Dubai has long been known for its luxury hotels, upscale restaurants and world-class shopping, making it a great place for a long layover en route to farther-flung destinations. However, with the arrival of more and more cultural offerings and fantastic resorts, the emirate has become a destination in its own right. With a warm climate year-round, Dubai is perfect for a short getaway when temperatures drop at home.

For a city break, we recommend staying at The Address Downtown or the Park Hyatt Dubai.

Both offer easy access to Dubai’s best restaurants, shopping and nightlife, as well as attractions like the Burj Khalifa mega-skyscraper and Al Quoz gallery district.

Families will love staying at Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach or Madinat Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf.

There are abundant family-friendly attractions in the city as well, including water parks such as Wild Wadi and Aquaventure, indoor skiing and penguin encounters at Ski Dubai, and amusement parks like Ferrari World in nearby Abu Dhabi.

For a beach escape that’s still close to the action, we love One&Only The Palm. The exclusive resort’s evocative public spaces feel like a Moorish palace, the private beach has great views of the city, and the incredible spa makes us want to stay longer.

Artisans of Leisure arranges private tours of Dubai’s top art galleries and architectural highlights.

For interested travelers, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a stay at the iconic Burj Al Arab.

To really get away from it all, we recommend spending a couple of nights at Al Maha, a high-end resort in the desert not far from the city. The resort is perfect for relaxing—all of the opulent tented suites have private plunge pools, and there’s a beautiful spa on property.

In addition, guests can enjoy activities such as falconry, sundowners among the dunes, and game drives to spot wild Arabian oryx, gazelles, birds of prey and other desert wildlife.

For more inspiration, see our private Dubai & UAE tours.

Contact an Artisans of Leisure travel specialist to begin planning a great winter getaway in Dubai.