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The Burj Al Arab above the palms and waterways of Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

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The One

The One: The Best Luxury Hotel in the Middle East, Country by Country

Choosing the best luxury hotel in the Middle East is a pleasant argument with no single winner, so we chose one for each country. These sixteen five-star hotels and resorts are the addresses we would book first on a luxury Middle East vacation, each for a reason you will feel the moment you arrive.

Updated

At a glance

The One at a glance

Countries
16 (Iran is covered for heritage only)
Standard
Five-star, one per country
Best season
November to March in the Gulf; spring and fall elsewhere

How we chose The One

The One is not always the newest or the most expensive hotel. It is the address that best captures its country: a sense of place, flawless service, a setting you cannot find anywhere else, and a story worth telling at dinner. Where a country has several contenders, we have named the others in our finest hotels by city and top 25 resorts.

Dubai's sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, a natural candidate, is closed for a full restoration and expected to reopen in late 2027, so for now the UAE title goes to Abu Dhabi.

Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, set on its beach beneath the jagged mountains near Muscat, Oman
Photo: Juozas Šalna · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In each country

Five-star hotels in the Middle East: The One in each country

UAE

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

★★★★★ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A true palace on its own beach, with gilded domes, vast gardens and butler service. Nothing in the Gulf matches its sense of occasion. Explore Abu Dhabi.

Official site ↗
Saudi Arabia

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

★★★★★ Blue Hole islands, the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Overwater and beach villas on a private island reached by seaplane or yacht, and the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the region. It shows the new Saudi Arabia at its most serene. See the Red Sea.

Official site ↗
Qatar

Mandarin Oriental, Doha

★★★★★ Msheireb Downtown, Doha, Qatar

Elegant, quiet and set in Doha's restored heart, steps from heritage houses and modern galleries. See Doha.

Official site ↗
Oman

Six Senses Zighy Bay

★★★★★ Musandam Peninsula, Oman

Stone pool villas tucked between mountains and a private bay; arrive by paraglider if you dare. Pure Oman. Discover Musandam.

Official site ↗
Bahrain

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay

★★★★★ Manama, Bahrain

On its own island in Bahrain Bay, with every room facing the water and the skyline. See Manama.

Official site ↗
Kuwait

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya

★★★★★ Kuwait City, Kuwait

The capital's most polished address, with fine dining and a serene spa. See Kuwait City.

Official site ↗
Egypt

Old Cataract, Aswan (Mandarin Oriental)

★★★★★ Aswan, Egypt

A Victorian palace on the Nile facing Elephantine Island, beloved by writers and royalty. Tea on the terrace at sunset is unforgettable; the Nile Wing is being renewed until July 2027. See Aswan.

Official site ↗
Jordan

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

★★★★★ The Dead Sea, Jordan

Inspired by Babylon's hanging gardens, with cascading pools and a celebrated spa on the shore of the lowest point on earth. See the Dead Sea.

Official site ↗
Israel

The King David

★★★★★ Jerusalem, Israel

Since 1931 Jerusalem's grand hotel, with views across to the Old City walls and a guest book of presidents and stars. See Jerusalem.

Official site ↗
Lebanon

Phoenicia Hotel Beirut

★★★★★ Beirut, Lebanon

A legend of the Beirut waterfront since 1961, restored and welcoming guests again. See Beirut.

Official site ↗
Cyprus

Amara

★★★★★ Limassol, Cyprus

A sleek seafront hotel with an excellent spa and restaurants, and the best of Limassol's coast at its door. See Limassol.

Official site ↗
Türkiye

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

★★★★★ Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Türkiye

A restored 19th-century Ottoman palace on the water, with a famous Bosphorus terrace. See Istanbul.

Official site ↗
Morocco

La Mamounia

★★★★★ Marrakech, Morocco

Centenary gardens, legendary service and a century of glamour just inside the medina walls. See Marrakech.

Official site ↗
Tunisia

Four Seasons Hotel Tunis

★★★★★ Gammarth, Tunisia

Light-filled and facing the sea, a short drive from Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. See Tunis.

Official site ↗
Algeria

El Djazair

★★★★★ Algiers, Algeria

The former Hotel Saint-George, set in lush gardens above the bay, is Algiers' historic grand hotel. See Algiers.

Iraq

Divan Erbil

★★★★★ Erbil, Iraq

The Kurdistan Region's leading luxury hotel, with fine dining and a calm spa. See Erbil.

Official site ↗

Plan your stay

Book suites and villas early for November to March, the peak season in the Gulf and Egypt. Our When to Go guide explains the best months for each country, and many of these hotels also sit near branded residences for buyers; see developments and branded residences.

Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here

From a stay to a home of your own

Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.

Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate

Luxury Real Estate in the Middle EastEvery guide, country by country.The 66 TerritoriesEach with its Founding Partner Agency and Developer.Branded ResidencesHomes run to the standard of the world's finest hotels.Can Foreigners Buy Property?The rules in all fourteen countries.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.