In a city perpetually preoccupied with what is new, there is something to be said for a hotel that knows exactly what it is.
Raffles Dubai has been part of the city’s hospitality landscape since 2007, and almost two decades later, its distinctive pyramid-shaped silhouette remains instantly recognisable. Inspired by the great pyramids of Egypt, the hotel belongs to an era of Dubai hospitality when luxury was expressed through scale, drama and a certain unapologetic opulence.
We checked in for a one-night stay on September 5, with an itinerary that included dinner at SOLO Italian Restaurant & Bar and a 60-minute treatment at Raffles Spa.
And perhaps the most interesting thing about returning to a hotel of this generation is how much the definition of luxury has changed around it.
A Different Era of Dubai Glamour
From the moment you enter the lobby, Raffles Dubai makes little attempt at restraint. The interiors are grand, ornate and deliberately theatrical. There is an ostentatiousness to the design that feels reminiscent of old Dubai glamour, before minimalism, muted palettes and quiet luxury became the prevailing hospitality language.
Depending on your personal taste, this may not feel as contemporary as some of the city’s newest openings, but that is also part of its character. Raffles Dubai is not trying to compete with every shiny new hotel arriving in the city. It feels established.
Our room reinforced that impression, particularly in its proportions. Raffles describes its rooms as among the most spacious in Dubai, and having stayed in our fair share of newer hotels, the difference was noticeable. There was an abundance of space that is increasingly difficult to find in modern hotel design, where even luxury rooms are often planned with considerably tighter footprints.
The room opened onto a private balcony with expansive views across the city and the hotel pool. It was the kind of room that encouraged you to actually spend time in it, rather than simply use it as somewhere to sleep.
An Afternoon at Raffles Spa
The spa was one of the highlights of the stay.
Raffles Spa occupies more than 1,200 square metres and houses six spa suites, including a couples suite, alongside sauna and steam facilities, relaxation areas, a fitness centre, outdoor pool and heated Jacuzzi.
Our 60-minute treatment delivered exactly what you want from a hotel spa: a genuine interruption to the day. The environment was quiet and considered, the treatment thoroughly relaxing and the overall experience polished without feeling overly ceremonial.
There are hotel spas that function primarily as another amenity on a long facilities list, and others that feel like destinations in themselves. Raffles Spa sits comfortably closer to the latter.
Dinner at SOLO
Dinner took us downstairs to SOLO Italian Restaurant & Bar, the hotel’s contemporary Italian restaurant.
Rather than treating Italian food as a single culinary identity, SOLO draws from the regional cooking of Lombardy, Tuscany, Campania and Sicily. The menu moves between handmade pasta, seafood, traditional comfort dishes and food from the wood-fired oven.
Among its signatures are Ravioli di Spinaci with parmesan fondue and truffle, Linguine ai Frutti di Mare, Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and wood-fired pizzas.
It is generous, familiar Italian cooking served in a relaxed setting, which suited the mood of the evening. There is no pressure for dinner to feel particularly formal despite the five-star surroundings. The restaurant describes itself as convivial, and that is a fair assessment.
For anyone reluctant to end the evening after dessert, SOLO Bar makes the transition from dinner to drinks particularly easy, with cocktails served until 1am.
A Slow Morning
After a comfortable night, breakfast the following morning was served à la carte during our stay.
It made for a pleasantly unhurried end to the experience. After the spa, dinner and the evening before, there was something appealing about being able to sit down and order breakfast rather than immediately navigating another elaborate hotel experience.
It also gave us time to appreciate one of Raffles Dubai’s greatest strengths: space.
That extends beyond the bedrooms. There is a sense throughout the property that it was built at a time when generous proportions were themselves part of the luxury proposition.
The Verdict
Raffles Dubai is an interesting proposition in 2026 precisely because Dubai has changed so dramatically around it.
This is a city where another spectacular hotel, beach club or restaurant seems to arrive every few weeks, each promising a newer view, a more ambitious design or the next interpretation of luxury. It can make established hotels remarkably easy to overlook.
But longevity has its advantages.
Raffles Dubai has the confidence of a property that no longer needs to chase novelty. There are aspects of its aesthetic that unmistakably belong to an earlier chapter of the city, but rather than detracting from the experience, they give the hotel a sense of place and personality that many newer properties are still working to establish.
The generous bedrooms, sweeping city views, excellent spa and enjoyable Italian dinner made for an easy, well-rounded stay. More importantly, everything felt dependable.
And perhaps that is the real appeal.
Sometimes luxury is not about discovering the newest address in Dubai. Sometimes it is returning to an institution that has been doing this for almost twenty years and finding that it still knows how to deliver a very good stay.
Tried & Tested: Raffles Dubai
Stay: September 5 to 6, 2026
Experience: One-night stay, 60-minute Raffles Spa treatment and dinner at SOLO Italian Restaurant & Bar
The stay, spa treatment and dinner were hosted by Raffles Dubai. As always, the views expressed are based on our own experience.
