Review of Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

The hotel occupies a lovely spot in a mainly residential area of Dubai. The Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world at one kilometre in height - is a 20-minute drive away and Downtown Dubai is close by. For those who love to shop, Dubai Mall and Mall of The Emirates are both temptingly short distances away. Also in the vicinity is the beautiful Jumeirah Mosque. 

Dubai Opera is a local highlight with its excellent roof top restaurant, Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera, and Deira’s historic sites in Old Dubai are just 30 minutes away.

On the resort’s doorstep is the manmade Dubai Water Canal. Along this walkable meandering waterway, you can find fine restaurants, luxury shopping and entertainment venues. Also, you can cruise down the Canal by boat – or if you are feeling adventurous, you can book a skydive and see the Canal and indeed the rest of Dubai from the air.  

Dubai International Airport is just a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Airport transfers are available through the hotel and being collected by one of the resort’s stunning Bentleys is a pleasurable experience. 

There are 237 rooms comprising of 188 guestrooms and 49 suites. The hotel offers some of the largest rooms in Dubai with Premier rooms and Deluxe rooms starting at an impressive 70 square metres. A highlight are the balconies in each room, affording views of Jumeirah Beach or framing the dazzling cityscape of Downtown Dubai and The Burj Khalifa.

Huge comfortable beds with dreamy linens and a plush living area with a squishy sofa are all standard. The resort offers guests Bluetooth speakers, 55-inch flat screen televisions and desks with USB outlets as well as Ipads, which point to all the hotel’s facilities with information on restaurant and activity options and access to a smart 24/7 digital concierge app. 

Rooms also deliver espresso machines and tea making facilities with kettles and fully-stocked mini-bar complete with Champagne, soft drinks, and snacks.

Bathrooms are fabulous – complete with mosaiced walls and floors with huge free-standing egg-shaped tubs, separate walk-in showers with dual showerheads, toilet plus bidet, double vanities with black marble and bath products are the exclusive Rajasthan scent by Etro toiletries. Bath salts are heavenly scented.

Rooms feature walk-in closets where guests can find a yoga mat for sunrise salutations. Special touches such as plates of fresh dates and gold dusted chocolate strawberries are welcome treats.

The Penthouse Suite is impressive and light & airy with white polished tiles, a huge balcony terrace and a private gym. Its stunning bathroom features a beautiful, intricate mosaic floor. At 465 square metres in area – it is truly spectacular. The Presidential Suite also offers guests a private gym and a dining room. The Royal Suite is a veritable palace – with steam room, sizeable oval bathtub and views of the sea and city that are simply breath-taking. It features beautiful chandeliers and is bedecked in silk, bespoke wallpaper - fit for Kings and Queens.

Impeccable service is the signature of the Four Seasons group - staff are friendly, gracious, genuine, and warm. Team members are selected for their personality. The mantra of treating others as you would like to be treated yourself is the platform for the brand’s service development. It is all about creating magic moments for guests and the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach does it so very well. 

A palm tree lined avenue, flanked by terraces with pools at each side surrounded by green-striped luxury loungers and flower-filled gardens, leads to the beach and the calming waters of The Arabian Gulf. Steps from the sand, private cabanas provide luxury daytime retreats and a unique fire feature at the resort’s beachfront creates a lovely atmospheric of an evening. Out to sea there is a pier where private dining experiences can be enjoyed while watching the desert sun sink into the horizon.

Enter the hotel to be greeted by an airy cooling space with polished marble floors and glance around to see Middle Eastern touches including gold-leaf ceilings and shimmering mosaics accented in the most tasteful way. The tinkle of the ivories and sounds from a pianist playing at a grand piano filter through to the lobby.

Keen to connect with guests and make them happy means service staff anticipate guests needs. For example, around the Quiet Pool, waiters float by with refreshing offerings from the kitchen including bitesize segments of fresh fruit, tiny smoothies and citrus shots, cold face towels and fruit infused water. Guests are provided mini cooler bags filled with bottled water. Each sun lounger also has a ‘do not disturb’ button should guests require peace and quiet.

The Pearl Spa is the hotel’s beautiful Arabian sanctuary with treatments that are inspired by the ancient local pearling industry with facials using pearl extract serum. The signature massage with oud oil is the ultimate in relaxation. The focus of the spa is on well-being, intuitive touch, and healing hands. Sodashi, Dr Burgener Switzerland, knesko, Neom, Biologique Recherche are just some of the brands used.

There is a delightful indoor swimming pool with a glass canopied ceiling. It is often blissfully quiet and an ideal location to beat a retreat from the heat. There is a golden mosaic Jacuzzi, steam room and an experience shower with settings including tropical rain. It soothes your ears with sounds of the rainforest. If that is not enough, the Spa offers a Hammam and an ice shower.

