Best for famillies
Jumeirah Muscat Bay, a relative newcomer to the capital having opened in 2022, is part of the much-loved, much-trusted Dubai-owned hotel brand. The location, in its own exquisite sandy cove yet just 15 mins from the city centre and 40 minutes from the airport, is sensational. Two small islands in the bay draw the eye seawards and two rocky headlands embrace the resort on either side in picture-postcard symmetry – a view, in fact, that has been cleverly maximised in the hotel’s design. Guests pull up on what turns out to be the fifth floor of the hotel, where a magnificent wall of glass allows the elevated impact of the sea and sand to deliver a knock-out sense of arrival.
This hotel is neither bling nor brash (so often the way in Middle Eastern hotels) but quietly luxurious. Bland? A little, but equally super-sophisticated with essential hints of Omani craftsmanship to lift its modern Arabic style. Crucially, all 195 rooms and suites have sea views – though not all have balconies – and a handful of summerhouses and private villas are available for those wanting ultimate privacy and butler service.
Stand out features, aside from the fabulous beach, include the main, adults-only pool with its giant, shade-giving palms and nightly-lit, central fire bowl; the bright and airy Talise spa (go for the Essence of Oman massage based on therapeutic frankincense oil); and the hotel’s five restaurants – enjoy a mega breakfast at all-day-dining Peridot, a light sushi lunch at beachside Zuka, a sunset, rooftop cocktail followed by some of the best Italian food outside of Italy at Brezza.
The Jumeirah is a popular spot with a multi-cultural, multi-generational clientele many of whom are on a quick and easy break from the UAE and other GCC countries. Some guests are super-active, playing tennis, kayaking, paddle-boarding or taking day trips into the Hajar Mountains, whose spiny peaks provide a stunning backdrop to the hotel; families with younger children congregate round the dedicated family pool and kids club; sun-seekers hang out on the beach. Staff, an inordinate number of them, ensure everything works like clockwork. Jumeirah, after all, is a brand well-practised in delivering top-notch service and in ticking every box in the five-star agenda. This is an excellent and vibrant addition to Muscat’s top-of-the-range hotel scene.
jumeirah.com
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