Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is a high-quality hotel and I am being critical in my review due to the vast options of high-quality hotels in Dubai. I have been to Dubai over 10 times now. I stayed at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray for the 2nd time in a standard hotel room for 4 nights (first time was in the Royal Residences). Transfers (1/5): My booking included transfers and 72 hours before my long flight, I emailed the concierge and travel department to arrange my transfer. To be honest, it was a bit of a mess. The staff on the other end told me the transfer was not included despite my confirmation and receipt saying it was and forced me to contact my travel agent to liaise with the Jumeirah team. It was sorted out closer to my flight with numerous emails and a cancellation of my transfer at one point. To put it frankly, I am only giving 1/5 due to the staff at Jumeirah being polite at all times. Check In (5/5): I didn’t even need to wait; my room was ready and my passport/deposit was all done in tandem with the walk to the room. Juice and fresh towel were appreciated after 20 hours of travel to get there. Hotel (4/5): The hotel is a touch dated since I stayed in 2015, however, it is still excellent. The spa, pools and general attention to detail is quite good. The gym could definitely be improved; however, I doubt it gets used that often! Housekeeping (3/5): My room was cleaned twice a day. The service was impeccable at times and underwhelming at other times. It was quite hit and miss. For example, sometimes it was meticulously organised, clean, fruit & chocolate left, slippers in place and extra towels. At other times, they didn’t do anything except make my bed (no toiletry refill or towels). Hotel Policies (2/5): I was in Dubai on pleasure to the Ironman 70.3 Dubai, after the gruelling race, my father drove me back to the hotel and we had planned to eat at the Rib Room (steakhouse). I had told him the night before I had an excellent meal at Lalezar. The hotel refused my father entry to my room as I wanted to have a shower and 1-hour nap before dinner (trust me you would too after a 4-5-hour race!). They said that he needs his passport to enter my room and his driver’s license wasn’t a good enough form of identification apparently according to UAE law. Needless to say, we left and went to his hotel (Ritz Cartlon, Dubai). The staff at the Ritz Cartlon not only let me into his room with NO MENTION of identification - they brought up a Gatorade/fruit and energy bar for me complimentary!!! We enjoyed an excellent meal at Palm Grill at the Ritz Cartlon. Check Out (5/5): The check out process was excellent and quick. The staff are exceptionally polite at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. You will have to pay 20 Dirhams as a tourism fee per night per room but this is standard in Dubai. Overall (3/5): All in all, the hotel was excellent, staff are very polite and helpful with questions, hotel policies are very strict, check in and check out is quick and easy, housekeeping is inconsistent, you can leave your bags with concierge if you arrive early or leave late, restaurants are quite good but slightly pricy, location is the Palm so it is far from everything but if you are looking at this hotel you know this, there a hotel shuttle to Burj Al Arab and Mall of the Emirates.

The quality of everything was superb. The entire hotel was spotless and looked new. The service was amazing. Second visit and would stay again. The beach area and pool was superb. The pool was heated also which is a nice touch and the beach was clean. The hotel itself is big enough that you don't get bored and the ambiance is very relaxing great for families.

This was our second stay at the Zabeel Saray, the first time was a 3 day stopover on our way back from Australia, this time for a week away from the horrible weather at home to the sunshine in Dubai. We arrived early, 11am and our room was made available immediately despite 3pm checkin. We were given lovely cold towels and peach juice as we checked in which was very refreshing after our overnight flight. The entrance and reception hall to this hotel is beautiful, amazing chandeliers, polished floors and the height of Arabic luxury. We stayed in a superior room on the 1st floor and the room was as I remembered last time, super luxurious room, king size bed, double sofa, desk, chair, side board, balcony with table and chairs, lost of storage and the piece de resistance the beautiful bathroom with a marble bath that could house a football team. We used the pool and beach which are gorgeous surrounded by palm trees, the service around the pool is amazing and what Jumeirah is renowned for, every day we were given complimentary water bottles with ice, ice lollies, fruit slices and on some days someone who cleans your sunglasses! Yes that’s right. We were on the half board deal, amazing breakfast outside each morning, choice of fresh eggs available plus all varieties of coffees. In the evening the buffet has a theme, the buffet is great, staying in Jumeirah also gives you the ‘dine around’ option which allows you to dine in 40 restaurants around the Jumeirah group as well as multiple restaurants in the hotel. We tried the Rib Room in the hotel which was fab, we also used the complimentary minibus and tried the buffet at the Al Naseem and were treated to a view of the Burj Al Arab and fireworks for Chinese New Year as well as the buffet at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The Al Naseem buffet was great - we also took the buggies and boats between the Madinat hotels and had drinks in the Dhow and Anchor and the Babs Al Sham in the resort. This is a great perk to staying within the Jumeirah chain. I also used the Talise Ottoman Spa at the Zabeel which was out of this world, by far the best spa I have been to and I have been to many over the years. I had a Balinese massage, the Sultan’s massage and used the 2 x 150 AED complimentary vouchers I received on check in. I also had the Green Tea Hammam treatment as the spa gave me a 30% off voucher. I loved the whole spa area, luxurious jacuzzis, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, snow room!, heated marble beds and relaxation areas, all complimentary if you are a guest, amazing! We were also given a 500 AED credit when we checked in which was also a lovely perk and we used toward our lunches in Beachcombers by the pool. All in all one of the most relaxing stays in luxury I have had in a while and I have stayed in a lot of nice hotels. We went walking every morning along the walkway on the Palm which is great with fab views of the city. I love the Jumeirah group and the Zabeel Saray has the benefit of being on the Palm and relative serenity as well as having the option to use the facilities of the broader hotel group in Dubai in particular the Madinat resort which is more bustling with the shopping bazaar. If you want to stay on the Palm, and can get a good deal, stay here - better than other hotels of the same class on the Palm. Look out for happy hour 5-7 in Beachcombers, 2 for 1 cocktails - as you know drinks are expensive in the UAE.