and 12 villas feature a mix of benefits, from private pools to beach access, and butler service available throughout. For those that can tear themselves away from the resort, Abu Dhabi landmarks like Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World, all within a 15-minute drive. For an even more elevated experience, book into one of the Club Privé villas, for multiple bedrooms, a private swimming pool, garden and butler service.
allinclusive-collection.com
Anantara Sir Bani Yas island resorts
Journey to Sir Bani Yas for an island escape that feels a million miles from Abu Dhabi. There are three Anantara resorts to choose from on the island, ranging from family-friendly rooms to romantic villas with plunge pools. Their all-inclusive packages start from AED 1,999 and include full board with unlimited soft beverages for the duration of your stay, plus one complimentary activity per adult per stay. Choices are impressive and varied, and include nature walks and wildlife drives to explore the 13,000 majestic animals that call the island off the Abu Dhabi coast home.
anantara.com
The best all-inclusive resorts in Ras Al Khaimah
Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island
Presiding over 750 metres of ivory sands, the sprawling 515-room Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island – the largest in the world – is a breezy all-inclusive seaside retreat. An all-inclusive addition to Ras Al Khaimah’s hotel scene, there are seven restaurants and bars to choose from, with selected beverages available at all, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner included on the all-inclusive rate. Parents can unwind with indulgent treatments at the spa while children play in the kids’ and teens’ club; later, everyone can make plans to converge on the beach or by the infinity pool for a sunset dip together. And while it’s easy to spend a few days lulling yourself into a languid routine, charting a circuit from the beach to the pool and back again, the resort’s prime location means all of Ras Al Khaimah’s attractions are close enough for a day trip.
hilton.com
Cove Rotana Resort
Guests can put their wallets away when checking in to the five-star Cove Rotana Resort, well positioned by the shimmering waters of the Arabian Gulf on its own private beachfront. Nestled in a secluded inlet in Ras Al Khaimah, 204 traditional guest rooms welcome guests on the resort hillside, while an impressive collection of 78 villas with one, two or three bedrooms, some with waterside locations and others private pools, suit larger group getaways. It’s not got all the five-star frills of its newer neighbours in Dubai, but the all-inclusive escape makes for a wallet-friendly staycation, with early check-in and late check-out, three meals a day, a selection of beverages plus access to all the resort’s family-friendly activities. Room rates start from AED 860.
rotana.com
Rixos Bab Al Bahr
Another Rixos hotel in the UAE offering the ultra all-inclusive option to its guests, Rixos Bab Al Bahr is a lively hotel on the relaxed beachfront of Marjan Island, known for its party vibe. The resort’s pyramid design offers 650 contemporary guest rooms ranging from classic rooms to three-bedroom suites, and with a handful of exceptions, everything is included in the rate, from the myriad of world cuisines to entertainment, recreational activities and spa access.
allinclusive-collection.com
