Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai is a five-star beachfront resort on Pearl Jumeira, where contemporary design meets views across the Arabian Gulf. The mood is relaxed but lively, with the resort's barefoot luxury style carried through its rooms, suites, private villas and beach club. It suits couples, friends and families who want a Dubai address with a beach on the doorstep.

You can choose between rooms, suites and villas. Covet and Luux rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony or terrace, with Dubai skyline or Arabian Gulf views, and some open straight onto the pool and beach. Signature and Luux suites add a separate living room with a dining table. Top-floor two bedroom suites look over the Gulf, and the largest has a private plunge pool. Villas come with a private pool and terrace, from one bedroom to the three bedroom Ultimate Villa. The Celebration Suite, at 1,045 square metres, is Dubai's largest suite and has its own infinity pool.

Watersports run daily from 8am until sunset in partnership with Water World Sports, from jet skiing and kayaking to stand-up paddle boarding, flyboarding and scuba diving. The beach club hosts weekly happenings with resident DJs and live musicians, including a Tuesday ladies day, a Saturday poolside brunch and a Sunday brunch, and is open to guests aged sixteen and over. The resort pool and beach are family friendly, so children can play while adults relax.

The beach stretches for more than half a kilometre, with soft sands and turquoise water. Behind it you will find a newly renovated pool, private cabanas, a beach bar, an ice bath and exercise stations, plus an infinity pool and quieter lounging areas. Nikki Spa has seven treatment suites for men and women and one for couples, alongside a hammam chamber, sauna, steam rooms, ice fountains and an outdoor vitality pool. Treatments use Epicuren Discovery, and Zelens facials are also offered. Tone Gym has Technogym equipment for strength, cardio and balance work, open daily.

Four venues cover the day. Café Nikki is an all-day bistro with indoor and outdoor seating and views of the water. Bungalo34, a standalone Tashas Group restaurant, serves Mediterranean dishes inspired by Greece, France and Italy. Soul Lounge sits in the lobby with spritz cocktails, shareable bites and shisha, moving from chill tunes by day to DJ mixes after sunset. Nikki Beach Restaurant and Beach Club serves coastal cuisine beside the pool and sand. Twenty-four hour in-room dining is also available.

Dubai International Airport is a 25-minute drive away, and Al Maktoum International Airport is around 50 minutes. The concierge can arrange private transfers, helicopter transfers and yacht charters. Beyond the resort, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates all belong on a Dubai itinerary, while families can head to Dubai Parks and Resorts. October to April is the cooler season, which suits time outdoors.