The Palace Downtown Dubai

Bring your appetite and your adventurous spirit to Mandarin Oriental Doha, as this property in downtown Doha will feed your soul in more ways than one. Its elegant, pared-down exterior is matched with low-key luxurious interiors, making use of neutral tones and textures to allow those city views to do the talking. 

Sitting right above a mesmerising blue lagoon on the Qatar coast, Mondrian Doha is a vivid and flamboyant retreat in the country’s capital.

Each suite here overlooks the sea and the city, making the most of those views with floor-to-ceiling windows, while bathrooms are spa-like in their design, with marble-clad counters and walls, and gold trimmings around the deep bathtubs and twin sinks.

Tucked away amid burnt-orange desert dunes and lush green foliage, Al Maha is a little oasis of calm just 45 minutes outside of Dubai. Its suites are built in the style of Bedouin tents, with vaulted canvas ceilings and Arabic crafts on display. Handmade wooden beds with intricately carved posts offer a serene night’s sleep in the desert, while private outdoor decks have loungers for sun seeking and their own, temperature-controlled plunge pools. 

Relaxation comes easy here – especially thanks to the expert therapists in the spa – but there’s adventure to be had, too. Try archery on the dunes, use the fitness suite, or have a go at sand boarding out in the middle of the desert. For dinner, there’s Al Diwaan, serving carefully crafted cuisine from across the world, or private dining experiences right on the dunes. 

What’s more, this property is set within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where elegant Arabian oryx and gazelles roam free atop the sand. Excursions to the reserve’s visitor centre offer an opportunity to support and learn about the conservation taking place in this enchanting region.