Downtime in Dubai

These new hotels focus on design, wellbeing and rooftop views.

Form Hotel Dubai

Need a private yoga session? A sneaker-cleaning kit? Guests have access to a range of handy items and services – from babysitting to skydiving – at this new 136-room hotel in Al Jadaf Culture Village, on the bank of Dubai Creek. The hotel’s stark white façade references traditional Dubai architecture, while guestrooms are sleek and contemporary. A rooftop pool and gym have views over Al Jadaf boatyards, and guests can explore the neighbourhood on a range of special-interest tours. designhotels.com

The Retreat Palm Dubai

View the Gulf and Dubai’s glittering skyline from an airconditioned beachfront cabana at this “holistic wellbeing” resort on Palm Jumeirah’s East Crescent. Guests in 255 rooms and suites can follow customised programs in the hotel’s wellness centre, staffed by nutritionists, lifestyle coaches and a “wellness chef”. There’s a fitness centre, too, and a spa featuring a hammam and treatments such as the Arabian 1001 Night Ritual: a desert-sand scrub, massage and camel-milk and date-extract facial. theretreatpalmdubai.com

Zabeel House Mini by Jumeirah

This is the smaller of two sister hotels in Al Seef, a two-kilometre promenade of shops, cafés and pop-ups along the south bank of Dubai Creek. The no-frills mini version (pictured) has 150 brightly coloured “pocket”-sized rooms with Pop-Art maps of Dubai on ceilings, street food-inspired restaurants and free bikes.

Next door is the more upmarket Zabeel House by Jumeirah, which opened last month with 200 rooms, four restaurants and bars, and a rooftop infinity pool. zabeelhouse.com