There are some beautiful spots in the Middle East to travel to. Fittingly, there are equally stunning hotels to stay in. If you’re looking for an Instagrammable hotel to stay in, there are some gorgeous places from UAE to Jordan and beyond.
Wanderlust incoming: from breathtaking desert retreats to avant garde mansions, island escapes and city-based stunners, these photogenic, bucket-list worthy destinations all have one thing in common: they’re strong contenders for the most Instagrammable hotels in the Middle East.
Atlantis The Palm, UAE
The pink-hued, tower-topped façade with its fairy castle feel. The iconic central archway. The monumental size of the place. Yep, the longstanding jewel on The Palm’s crown offers Instagram inspo in spades. Whether you’re dining aquarium-side at Ossiano, marvelling at the sheer scale of the brunch offering at Saffron, lazing and luxuriating on the gleaming golden sand at WHITE beach or making a splash at the world’s largest waterpark, we guarantee your camera phone will be in constant use.
Palm Jumeirah, atlantis.com/dubai (04 426 2000).
Koza Cave Hotel, Turkey
You might initially seek to stay at Koza Cave Hotel in order to snag a space on their rooftop terrace with its uninterrupted views of Cappadocia’s iconic hot air balloons and incredible ancient rock formations, dubbed Turkey’s famed “fairy chimneys”. The appeal of this carved-into-a-cave 10-room hotel doesn’t end there though. An eco-friendly, sustainable chic feel runs throughout, the hospitality is second to none and the small central courtyard is ever so pretty. Make sure your phone is charged.
Göreme, kozacavehotel.com.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, UAE
Does majestic do the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara justice? Perhaps not. Let’s try sublime, unique and seriously stunning, too. Often tipped as the “Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World”, the secluded five-star desert property manages to fuse culture and tradition with opportunities for adventure and a real sense of escapism, while still keeping the ultra-luxe vibes strong.
Qasr Al Sarab Road, www.anantara.com, infoqas@anantara.com (02 886 2088).
La Maison Bleue, Egypt
Architectural marvel meets modern Art Deco dream at this extravagant 19th century-inspired Mediterranean mansion on the Red Sea coast. Each of the hotel’s 11 suites has been individually decorated in sumptuous style – think oversize chandeliers, antique furniture, gleaming parquet floors, intricately patterned period rugs and plenty of pastels. Even if it might not be entirely to your taste, there’s certainly something memorable, and highly Instagrammable, about adults-only La Maison Bleue.
El Gouna, Red Sea Coast. lamaison-bleue.com.
La Mamounia, Morocco
A lesson in made-for-Instagram luxury awaits at this celebrity-approved spot. La Mamounia’s magnificent indoor and outdoor pools, marble fountains, lavish royal gardens and gleaming courtyards resplendent with ornate Moorish-influenced tiles provide unabashedly opulent photo ops a-plenty. The underground spa is as impressive as you’d expect from such a palatial place. When you feel peckish, the fine dining options are abundant are worthy of more photo-taking.
Marrakesh, mamounia.com.
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
Nestled into the dramatic Musandam Peninsula and flanked by a stunning white sand beach and the glittering azure blue Gulf of Oman, picture postcard pretty doesn’t do this place justice. Luxurious without being ostentatious, Six Senses offers a masterclass in how to do rustic, barefoot chic right. Your only worry here is where to start with the photo-taking: the open plan, natural stone villas cry out to be snapped for social, but so too do the views from fine-dining hilltop restaurant Sense on the Edge. That said, the inquisitive mountain goats that wander freely around the resort surely deserve a spot on your Insta grid, as do the beachside hammocks, organic gardens and impressive breakfast spreads. Where to start shooting?
Dibba, Oman, www.sixsenses.com/zighy-bay, (00968 2673 5555).
Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel, Jordan
A stay in one of the bubble pods at Wadi Rum is not to be missed and should, of course, be dutifully documented on social media. Thanks to the lack of light pollution at this hidden-in-the-mountains, middle-of-the-desert spot, the star -gazing verges on the otherworldly. If you’re fearful of being too far off the grid, worry not, you’re in glamping territory which means the bubble domes come equipped with creature comforts (air conditioning, lounge area and an en suite bathroom).
Wadi Rum, wadirumbubble.com.
Burj Al Arab, UAE
Frequently referred to as the world’s most luxurious hotel, the seven-star, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab should more than deliver the goods when it comes to Instagram-worthy moments. Snap and sip away at alchemy-inspired drinks at glitzy Gilt bar and score the ultimate sun lounger shot from the expansive 100m infinity pool out on The Terrace. Keep your eyes peeled for helicopters landing on that famed helipad and don’t forget to photograph the world-renowned fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms. The list really does go on.
Umm Suqeim, jumeirah.com/en/stay/dubai/burj-al-arab-jumeirah (04 432 3232).
Zaya Nurai Island, UAE
On Zaya Nurai Island (aka the Maldives of the UAE), the palm trees sway gracefully (hello, IG Stories), the pure white sand gleams and the turquoise ocean shimmers. Begin recording your stay as you arrive by speedboat and we doubt you’ll stop. From villas replete with infinity pools to secluded six-bedroom beach estates boasting private stretches of sand, the accommodation is exquisite and the set-over-water spa with its floor-to -ceiling windows is quite rightly award-winning. Other scroll-stoppers include tepee-style tents, ziplines, an outdoor cinema, and of course those Insta-favourite sea swings at the Smokin’ Pineapple.
Zaya Nurai Island, zayanuraiisland.com (02 506 6222).
