One&Only One Za'abeel

It takes something special to stand out amid the futuristic, ultra-luxurious hotels on Dubai’s rapidly expanding skyline. One&Only One Za’abeel features not one but two shiny high-rises, connected by the world’s largest cantilever — and the cantilever is topped by the longest infinity pool in the UAE, dazzling and vertigo-inducing, more than 30 floors up from street level.

Japanese architects Nikken Sekkei drew up the hotel’s ambitious design, and One&Only, best known for its high-end hotels in places like Greece, Mexico, and the Maldives, infused the interiors with their signature beach resort aesthetic. There’s still a somewhat formal atmosphere in many areas of the hotel — this is Dubai, after all — but One&Only’s various entertainment venues have a distinctly festive vacation vibe. In addition to the show-stopping infinity pool, with its timber-lined pool deck and Japanese-Peruvian bar and restaurant, there’s a quieter Balinese-inspired pool and garden on the fourth level, a sleek three-story spa, and an array of award-winning eateries and glamorous cocktail bars.

With so much on offer, the rooms and suites could feel like an afterthought. But they’re a getaway on their own, spacious and light-filled with floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist décor, custom bath products, and spa-like bathrooms, many with soaking tubs. All have sweeping city views, and some face Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. One&Only One Za’abeel calls itself the first urban vertical resort, and while competitors in the same category remain to be seen, a hotel this striking may just convince beachgoers to try a vacation in the big city.