The Spa’s relaxation room offers a restful place post-treatment with infused tea, dates, and dried fruit available. The resort has a state-of-the art gym. This well-equipped fitness centre is open around the clock and offers spin classes and personal trainers. The ladies’ hair salon - La Sirene Coiffure – provides excellent services while men have their own grooming lounge. 

There are two hard surface tennis courts where lessons can be booked. These courts are most popular in the early mornings and late evenings – out of the often-searing heat. On the beach guests can indulge in all kinds of water-sports and can sign-out kayaks, dinghies, catamarans, and paddleboards.

Younger guests are very welcome at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and are well catered for. Mini bathrobes, child-friendly toiletries and cuddly toy camels are a nice surprise awaiting children on their beds. For babies, nappies, cots, and babysitting services are all available upon request. Interconnecting rooms are available. The Kids for All Seasons Club and activity centre puts on tennis tournaments and supervised activities such as treasure hunts to keep little ones busy and the Active Pool is perfect for family fun.

Disabled guests are most welcome and are catered for. Pets are not allowed. 

From its exterior, a Spanish-style turreted architecture prevails, and the desert and coastal colours are brought into the décor of Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach to great effect. Rooms are airy with light, muted tones.

From the lobby with its fragrant freshly cut flowers that sit in huge Murano crystal vases, cool marble floors and the first glimpse of the gardens, beach and cobalt blue sea through the two-floor picture windows establishes the elegant beachfront style.

Arabian accents are subtle and tasteful – with the ceilings a prime example of the fine Arabic design that was used on the resort. 

With its oasis-like gardens and private cabanas, Quiet Pool and Spa the hotel embraces the peaceful side of Dubai.

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is a hub for dining with a myriad of options available.

Suq - named after the traditional Arabian marketplace is one of the finest locations for a scrumptious buffet breakfast in Dubai. Graze your way around the excellent dim sum station or sample the Arabian specialties – mezze - a great way to taste and hopefully enjoy local dishes. There are also plenty of healthy options and green juices. For lunch or dinner, the restaurant serves an extensive menu of international favourites. Suq seafood dishes are fantastic, and the sushi is delicious. 

Sip a cup of freshly brewed cup of tea at Shai Salon & Terrace - with added handmade delights prepared by the hotel’s pastry chef. Guests are invited to make themselves at home beneath an intricate lattice ceiling in a lavish salon. There is also an outdoor shisha terrace. 

Sea Fu is the resort’s signature restaurant. Set in a perfect beachfront location, guests can expect a mouth-watering menu that features sashimi, sushi, and a variety of rolls, such as torched miso salmon roll, crunchy avocado roll, lobster dynamite roll and duck foie gras roll. Seared black cod and deep-fried soft-shell crab are highlights. Sea Fu is open for lunch and dinner. Sea Fu Bar enjoys sea view seating in a sunken lounge around a fire pit.

Folia is found in a secluded garden and under the shade of lush palms. Excellent plant-based cuisine is served here.

Hendricks Bar Cigar Bar specialises in gin & tonic. Guests can choose the botanicals, special tonics and explore the extensive gin list and indeed the journal of namesake world traveller, Sir James Hendricks.

The Mercury Lounge is a silver dome-shaped rooftop bar that scores high on a thermometer of the coolest place to quaff Champagne and cocktails in Dubai. Bar bites like caviar blinis and king crab with pomelo salad go perfectly with sundowners.

The resort’s Restaurant Village is a fine-dining destination hub that houses leading international names such as Coya, Jean George and celebrity favourite Turkish Nusr-et - of Salt Bae fame. Scalini, London’s original Italian fine-dining restaurant recently opened here, showcasing the culinary skills of award-winning masterchef Monserrato Marini and invites guests to experience the essence of rustic Italy.

In-room dining, and room service is excellent. Breakfast on the balcony is a wonderful option - coconut berry smoothies and ricotta lemon pancakes are a delightful order. 

The Four Seasons Dubai Green Committee was founded to create environmentally responsible business initiatives, encouraging employees’ commitment to reducing the hotel’s ecological and carbon footprint. 

Initiatives include reducing waste and energy use through educating employees to work more sustainably and responsibly; creative ways of conserving water with water reduction systems installed to reduce water flow up to 50 per cent. Other initiatives include the use of food composters in kitchens, where water generated from composted food waste is treated and reused for watering plants. Light sensors installed in all rooms to reduce energy usage. Plastic straws replaced with paper alternatives and plastic cups eradicated including in the spa, where organic and natural product ranges include Sodashi and Du Burgener.