We recently stayed at Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach, for eight nights as a family. Overall, the hotel has many positives, but there are some significant safety and accessibility concerns that I feel need to be addressed urgently.
Before our arrival, I specifically contacted the hotel to request a lower-floor room due to my six-year-old son's medical conditions, including epilepsy, autism and hypermobility. We were allocated a room on the seventh floor, which was manageable, and I appreciated the hotel taking our circumstances into consideration.
However, during our stay, my son unfortunately experienced an epileptic seizure one morning. Thankfully, it was relatively short and did not require an ambulance. Nevertheless, the experience highlighted some very worrying concerns regarding emergency access and evacuation procedures.
The biggest issue was the lifts and lack of accessible stairways.
Throughout our entire stay, we were unable to use the stairs as an alternative to the lifts. The stairwell door on the second floor was locked, preventing access from that level.
At busy times, particularly during breakfast, we regularly experienced extremely long waits for the lifts, sometimes exceeding 30 minutes.
For a family with an autistic child who struggles with waiting and has additional medical needs, this was particularly challenging.
More concerningly, on the morning my son experienced his seizure, I was alone in our room while the rest of our family had gone downstairs for breakfast. I telephoned my husband to return and assist me, but it took him more than 20 minutes to get back to our room.
Fortunately, my son's seizure ended without requiring emergency medical intervention. However, had he required an ambulance or urgent assistance, I genuinely worry about how quickly emergency personnel could have reached our room.
My greatest concern is what would happen in the event of a fire or another emergency.
With the stairwell door locked and no alternative route available to us, we were completely reliant on the lifts.
If a fire were to occur, particularly around the first-floor breakfast area, how would guests safely evacuate without using the lifts?
This is especially concerning for families with young children, disabled guests and anyone with reduced mobility.
I appreciate that hotels may have designated emergency staircases and evacuation procedures, but these were not clearly explained or accessible to us during our stay. I believe this needs urgent clarification and investigation.
There were also some smaller issues with the breakfast service.
Although the breakfast itself was enjoyable, there could be considerable delays waiting for tea and coffee. The staff appeared extremely busy and often rushed off their feet, suggesting that additional staffing during peak periods would be beneficial.
On a positive note, the hotel has some wonderful qualities.
The staff and management were genuinely lovely, welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. I cannot fault their friendliness or hospitality.
Our rooms were beautiful, spacious and exceptionally clean. The bathrooms could benefit from modernisation, but this did not significantly affect our comfort.
The location is absolutely fantastic. Everything you could possibly need is within easy reach, making it a brilliant base for exploring Dubai and enjoying JBR.
I deliberately chose not to raise these concerns during our holiday because the staff were so welcoming and I did not want to overshadow what was otherwise an enjoyable family experience.
However, having reflected on what happened with my son, I feel it is important to highlight the potential safety implications.
My overall rating would be 4 out of 5 stars.
The hotel deserves recognition for its excellent staff, cleanliness and location, but the lift delays, apparent lack of accessible stairs and uncertainty surrounding emergency evacuation procedures are serious issues that should not be overlooked.
I would genuinely consider returning, but only if I could be reassured that appropriate emergency access and evacuation arrangements are in place, particularly for guests with disabilities and complex medical needs.
I hope management takes these concerns seriously, as guest safety should always be the highest priority.
