Family Fun & Arabian Charm at Al Habtoor Grand
Jul 20, 2025 Inspire51907807775 Copenhagen, Denmark
Disclaimer 🔇
This review is written as if the construction noise didn’t exist. Unfortunately, it very much does—scroll to the bottom for the full drama. 🎧
🌍 Location & First Impressions
After checking out big-name resorts on the Palm (Atlantis, Fairmont, Sofitel), we decided to give the Jumeirah Beach area a go—and chose Al Habtoor Grand…
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Disclaimer 🔇
This review is written as if the construction noise didn’t exist. Unfortunately, it very much does—scroll to the bottom for the full drama. 🎧
🌍 Location & First Impressions
After checking out big-name resorts on the Palm (Atlantis, Fairmont, Sofitel), we decided to give the Jumeirah Beach area a go—and chose Al Habtoor Grand Resort. It’s a gorgeous beachfront property with a private beach, great facilities, and some solid family vibes.
🛏️ Rooms – ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
The rooms are stunning, with a Middle Eastern/Moroccan twist that feels stylish without being over the top. We had connecting rooms—and not just the “knock on the wall and hope” kind. They actually had a shared hallway with double doors for privacy, which should honestly be the gold standard for family travel.
The sea view was breathtaking—overlooking the beach and the Dubai Eye (wheel), and worth the upgrade. The king bed was massive and very comfortable. Bathrooms were large with separate tub and shower, though the sink was oddly low—perfect for kids, less so for adults with knees.
Housekeeping was on point: friendly, thorough, and fast. No complaints here!
🏖️ Resort – ⭐⭐⭐½☆ (3.5/5)
The location’s great—right near the JBR strip and loads of restaurants. Just keep in mind: July in Dubai is basically walking on the sun.
The main pool and infinity pool were open during our stay (July 2025), and the kids loved the two water slides. I personally wished the pool water was colder, but maybe that’s just me pretending I’m Scandinavian.
There’s a bit of a trek to get to the beach from the pool, but thankfully there’s a buggy shuttle to save your flip-flop-wearing feet.
The beach itself is beautiful—white sand, clear water, and jaw-dropping views. The downside? The neighboring beach club blasts music like it’s Coachella every day and it’s worse on Friday and Saturday night as you hear it in the rooms. If you’re into beach parties, cool. If you want peaceful waves and zen vibes… not so much.
🍳 Breakfast – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
A solid hotel breakfast: plenty of variety, good quality, and not too crowded. The coffee is good (not great—no barista), and yes, the kids were devastated that there was no Nutella. But overall, we left full and happy every morning, so no major complaints.
🍽️ Dinner – ⭐⭐⭐½☆ (3.5/5)
Dinner is served buffet-style with a rotating theme each night: we tried Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean, Arabian, and Brazilian. Some nights were packed with flavor; others were more “meh.” But there was always plenty of food and variety, and the kids were into it—which, let’s be honest, is half the battle.
Bonus: it’s much calmer than breakfast, so you can actually eat without fighting off the morning buffet crowd.
✅ Overall – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Al Habtoor Grand Resort has a lot going for it: beautiful rooms, a fantastic beach, family-friendly vibes, and excellent staff. It’s not perfect—but we still had a great holiday. If you get a good rate it’s worth considering the Al Habtoor Grand Resort.
📦 Construction Warning – ❗️🔨
Okay, here’s the real issue: there’s a massive construction site right next door. And I mean right next door. Like “lean over the balcony and wave to the crane operator” close.
The noise is constant—day and night. You’ll hear it by the pool, even in your room. We knew there was construction when we booked, but underestimated the impact. Sometimes it’s quiet and sometimes it’s a full-blown symphony of drilling, banging, and heavy machinery.
If you’re sensitive to noise or planning to relax, this might be a deal-breaker. No idea when it’ll be done, but judging by the size… not soon.
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