The Hottest Hotels Opening Across the Middle East in 2023

These highly-anticipated hotel openings - some of which have been in the works in the MENA region for over a decade - are designed to accommodate convalescence periods whereby your phone morphs from an anxiety-inflicting weapon to mere cobalt, zip-locked in your closet’s darkest crevice. They permit you to entertain your Taurus moon that actively desires the finer things in life and facilitate fancy dinner dates whereby your faux mink coat is a statement piece and not a fire hazard.

FAIRMONT & RAFFLES | Doha, Qatar 

Doha’s famous Katara Towers, designed after the traditional scimitar swords that make up Qatar’s national seal, house a Fairmont Hotel and a Raffles Hotel, both of which are opening their doors in 2023. The five-star-studded hotels boast over 300 luxury rooms each, built for functionality and style to suit the respective needs of businesspeople and travellers in anticipation of the country’s tourism spike post-World Cup. 

THE NED | Doha, Qatar 

Having established itself as an emblem for luxury amidst London and St. Paul’s affluent walkways, The Ned is coming to Doha this year to bolster the bustling city’s extravagant repertoire. An exclusive members club at its core, The Ned is where parliamentarians of various Hermes hues, socialites, royals and entrepreneurial masterminds gather over sparkling bottles of champagne and discuss the multitude of ways they can change commercial ecosystems. 

The Ned Doha boasts seven restaurants, 90 bedrooms, multiple event venues, Ned’s Club, a private members’ club that gives access to a rooftop terrace, a spa, gym, and a 30 metre outdoor pool.

ST. REGIS RED SEA | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 

The St. Regis Red Sea Resort heralds the brand's entry into Saudi Arabia and the ongoing expansion of its Middle Eastern portfolio. The resort, located on a private island, will include 90 villas, two trademark restaurants, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, a spa, as well as a kids' club.

The exclusive resort boasts the St. Regis’ renowned avant-garde aesthetic. 

SIX SENSES SOUTHERN DUNES | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 

Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is one of two inland locations that, together with coastal and marine initiatives, form The Red Sea Project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. The resort boasts 76 rooms, which include guest rooms with an open-plan bedroom, living space and an outdoor terrace, as well as clusters of villas with one to four bedrooms that are perched on peaks to provide breathtaking landscape views.

The Oasis, the resort's focal point, fuses the interior's natural finishes with the exterior's native greenery and water elements. Surrounding the centrepiece is a variety of world-class restaurants, bars, boutiques, and meeting rooms. 

NUJUMA RITZ CARLTON | Blue Hole Islands, Saudi Arabia

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nujuma will be the company's first establishment in the Middle East and will join an exclusive group of just five Ritz-Carlton Reserves globally.

Nujuma will be located on a group of exclusive islands in the Red Sea. The resort will have 63 one-to-four bedroom villas and 18 Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded homes, in addition to a spa, swimming pools, several fine dining establishments, a retail area, a conservation centre, and a variety of recreational and entertainment options.

ATLANTIS THE ROYAL | Dubai, UAE 

Mythical waterfront hotel Atlantis The Royal is welcoming guests come March 2023. With 795 rooms and suites spread across six towers, the peculiarly-shaped hotel features 17 celebrity-owned and run establishments and the world’s largest jellyfish aquarium, an aquatic affair that helps this opulent stay live up to its legendary name. 

A 295-foot-long skypool, part of an outdoor entertainment experience named Cloud 22, will be located on the 22nd level of the hotel. The rooftop venue is surrounded by VIP cabanas and private plunge pools, a swim-up bar, and a DJ booth in the shape of a head - forming what is possibly the crown jewel of Dubai’s hospitality industry.

KEMPINSKI FLOATING PALACE | Dubai, UAE

The Kempinski Floating Palace is the first luxury hotel of its kind in the Middle East.  The floating palace's main edifice, which is divided into four sections and joined in the middle by a glass pyramid, has upscale dining establishments, bars, spa services, swimming pools, stores, and event facilities, as well as an entrance and exit point for even bigger ships.

The hotel is anchored close to Jumeirah Beach Road, one of Dubai's most exclusive sections of beach. Visitors may either take a speed boat or their own boat to get to the hotel's 156 rooms and suites or their villas. A linked floating helipad and a deck for storing up to 16 yachts are also present.

CIEL HOTEL | Dubai, UAE 

Currently under construction in Dubai Marina, Ciel is a high-rise that could become the tallest hotel in the world, standing at 360 metres with a staggering 1,042 rooms.

The glass sculpture that makes up the building was inspired by the idea of vertical living. The hotel’s most exciting features, however, lie on the rooftop, which houses a pool bar, a restaurant, and an observation deck. It is oriented to optimise views of Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa to the east, Dubai Marina to the south-west, and out towards Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf to the north.

NIKKI BEACH RESORT & SPA | Muscat, Oman 

NIKKI BEACH Resort & Spa is coming to Muscat’s Yiti Bay and is only 30 minutes from Muscat International Airport. The 140-room resort also features 30 luxury villas with their own private pools in addition to a beach club, three staple Nikki Beach eateries (Café Nikki, Escape, and Soul Lounge), three swimming pools, a pool bar, Nikki Spa, Tone Gym, and a marina. 

FOUR SEASONS BAHRAIN BAY RESIDENCES | Manama, Bahrain 

112 bespoke villas will be located at the centre of Bahrain’s most coveted neighbourhood, Bahrain Bay, ushering in a new level of luxury waterfront living. Residents will have access to the nearby Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay as a wonderful extension of their residences, complete with resort-style facilities, a variety of dining options, and a gorgeous beach only a short stroll or escorted golf cart ride away. Additionally, The Avenues and MODA Mall - both of which provide the best options of eating, shopping, and other amenities - will be conveniently close to the property.

