Best Gay Friendly Hotels in Dubai

In 1991, there was just one sole lonely skyscraper in Dubai: the Dubai World Trade Centre. Fast forward 3 decades, the city has mushroomed with over 400, including the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa (830m / 2,723ft). Dubai's growth over the past 30 years has accelerated its reputation from a desert city to one of the the most exciting and modern places in the world, earning it the nickname: the Las Vegas of the Middle East.

Dubai is also a major transport hub, making it a useful stopover to break up a long flight. Whether you're visiting on a holiday or a layover, it's always a fun place to come for beach time, shopping and some fascinating culture.

Gay travelers should be mindful that homosexuality is illegal in Dubai, so take care to avoid all public displays of affection. Despite this, a large underground LGBTQ scene does exist, particularly among the large cabin crew staff who live here.

In terms of gay, male-only hotels or gay resorts, there are none!

Your friend in destinations like these are the large international brands, which are accustomed to LGBTQ travelers and will always welcome us.

Gay travel to Dubai

It goes without saying that LGBTQ travelers need to exercise caution in Dubai. It is one of the seven “Emirates” of the United Arab Emirates, a country with extremely severe laws against homosexuality, punishable by death. Each Emirate within the UAE has its own legal system running alongside the UAE's and Dubai's punishes homosexuality with with imprisonment and/or a fine.

The reality for gay travelers to Dubai is that you will be fine as long as you avoid public displays of affection and appreciate that you need to go back in the closet! If you're caught with your trousers down with another man in public, the likely outcome is an arrest, temporary imprisonment and deportation.

Can I sleep in a double bed with my partner?

Due to the very harsh anti-gay laws, most guesthouses and small hotels in Dubai will require two men to sleep in two separate beds. Large international hotel brands like the ones we've set out in this article, will allow you to book a double bed with no problems. They are accustomed to dealing with LGBTQ travelers and will have trained their staff accordingly.

One thing we would advise if you're concerned about booking a double bed is to email or call the hotel before to confirm they're ok to host gay travelers/gay couples.

From our experience travelling to Dubai as a gay couple, we never encountered a problem sleeping in a double bed, particularly in the hotels we recommend in this article; in other words, no sharia police came knocking at our door here!

SOFITEL DUBAI PALM RESORT AND SPA

The Sofitel Palm Resort and Spa is our favourite gay friendly hotel in Dubai. This beautiful 5-star resort is perfect if you're looking for a romantic and luxurious place to stay.

The hotel is built in a Polynesian style featuring stunning suites, villas and rooms overlooking the beach, and surrounded by lush tropical gardens.

The Sofitel Palm Resort and Spa has no less 6 restaurants, 4 bars/lounges, a luxury spa, fitness centre, 6 swimming pools and a private beach where you can relax in your own Tiki cabana. It is located on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, which is the largest man-made island in the world. It's also close to the Aquaventure Waterpark and provides guests with free shuttle buses to some of the attractions located further away.

THE HILTON JUMEIRAH

The Hilton is a well known international American chain so you shouldn't have any issues staying here as a gay traveller. This is the hotel of choice for many of our gay friends who visit Dubai for a weekend shopping spree.

The Sky Lounge is one of the best rooftop bars we've been in Dubai. We love coming here for a romantic sunset cocktail or Sunday brunch.

The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is a 5-star resort, located in the heart of Dubai’s shopping street called “The Walk” and close to the Wild Wadi Waterpark. It has its own spa, health club, private beach and no fewer than 12 restaurants!

ALOFT ME'AISAM

Aloft is a trendy international brand, well known for their gay friendly reputation.

We've stayed in several Aloft hotels during our travels, particularly in Tampa, Florida. We're fond of the young, hip and chic feel of Aloft hotels, which is targeted towards Millennials.

The Aloft Me’aisam in Dubai is an excellent choice for gay travelers looking for a stylish but more affordable gay friendly hotel than the 5-star resorts. It has a spa, international restaurant and cool W XYZ Bar, which often has live music, DJ and Happy Hours.

LE ROYAL MERIDIEN

Le Royal Meridien is the place to come to be pampered and feel like a goddess… It is, after all, one of the most luxurious hotels in Dubai.

Their decadent spa is what makes Le Royal Meridien unique. Decorated in a Roman-style architecture, it offers a choice of 5 Hammam pools with many different treatments including reflexology, facials and aromatherapy.

Surrounded by landscaped gardens overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Le Meridien offers a private beach and three different pools. The rooms, suites and apartments are massive and tastefully decorated. They include an evening turn-down service and even your own private butler. Le Royal Meridien has no fewer than 14 international restaurants and bars including the award winning “Maya” Mexican restaurant.

