Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s leading hotel group and Europe’s third largest, will bring its luxury Gran Meliá brand to the UAE for the first time with the opening of J1 Hotel, a Gran Meliá Hotel, in Dubai’s Jumeirah 1 in Q4 2027.
First announced in 2025, the 366-room and suite property
will feature 40 accommodations with private pools, direct beach access and
ocean views.
It will become Meliá Hotels International’s third Dubai
property, joining Meliá Desert Palm and ME by Meliá Dubai.
The hotel is being positioned as a destination centred on
design, dining and wellbeing, with four swimming pools, landscaped outdoor and
retail spaces, a ballroom, meeting and event facilities, a fitness centre and
rooftop terrace.
Food and beverage will be a major focus, with an expanding
collection of restaurants.
New additions include Jul’s, a Greek-led concept originating
in Ibiza and recently expanded to London, which will make its Dubai debut at J1
Hotel.
Tala, a Pan-Middle Eastern restaurant overlooking the
marina, will combine Riviera-inspired design with the atmosphere of an Arabic
majlis, featuring a show kitchen, private dining, terrace and VIP lounge.
The new venues will join four previously announced concepts.
Zuma Beach House will become Zuma’s first beachfront location in the Middle
East, occupying a 140-metre private beach and combining Japanese izakaya-style
cuisine with a pool.
On the rooftop, Park Chinois will bring its Mayfair-inspired
Chinese dining and nightlife concept to Dubai, with resident and international
DJs and views across the city skyline. Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club will
also join the collection, offering Mediterranean cuisine, a private beach area,
luxury cabanas and an all-day dining experience.
A further all-day restaurant concept, evolving from
breakfast and daytime dining into a more refined evening setting, will be
announced closer to opening.
Wellness will extend beyond a traditional hotel spa.
J1 Hotel will feature Journée Wellbeing, managed by Waring
Wellbeing Hospitality, combining traditional treatments, advanced therapies,
visiting practitioners, fitness and social wellness experiences.
The rooftop sanctuary will include offerings such as Aufguss
sauna ceremonies and group Reformer Pilates.
Pedro Neto has been appointed General Manager.
He brings more than 20 years of luxury hospitality
experience, including 17 years with Four Seasons and leadership roles across
Europe, the Caribbean, the US and Portugal.
The opening marks another step in Meliá’s strategy to expand
its premium and luxury portfolio.
At J1 Hotel, Gran Meliá’s Spanish luxury positioning will be
expressed through personalised service, design, dining, wellbeing and
experiences aimed at both hotel guests and Dubai’s wider social and dining
community. -TradeArabia News Service