AZURE ROTANA RESORT & SPA | Oran, Algeria 

The Azure Rotana Resort and Spa is located in Algeria’s stunning port city of Oran and is only a short distance from some of its most famous landmarks, such as Fort Santa Cruz and Place du 1er Novembre. 

The hotel will include 185 spacious bedrooms, including eight ambassador suites with sea views, with a seamless blend of authentic and modern decor. Five establishments, including a lobby lounge, a shisha terrace, an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar, and a specialty restaurant, will provide guests a variety of entertainment choices. 

SHARAAN HOTEL BY JEAN NOUVEL | AlUla, Saudi Arabia 

Sharaan by Jean Nouvel is a celebration of AlUla's spectacular environment, carved into a sandstone outcrop with 40 rooms, three villas, and 14 pavilions. What is particularly striking about this specific Sharaan hotel is that each room will include a balcony from where guests can enjoy breath-taking views of the AlUla landscape.

ANANTARA MINA AL ARAB RESORT | Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Anantara’s newest venture in the UAE provides 174 guest rooms, suites, and overwater villas in a Maldivian resort style as a part of the brand-new Mina Al Arab luxury development. The resort will include a beachside playground with a marina, a selection of waterfront cafés, a couple of luxurious asian restaurants, and numerous boutiques. 

DESERT ROCK RESORT | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 

The resort's entrance is through a secret valley tucked between two mountains; a testament to Saudi Arabia’s principle to build with the land, not on it. The Desert Rock Resort houses 48 villas and 12 hotel rooms within the mountain, scattered throughout the vista. The architecture is totally blended into the rock to retain its beautiful silhouette, providing dug rooms within the rock massif itself and crevice hotel suites halfway up the mountain in addition to ground-level residences - all with an unobstructed view of the valley below. 

Most of the roads leading into the resort will be moved to the edge of the major wadi and buried by landscaping mounds to allow uninterrupted views across the countryside.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON | Ben Guerir, Morocco 

With 213 guest accommodations, including studios and one-bedroom apartments, the DoubleTree by Hilton will be Ben Guerir’s first luxury hotel. A selection of restaurants and swimming pools, as well as a cutting-edge fitness centre, spa, a ginormous board room, and six conference rooms, will all be available and accessible to visitors. Built much like a large research facility, Ben Guerir boasts stunning natural landscapes that have been preserved despite fast-becoming a hive for researchers and intellectuals from all over the MENA region. 

RADISSON HOTEL CASABLANCA GAUTHIER LA CITADELLE | Casablanca, Morocco 

The Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle is situated in Casablanca's upscale cosmopolitan Gauthier neighbourhood, one of the city's premier corporate, financial, and entertainment districts. It is only 2.5 kilometres from the Old Medina, the glittering La Corniche, and Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest mosque in the world. The hotel will have a beautiful view of the Arab League Park and be a part of La Citadelle, a brand-new, upscale mixed-use complex that will include homes, offices, and shops.

The luxury hotel will feature 133 rooms with sharp modern interiors, rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, terrace, as well as a panoramic rooftop restaurant, each of which will be dedicated to a specific cuisine. A sizable conference and function area as well as five meeting rooms will be available for events and meetings, alongside a fitness centre and a rooftop pool. 

NOBU HOTEL | Marrakech, Morocco 

Nobu Hotel Marrakech is situated in the fashionable ‘Golden Triangle,’ just steps from the charming, historic heart of the city, souks, Medina, and Djemaa el-Fna square. The hotel offers 71 spacious suites, each an elegant fusion of Moroccan and Japanese styles. The hotel boasts a selection of dynamic dining venues as well as a Rooftop Garden, with a circular pool deck, bar and 360 degree panoramic terrace offering a breathtaking view of the Atlas Mountain range. Guests can enjoy three swimming pools throughout the hotel, along with a subterranean 2,000 m² luxurious Pearl Spa and fitness centre.

ENVI LODGES | Wadi Hanifa, Saudi Arabia 

Located along the valleys of Wadi Hanifa, Envi Lodges is made up of 50 eco-lodges, each featuring a spacious outdoor dining space, a BBQ area, and a private pool. Group get-togethers and private parties will be held in the project's immersive experience garden, which features an outdoor eating area, a fire pit, a chef's garden, a swimming pool, and a workshop space for different arts and crafts activities. The cluster will also feature a wellness centre with a variety of activities for relaxation, a space for meditation, and treatments utilising locally-made goods.

JUMEIRAH JABAL OMAR | Mecca, Saudi Arabia 

Jabal Omar Jumeirah is situated in the centre of the Muslim world, Mecca. The hotel is built to provide visitors with a tranquil, opulent sanctuary as they undergo a profoundly important pilgrimage. At the beginning of one of life's biggest adventures, Jumeirah has created a setting where visitors may rediscover a sense of purpose. The hotel includes 1,033 guest rooms, 96 flats and 4 penthouses, as well as a variety of cafes and restaurants, meeting rooms, an executive lounge, gymnasium and over 90 luxury retail units. 

SLS HOTELS & RESIDENCES | Blue Hole Islands, Saudi Arabia 

SLS Hotels is joining the vast selection of high-end hotels and resorts opening in Saudi Arabia’s coveted Red Sea Project, and will feature 12 suites and 15 villas. The resort will boast one, two, three, and four bedroom Pool Villas, each with plenty of space and ample solitude. World-class restaurants and bars, such Seabird, Fi'lia, and Floating World, make up only one half of the resort’s prestigious offerings, the second of which is the Ciel Spa, a cutting-edge fitness facility, the Altitude Pool, and a majestic ballroom for special events.