Why go?
For (almost)-guaranteed sunshine, family-friendly resorts and a big shiny dose of city-meets-beach life, Dubai ticks all boxes. Rixos Premium JBR Dubai offers five-star luxury and parent-pleasing style in the buzzing Jumeirah Beach Residence neighbourhood.
Family style
For parents who don’t want to sacrifice the lively vibe of their pre-children holidays, Rixos Premium JBR combines a stylish scene with family-friendly amenities. Multiple pools, a drop-in kids’ club and a beachfront setting make entertaining little ones easy. Meanwhile, parents are transported back to their beach-club days thanks to poolside DJs and top-notch service.
Set the scene
The gleaming, futuristic twin towers of Rixos Premium JBR hint at the hotel’s sleek, contemporary style. There’s an immediate buzz in the glitzy lobby, where well-heeled locals and tourists meet for coffee and cake at the Godiva Cafe, or sashay past supercars to secure the prime spots at Azure Beach, billed as the trendiest beach club in Dubai.
While it attracts a glamorous crowd, families feel welcome, with space aplenty and options for all. There are two huge swimming pools, one reserved for adults, plus a shallow splash pool for toddlers, and an abundance of comfy, cushioned loungers, with more neatly packed onto the private section of the sandy beach.
It’s easy to while away the day flitting from pool to beach, perhaps dropping into one of the alfresco lunch spots or ordering sushi and burgers directly to the sun loungers. Families might want to splash out on one of the private cabanas, with shaded lounge areas and private plunge pools. Accommodating up to twelve guests, they can be reserved in advance with a minimum spend on food and drink. Music wafts over the whole scene thanks to poolside DJs, so everyone can all enjoy the chilled Ibiza-style vibe, whether they’re working on their tan or building sandcastles in the shade.
The Kit
Attentive staff are well-versed in the wants and needs of young guests. Children are accommodated in cots or on rollaway beds and greeted by surprise gifts such as teddy bears and finger puppets. Children are included in the turn-down treats, with miniature robes and slippers, children’s toothbrushes and bathtime toiletry kits. High chairs are plentiful, and pushchairs can be arranged. The kids’ club staff can be hired for babysitting so children can be looked after by a familiar face.
The Activities
At Azure Beach, there’s an expanse of grass perfect for kicking a ball around or perfecting cartwheels, plus a rustic outdoor gym and a shaded studio area which hosts free workout classes including HIIT, TRX, yoga and Pilates. The complimentary drop-in Rixy Kids’ Club is open from 10am to 7pm and features a shaded playground with swings, plus activities including face painting, group beach games, arts and crafts and movie time, plus plenty of toys. It’s for 4–12-year-olds, but younger toddlers can also use it if supervised.
Staff can arrange water sports on the beach, or a trip to AquaFun, the world’s largest inflatable water park, which children will undoubtedly request after spying a huge floating unicorn from their bedroom window.
The Rooms
The Balearic vibes continue inside. Rooms have vast floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views across the Gulf, framing the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest Ferris wheel. Modern and minimalistic with bleached wood and stylish coloured-glass chandeliers, there are nods to the hotel’s Turkish heritage in jewel-toned accents and kilim-style motifs. The bathrooms are a highlight, with huge standalone bathtubs and separate walk-in rainfall showers, kitted out with L’Occitane toiletries.
Food and Drink
There are nine bars and restaurants within Rixos Premium JBR, including Godiva Cafe and Azure Beach, plus the buffet restaurant Turquoise. With an emphasis on Turkish cuisine, it offers shakshuka, cured meats and Turkish pastries alongside the traditional breakfast smorgasbord. Dinner options are almost overwhelming, with chefs rolling sushi and barbecuing meat, plus myriad curries, stews and salads, with plenty for vegetarians.
It’s an opportunity to try Middle Eastern delicacies, but there are also more familiar options – pizza, pasta, chips – for less adventurous little ones. The dessert spread includes at least ten types of baklava, mountains of Turkish delight and a build-your-own ice cream sundae station.
As an alternative to the buffet feast, the hotel hosts international restaurants including the upmarket steak-focused STK, poolside Greek restaurant Ammos, and the sultry Asil restaurant, which serves Turkish, Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine and hosts live music and performances by belly-dancers. An Italian restaurant, Luigia, a sports bar, Lock Stock & Barrel, and the child-friendly American burger and milkshake joint Black Tap complete the offering.
The Story
The Rixos hotel group was founded in Turkey in 2000, with the aim of bringing an air of exclusivity to the often-derided all-inclusive concept. The brand’s second hotel in Dubai, Rixos Premium JBR opened in 2017, but still feels brand-new. Unlike its sister resort on The Palm, Rixos Premium JBR is not all-inclusive, allowing guests to make the most of the buzzing JBR neighbourhood.
The Spa
The Naturelife Spa is worth carving out time to visit. Its extensive treatment menu ranges from Balinese, Thai or Swedish massage to lymphatic drainage, hot stone and sound bath options. Facials might include radiofrequency or diamond-dust exfoliation.
While children are happily occupied in Rixy Kids’ Club, parents can enjoy a couple’s treatment; otherwise, the spa offers kids’ massages. There’s also a traditional Turkish hammam, which can be booked by families, and steam rooms, saunas and ice fountains within the changing rooms.
Post-treatment, guests can enjoy herbal tea in the relaxation room overlooking the sea. Similar views can be enjoyed from the Rixgym, which is remarkably well-equipped and airy, with almost every machine and piece of equipment imaginable. There’s a hair salon, too, for that post-workout, pre-dinner blow-dry.
Eco-Friendly
Rixos was the first hotel group in the region to be certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council thanks to its ongoing commitment to sustainability. It exclusively uses Ecolabel certified chemicals and monitors its consumption of water, electricity and waste, taking measures to reduce each year-on-year. Guests will notice full-sized glass bottle toiletries and glass water bottles as part of the hotel’s pledge to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Location
With direct access to the beach, Rixos Premium JBR offers sandy toes in one direction and a wealth of tourist attractions in the other. Although the sea can be choppier than the tranquil waters of The Palm, it’s great for older children, with an array of water sports including parasailing, wakeboarding and banana boat rides.
The hotel is set on The Walk, one of Dubai’s buzziest tourist streets, a short stroll from the skyscrapers of Dubai Marina, where superyachts drift alongside traditional sightseeing dhow boats. From hurtling down the world’s longest zipline to shopping, soft-play, outdoor cinemas or Michelin-starred dining, there’s enough on offer to satisfy the whims of every family member. The airport is 45-60 minutes away, and the hotel offers a twice-daily complimentary shuttle bus to Mall of the Emirates, a 30-minute drive.
A Deluxe King Room is available from £190 per night (low season), breakfast included https://allinclusive-collection.com/en/hotel/rixos-premium-dubai-jbr
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