Palm Jumeirah meets French Polynesia at Sofitel Dubai The Palm

“Welcome back to the Sofitel,” says our waiter, as he pours water at dinner. We exchange a quick glance… we haven’t stayed at Sofitel Dubai The Palm before. Perhaps it’s a standard greeting given to all guests, as he moves on to the next table.

When he returns with a basket of sourdough, he tells us that he used to work at the hotel’s World Eatery, and he remembers us from a brunch we enjoyed there some five months ago. That’s some seriously good recall. It’s a warm, welcoming exchange that sums up our overnight stay here perfectly.

This Palm Jumeirah hotel may not be Dubai’s newest or biggest – but what it lacks in look-at-me bravado, it makes up for in genuine hospitality. There’s a warmth and familiarity that’s often lacking in UAE hotels, and that vibe extends throughout the resort, where residents and tourists alike are relaxed and in full holiday mode.

The interiors

In designing this beachfront resort, the French luxury chain took a stylistic detour to French Polynesia, creating a tropical escape. Living walls of cascading plants line the walkways that lead from the lobby, and the hushed hallways feature natureinspired artworks and stone carvings. It all adds to the sensation that you’ve left the shiny minimalism of Dubai behind.

We’ve been invited to spend the night in one of the Sofitel’s Junior Suites. The subtle Polynesian theme continues with slate floors, rich timbers, pops of magenta and orchid purple, and a huge bathroom complete with freestanding oval tub. Outside, two balconies offer a view over thatched roofs and lagoon pools to the Palm and Dubai skyline beyond.

The amenities

Soon after settling in, we’re off to the spa for a massage. The receptionist spritzes sanitiser on every available surface. We’re asked to place my shoes in a bag before entering the spa, and to shower before my treatment. The full-body massage using warm frangipani oil is soothing and restorative – after the first few minutes, we even manage to forget that the therapist is wearing gloves. We then head down for a swim. At the main pool, families happily splash in the water and gather on sunloungers around the perimeter. It is, unsurprisingly, the busiest place in the hotel, but the Sofitel has a number of pools available, so if the main one is at capacity, seek out one of the more secluded options.

The food

Dinner is at Porterhouse, a two-time What’s On Award winner. We share tempura shrimp, and calamari – the plump shrimp are pepped up with a piquant dynamite sauce, and the calamari gets its kick from jalapenos. For mains, the grilled sea bass with carrot puree is a beautifully cooked piece of fish with crisped skin and flaky flesh.

In what can only be described as a testing time for hoteliers, Sofitel Dubai The Palm has found a rare middle ground, balancing gold-standard safety with five-star service. We’re looking forward to being welcomed back once again.

“SOFITEL DUBAI THE PALM HAS FOUND A RARE MIDDLE GROUND BALANCING SAFETY WITH FIVE-STAR SERVICE.”