The UAE has strengthened its standing on the global luxury travel map, with three Dubai hotels securing spots on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list.
The prestigious annual ranking, announced in London, celebrates outstanding hospitality destinations across six continents and 22 countries.
UAE Leads the Middle East in Global Hospitality
At the forefront of the UAE’s achievement is Atlantis The Royal, which earned the No.6 spot globally.
The Palm Jumeirah icon also received the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award 2025.
Joining Atlantis The Royal on the list are two more Dubai properties:
- Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab — ranked No.20
- The Lana, Dorchester Collection — ranked No.35
Global Winners and Industry Trends
At the top of this year’s list is Rosewood Hong Kong, crowned The World’s Best Hotel 2025 and Best Hotel in Asia.
The iconic waterfront property has consistently ranked among the top three since the awards’ launch in 2023.
Asia dominated the 2025 list with 20 hotels, followed by Europe (17), North America (6), Africa (3), Oceania (2), and South America (2). This year’s edition also welcomed 20 new entries from 16 destinations, including Australia, India, and Brazil, underscoring the diversity and dynamism of global luxury tourism.
Spotlight on Excellence and Innovation
Several hotels and individuals received special recognitions for excellence in design, innovation, and sustainability:
- Best Boutique Hotel: Passalacqua (No.4), Lake Como
- Eco Hotel Award: Desa Potato Head (No.18), Bali
- Best New Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (No.14), Beijing
- Icon Award: Ian Schrager
- Art of Design Award: Singita – Kruger National Park (No.40), South Africa
- Most Admired Hotel Group: Four Seasons
- Highest Climber: Royal Mansour (No.13), Marrakech
- Highest New Entry: Copacabana Palace (No.11), Rio de Janeiro
- Best Beach Hotel: Atlantis The Royal (No.6), Dubai
- Art of Hospitality Award: Soneva Fushi (No.28), Maldives
- One to Watch Award: Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
How the World’s 50 Best Hotels Are Chosen
The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is curated by William Reed, the same organization behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars. It reflects the opinions of over 800 global experts, including hoteliers, journalists, travelers, and hospitality professionals.
The Academy is divided into 13 regions, each overseen by an Academy Chair. To maintain fairness, 25% of the panel is renewed each year. Each member votes for seven hotels they have personally stayed in within the last 24 months.
Strict guidelines ensure transparency:
- All votes are confidential and anonymous.
- Voters must have stayed at the hotel for at least one night.
- Complimentary or press stays are accepted if they occurred during the voting period.
- Voters cannot vote for hotels where they hold a financial or professional interest.
- Hotels cannot apply or campaign to be listed.
There are no fixed criteria, allowing voters to define “the best” based on design, service, atmosphere, location, or overall guest experience.