HYATT REGENCY DUBAI

The Hyatt is world famous for being gay friendly. It has its own initiative called “Hy Pride” and is recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality.

The Hyatt Regency is located in Deira, the heritage heart of Dubai. It's also walking distance to the Gold Souk, one of the best traditional markets of Dubai.

The Hyatt Regency Dubai has a large pool, spa, fitness club and an indoor ice-skating rink! It also has the only revolving rooftop bar of Dubai called “Al Dawaar” along with 3 restaurants, a pool bar and the Premiere Nightclub.

Grosvenor House Hotel And Apartments

There are few hotels in Dubai with a location as alluring as the gay-friendly Grosvenor House Hotel and Apartments. Lying at the northern end of the Dubai Marina, the luxury hotel is less than 10 minutes to ‘The Walk.’ Plus, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to the Mall of the Emirates. If that wasn’t enough, thrill-seekers will find adventure right outside the hotel in the form of Skydive Dubai. It offers thrilling tandem skydiving experiences over the spectacular Palm Jumeriah, one of the most visually exciting places in the world. Evenings are meant for enjoying breath-taking 360-degree views of the glittering Dubai skyline from the Bar 44 perched atop the Grosvenor.

Discerning LGBTQ travelers will love the sophistication and elegance of the Grosvenor. Plush carpets, mahogany furnishings, and marble floors dot the entire two-tower hotel, which has a sleek white walkway connecting them. A classy cavernous lobby is peppered with contemporary sculptures and tons of natural light. Soak all your troubles away at the Asian-themed spa with dragon motifs, lanterns, and dark wood screens. Shaded outdoor pools make swimming and lounging in the afternoon a comfy affair. In fact, the hotel even has regular shuttles to its sister property Le Royal Méridien nearby, which also has a perfect, white-sand beach.

Rooms, even the entry-level ones, feature tasteful hues, dark-wood furniture, hi-tech mod-cons, and even 24/7 butler service. Luxurious Bulgari amenities dot the spacious bathrooms, making Grosvenor the very zenith of luxury.

Zabeel House MINI Al Seef By Jumeirah

With budget no longer being an unspeakable term in Dubai, designer boutique hotels make for a great affordable option for the younger LGBTQ set. The upscale casual Zabeel House MINI is one such gay-friendly hotel, complete with an urban fun vibe that focuses on the guest experience.

A large designer lobby peppered with modernist furniture and funky artwork is perceptibly mood uplifting. Four swings hang in the middle to get guests into the ‘Dubai vacation’ mode. The creative hangout with bright pops of colors is an Instagrammer’s inspiration. Smart-chic rooms are designed for intrepid explorers and boast of subtle retro music themes. Sound mixer controls are repurposed as bathroom hangers and there are vintage telephones in each room. Plus, vibrant ceiling maps of Dubai and magazines detailing the history of 70s rock easily make it one of the coolest hotel rooms ever. Rooms at Zabeel House MINI don’t scrimp on mod cons either.

Apart from two restaurants, Zabeel House MINI has a common courtyard space, a well-equipped gym for fitness fanatics, steam room, sauna, and treatment rooms. The two-kilometer-long promenade right outside the hotel runs alongside the Dubai Creek and is a fabulous place for a stroll or run.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

If you’re looking for a gay-friendly hotel with the urge to splurge, the Westin Dubai is here to pamper you to your heart’s content.

Neoclassical architecture, high ceilings, marble floors, grand pillars, and muted desert tones dot the grand property. Serious fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the resort’s water-sports center with wakeboarding, windsurfing, and water skiing, the spacious gym, and four floodlit tennis courts. Water babies can choose from five pools which also includes a decadent lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar. Lesire lovers can head off to the sumptuous spa which is known for its soothing range of massages.

The palatial hotel is nestled along a private stretch of beach right outside the Palm Jumeirah neighborhood. If you do get out of all the pampering and decadence, Westin has a tram stop right outside. It’ll get you to Palm Jumeirah Monorail and Dubai Metro links quickly.

Suites and rooms all come with the signature and super-comfy Westin Heavenly Beds plus a bevy of other mod-cons. The private balconies with sweeping sea views are perfect for curling up with a book, some music, and a cuppa.

Being a female Independent Dubai escort I have researched and end-up finding above mentioned hotels where gay's can stay without any issues but again please read the first part of my content where I have clearly mentioned about safety and security.