Jumeirah

Visit Jumeirah and you’ll find yourself surrounded by bougainvillea-laden villas, a thriving cafe scene and chic malls by the sea – it’s easy to see why this affluent coastal district is one of Dubai’s most prestigious locales.

Spread out between three areas — Jumeirah 1, Jumeirah 2, and Jumeirah 3 — there’s plenty to explore aside from the open beaches. Dine at the fashionable cafes and boutiques tucked inside luxurious villas, or visit one of Dubai’s culturally important landmarks, the famous Jumeirah Mosque. Built in 1975, with slender minarets and intricate plasterwork, it is one of Dubai’s cultural icons.

Jumeirah has undergone quite an evolution in the past few years, with several projects opening up new ways to enjoy the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Dubai’s coastline has been extended to include Pearl Jumeira, a prestigious residential island with the Bvlgari hotel and beach club, and Daria Island, a sea-horse shaped structure home to residences, a five-star resort and a marina.

This locality is also famous for out-of-the-box coffee shops like Comptoir 102 that combines caffeinated blends with hand-picked buys, while nearby shopping centres such as Mercato Mall, Town Centre Jumeirah and Sunset Mall see the best luxury boutiques and homegrown concepts mingle.

The Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is a popular foodie choice too – aside from its luxury suites and golden sand beach, it has a dedicated Restaurant Village that boasts exceptional eateries including Peruvian favourite Coya and Nusr-Et (made famous by ‘Salt Bae’).

Vast portions of Jumeriah’s coastline are also being beautified and modernised, like La Mer, a spectacular beachfront development that launched in 2017 with a chic sustainable marine design. It’s now one of the most happening beaches in Dubai, with street art murals, quirky bucket-and-rope showers and colourful wooden cabanas.

Getting there: While there are no nearby metro stations, several public buses cover the area – ask your hotel concierge for the best route. Also consider taking a ferry to the Jumeira Marine Transport Station at Jumeirah 2.