Dubai is well-known for its fast-paced lifestyle, towering skyscrapers and cosmopolitan vibrancy. Home to a plethora of hotels, ranging from upscale beach resorts to high-end city destinations, the city also features a great selection of addresses taking on sustainable initiatives across their services and amenities to reduce their carbon footprint wherever possible. Travellers from all over the world come to experience Dubai's well-known luxury, and sustainability seekers can also enjoy a variety of stays that have made commitments to preserve our planet.
We explore MICHELIN Guide Hotel's selection of properties that are taking greener steps across Dubai’s colourful landscape.
Bulgari Resort Dubai
This resort of Milanese origin sits on Jumeirah Bay, a peninsula stretched out onto Dubai’s crystal waters. Decked out in a blend of modern Italian interiors and Mashrabiya-style exteriors, you can expect the best of both worlds found just 15-minutes away from the bustling city centre. With Dubai’s iconic futuristic skyline behind it, the Bulgari Resort offers its guests a beach escape with a promise to integrate more sustainable practices. The low-rise luxury resort contributes to the city’s conservation efforts by joining forces with the “Give a Ghaf” - Heritage Forest project. This initiative allows their staff to participate in vast desert cleanups and plant the UAE’s national and evergreen Ghaf trees in the 500-hectare Al Wadi Nature Reserve. They also work towards reducing the use of plastic amenities, opt to have energy-saving features and solar-heated water, and take part in waste-reduction initiatives. A stay like no other, visitors can enjoy the resort’s sustainable steps, while dining at two MICHELIN-starred restaurants: two-MICHELIN-starred Italian restaurant Il Ristorante - Niko Romito, and one-MICHELIN-starred Japanese restaurant, Hōseki, both of which focus on sourcing their products locally and supporting their community.
Atlantis The Royal
Having only launched earlier this year with a star-studded event, Atlantis The Royal hotel has already cemented itself as one of the most luxurious stays in Dubai. Its unique facade of interlocking blocks sits serenely on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, with 360˚ sea-views and the city’s skyline glistening in the foreground. Sparing no expense on offering its guests the luxury experience they’re looking for, the hotel also takes part in the Atlantis Atlas Project. This initiative contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by implementing various sustainability-driven projects that aim to protect the planet. These include the installation of a water-bottling plant on-site to expel the use of plastic bottles across the hotel, initiating a programme to breed and release endangered Arabian Carpet sharks into the Arabian Gulf with intention to boost their local population and offer sustainable menus across their eateries by working with local farmers and suppliers to source their produce.
ME Dubai by Melia
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Dubai’s Burj Khalifa district, ME Dubai by Melia ticks a variety of boxes green travellers look for. The Spanish brand not only offers ultra-modern, sci-fi-like interiors and reflective exteriors, designed by the late Zaha Hadid, it also takes part in a range of sustainable practices. The hotel uses energy-efficient and waste reduction methods in all its 93 rooms and its facilities, and eco-friendly cleaning products to maintain their high hygienic standards. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s many upscale food and beverage outlets with locally sourced ingredients and produce featuring vegan menu options, while sipping their drinks without having to worry about plastic straws, thanks to its pledge to be plastic-free.
Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach
This beach resort and high-rise hotel hybrid brings a greener stay to Dubai’s sunny beachside. Located only minutes away from Jumeirah Beach’s white sands and sparkling blue sea, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach hotel offers French luxury mixed with Arabian hospitality. Being both a business hub and leisure destination, the hotel cements itself as the more sustainable option for many of its guests. Aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the hotel has taken steps to reach its goals, such as successfully eliminating all single-use plastics, using eco-friendly toiletries and eco-friendly cleaning products, having recycling and food waste reduction program, and giving guests the opportunity to reuse linens and towels as a way to engage and educate them in greener initiatives.
Taj Dubai
An address exuding opulence with unbeaten Burj Khalifa views, the Taj Dubai hotel combines contemporary style with classic Indian design that many new and returning visitors seek. Another Downtown Dubai gem, this palatial hotel allows guests to experience the city comfortably and with a clear conscience thanks to the sustainable initiatives implemented across its facilities and services. It aims to reduce its environmental impact by removing single-use plastics, offering vegan menu options, supporting local businesses and purchasing locally-sourced products, giving guests the chance to enjoy the taste of a greener Dubai. The hotel also measures and reduces its energy, water and food waste.
