Abu Dhabi and Dubai are two destinations ever-present on both business and leisure travel lists as places that redefine the concept of travel, especially with the start of new construction on an island, indoor activity park or the most opulent hotel of all time. With hotels and resorts boasting 7-, 8- and 9-star rankings, choosing accommodations can be the hardest decision to make when planning a visit. There’s really no wrong choice, with each luxury property reaching new heights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

WHERE LIFE HAPPENS. The philosophy behind The Address Hotels + Resorts, launched in May 2008 by Emaar Hospitality, perfectly encapsulates the hotel brand’s design-focused, personal and approachable warmth and hospitality. Five Dubai properties reside in some of the city’s most exclusive enclaves: The post-modern Address Hotel Downtown Dubai; The Address Dubai Mall, overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the shopping/entertainment hub of Dubai Mall; The Address Hotel Dubai Marina, surrounded by crystal waters and luxury yachts; The Address Montgomerie Dubai, whose 265 acres of lush green fairways create a business and leisure getaway; and The Palace Downtown Dubai, on a lake in Old Town Island, offering old-world luxury near the area’s top attractions. The Address Hotels + Resorts are more than just 5-star hotels but also residences, allowing residents and long-term visitors to call some of the world’s hottest addresses home. In May 2014, Wolfgang Puck debuted his popular CUT steakhouse at The Address Downtown Dubai. Technology highlights include eLifestyle, a state-of-the-art room automation service and an innovative iPad application to ease the guest experience and the check-in/check-out process. Coming up next, an Address property is set to open in Abuja Centenary City, Nigeria.

Burj Al Arab Assawan
Amphitheatre © Burj Al Arab

PART OF THE Emaar Hospitality family, Vida Hotels and Resorts offers inspired boutique properties designed with the next-generation traveler in mind. A few buzzwords describe the brand’s essence: tech-savvy, fun, playgrounds, freedom, inspired. On-site staff known as Dream Makers act as guides to a guest’s first-rate experience. Two properties are currently open: Vida Downtown Dubai and Manzil Downtown Dubai. A slate of hotels in development include Vida Residence Downtown Dubai; Vida Residence, The Hills; and Vida Town Square Dubai. Expect to hear much more from Vida, a brand that’s just beginning.

BRAND-NEW TO the scene is Taj Dubai, opened in late March 2015 in the downtown, Burj Khalifa neighborhood, steps from the 1,200 stores of Dubai Mall. The hotel features the first Chambers club outside of India, a membersonly enclave for business travelers. Beautiful Indian artistry is incorporated into each of the 296 rooms, including two over-the-top suites on the 33rd and 35th floors. Five dining outlets, a Club Lounge with a rooftop terrace and the Jiva fitness center and spa round out the opulent offerings at this new hotel from one of Asia’s finest hotel groups.

GET LOST IN the lost world of Atlantis at Atlantis, The Palm, opened in 2008 on Dubai’s manmade Palm Island. Redefining the idea of a resort, the property overflows with attractions and amenities. Perfect for the family, Atlantis boasts 65,000 marine animals and Aquaventure Waterpark on site, as well as three private beaches and the ultra-cool Nasimi Beach Club. Guestrooms offer sea, beach and skyline views; and the signature underwater suite defies explanation. A total 23 restaurants and bars serve 28 worldwide cuisines. Oh, and there’s a spa and shopping, too.

JUMEIRAH HOTELS & Resorts made a mark not only in the Middle East but also around the world with properties in Baku, Bodrum, Frankfurt, İstanbul, Kuwait, London, the Maldives, Mallorca, Rome and Shanghai. But Dubai is home, with seven Jumeirah properties and Wild Wadi Waterpark, situated in the best Dubai locales and including Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Jumeriah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and Jumeirah Living at World Trade Centre. Madinat Jumeirah encompasses a complex of two hotels, 29 traditional summer houses and 40 restaurants and bars — a city within a city. The Jumeirah experience is tailored to the traveler — be it a family, a business traveler or a couple seeking a romantic experience — around the world. Rising dramatically from the Abu Dhabi skyline, Jumeirah is also located in the capital city with Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, five towers housing residences, offices and the hotel. Pursuing expansion across the globe, Jumeirah continues to grow at home in the Middle East and North Africa, with plans for hotels in Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Oman.

Yas Viceroy Hotel Abu Dhabi © Epastor16 | Dreamstime.com

WHATEVER YOUR SPEED, chances are you can find it at Yas Viceroy, where you can spend the day watching daily races at the nearby Formula 1 race track or lounging on the beach. The have-it-your-way experience is even evident in the hotel design, where curves and lines reminiscent of the race cars’ momentum offset modern elegance. Eleven dining concepts finish off a truly unique experience on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, home to Ferrari World and a number of other fast- or slow-paced must-sees.

THIS IS JUST a taste of what awaits visitors to the United Arab Emirates. With each new hotel more opulent than the last and hotels defying the 5-star label already the norm, travelers can expect to be dazzled. Perhaps the gold standard is Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, defined by guestrooms of gold and marble, private butlers, 114 ornate 60-foot-high domes and a large on-site hotel conference center.

Also making waves in Abu Dhabi are two St. Regis properties, one on the Corniche and the other on the white-sand beaches of Saadiyat Island. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island opened in 2011 near the newsworthy Saadiyat Cultural District, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi scheduled to open this year. The more central location of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi offers views of Abu Dhabi Corniche; and the Abu Dhabi suite, located on the skybridge between the two Nation Towers, enjoys a remarkable 360-degree vantage.

Anantara Hotels offers travelers super-luxe escapes in Abu Dhabi. Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Sir Bani Yas island is now accessible by regional jet service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. With a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local culture, the resort also offers nature and wildlife walks and drives. On the other end, Qasr Al Sarab rises like a luxury oasis from the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world. Amid the relaxation and spa indulgences, guests can enjoy camel trekking, fat biking, desert walks, falconry, dune bashing and desert sailing. In Dubai, Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa brings Asian style to the island, with Thai architecture, cuisine from Asia and guest experiences including Thai cooking classes.

Hyatt Capital Gate, known as the ‘Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi’ © Oleg Zhukov | Dreamstime.com

Before checking out of Abu Dhabi, make a point to visit the Guinness World Record-holding Capital Gate Building, at a record-breaking 18-degree recline. The 189-room Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi affords travelers the unique opportunity to spend the night in the “Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi.” Opened in 2013, the 34 stories of reflective glass of the Rosewood Abu Dhabi shimmer and glow, day or night, suggesting the movement of the nearby Arabian Gulf and standing out not only for its unique architecture but also for its service.

RECOGNIZED AS THE world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai made its mark on the Dubai landscape in 2012. With more than 1,600 rooms and suites on 72 floors, it certainly makes a splash in the busy Dubai hospitality landscape. Two Sofitel properties in Dubai bring a French flair to the Middle East. The 350 rooms of the Sofitel Dubai Burj Downtown feature striking design, while the Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach boasts a seaview pool, state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities and an exclusive private lounge for Club guests.

Luxury is the name of the game in this part of the world, and for above-board beach experiences, Rixos The Palm Dubai and One&Only The Palm Dubai are standouts. A second One&Only — One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai — occupies 65 acres of gardens and water features.

Travelers to Dubai will find 15 Rotana Hotels and Resorts in a variety of city and resort locations, with 11 more on offer in Abu Dhabi. JA Resorts & Hotels offers five 5-star Dubai properties. One to watch? Palazzo Versace, coming soon to further elevate the supremely luxurious U.A.E. hospitality scene.