Dubai does romance differently. While the world knows its record-breaking towers, from the Burj Khalifa to the Burj Al Arab, and its man-made islands, the city also excels at creating intimate moments. Behind its grand gestures lies a softer side. In hidden courtyards, atop gentle dunes, and beneath warm waters, here's where to discover Dubai's romantic essence.
Dining Across Sea, Sand and Sky
Pierchic
At the end of a torch-lit pier jutting into the Arabian Gulf, Pierchic evokes romance from the very first steps. The wooden walkway over water leads to evenings with waves beneath and city lights in the distance. The iconic silhouette of the Burj Al Arab is the perfect accompaniment to this unique location. Chef Beatrice Segoni brings her Amalfi Coast heritage to each plate. Seafood risotto carries memories of Italian harbours, while fresh oysters mirror the maritime setting. Request Table 9 in the corner pavilion, where floor-to-ceiling windows give beachside dining a whole new perspective.
Location: Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim
Ossiano
Ten metres beneath Atlantis The Palm, Ossiano welcomes diners to an underwater world. 65,000 marine creatures glide past as Chef Grégoire Berger crafts menus that complement the surroundings. The seven-course 'Metanoia' experience includes caviar served on mother-of-pearl and hand-dived scallops with winter truffle. Time your booking for dusk, when rays and sharks gather for their evening feed, adding a theatrical element to the atmosphere.
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah
Ninive
Ninive brings the night sky closer. The restaurant seems to float, suspended in the middle of this desert city. Designed as a contemporary majlis between a garden and a caravanserai, it captures the essence of ancient Middle Eastern courtyards, with the Burj Khalifa rising nearby. In Islamic culture, the majlis is a space where people gather – an aura filled with a quiet romance. Private cabanas offer intimate dining spaces, while Middle Eastern dishes arrive with modern twists – lamb ouzi wrapped in paper-thin pastry releases aromatic steam when opened.
Location: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre
Skyscrapers, Skylines, and Sunsets
At.mosphere
The Lounge at At.mosphere on the Burj Khalifa's 152nd floor is where Dubai unfolds like a map beneath your feet. With a revamped menu led by Executive Chef Yannis Sgard, who brings over a decade of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, this popular dining venue and lounge is perfect for both sunset and evening light shows. The haute dinner menu features French cuisine made with top-quality ingredients. Decadent dishes include oysters and Wagyu tenderloin, while the restaurant's best seats offer views of The Dubai Fountain show.
High tea brings delicate pastries served on silver trays. The Sunset Experience captures the city's best moments – when sunlight leaves Downtown's glass towers and thousands of lights take its place.
Location: Burj Khalifa, 152nd Floor, Downtown Dubai
CÉ LA VI
At 220 metres above sea level, CÉ LA VI is one of the city's highest rooftops, featuring a Restaurant, SkyBar, Club Lounge, and Pool Deck. Set between Downtown's skyscrapers, the MICHELIN-guided restaurant serves contemporary Asian dishes. Chef Howard Ko's tasting menu changes with the day – Gillardeau oysters with yuzu kosho for lunch, and Wagyu beef with fresh wasabi at night. Reserve a window banquette, where the Burj Khalifa feels close enough to touch.
Location: Address Sky View, Downtown Dubai
One&Only The Palm
One&Only The Palm is built in a Moorish-Andalusian style and refreshingly stands as one of the few low-rise hotels in Dubai. Located on the furthest tip of Palm Jumeirah, there are one of two ways to arrive – make the scenic drive to the end of The Palm's West Crescent or board the private boat chartered by the hotel's sister property, the One&Only Royal Mirage. It’s in these moments, with breezes or the sound of gentle waves, that the pace slows – a distant reminder of the city you’ve left behind.
For taking in the view of Dubai Marina’s neon-lined skyscrapers, 101 Dining Lounge is the perfect space. The cocktail menu is thematically divided into sections named after famous marinas around the world, such as St. Tropez, Ibiza, and Miami Beach. Tapas such as marinated octopus, mini kofte, and avocado croqueta provide tempting starters, with main dishes like the mixed seafood paella equally enticing.
Location: Palm Jumeirah’s Western Crescent
Private Villas and Oceanfront Escapes
Bulgari Resort Dubai
A private island minutes from downtown holds the Bulgari Resort Dubai, designed by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. Italian design is showcased throughout, from hand-picked marble to rooms that open to sea views. The resort features 20 villas with private pools and gardens, alongside a spa inspired by ancient Roman baths. Couples can enjoy treatments in overwater pavilions or dine at Il Ristorante – Niko Romito for Italian fine dining. The Yacht Club adds a touch of glamour with its marina, pool, and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
Location: Jumeirah Bay Island, near Jumeirah Beach Road
Jumeirah Al Naseem
The beachfront rooms at Jumeirah Al Naseem look out to the Burj Al Arab across garden-lined paths. Al Naseem is the most modern option within the Madinat Jumeirah Resort, an authentic recreation of ancient Arabia that captures the natural beauty of the region. The adults-only pool area gives quiet corners throughout the day, and butler service ensures that dinner can be enjoyed anywhere – from your terrace to a private beach cabana.
Tropical gardens cascade toward the ocean, providing pockets of privacy and tranquility. Unique to Dubai, the resort also has a turtle sanctuary where guests can witness the chelonians being reared and released into the wild.
Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim
Burj Al Arab
Behind the doors of Burj Al Arab, every suite covers two floors, reflecting the hotel’s reputation as one of the most luxurious destinations in the world. Butlers arrange experiences you will not find elsewhere – helicopter arrivals on the iconic helipad, in-suite spa treatments, or dinner 200 metres above the Gulf at Al Muntaha. The Royal Suite takes up the entire 25th floor, featuring a private cinema and a dining room that seats 12 – though most couples prefer dinner for two on their terrace above the clouds. The interiors are decorated with 24-carat gold accents, while the hotel’s distinctive sail-like design has made it an icon of Dubai's skyline.
Location: Umm Suqeim 3, near Jumeirah Beach
Under the Stars
Al Maha Resort
Each villa at Al Maha opens to its own infinity pool, where gazelles appear at dusk against the dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Chefs craft dinners on private terraces or in secluded spots among the sand. At dawn, the reserve takes on another side as you explore on horseback, joined only by your loved one, an Arabian stallion, and the morning stillness.
Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Ain Road
Sonara Camp
Vintage Land Rovers bring you to Sonara Camp each evening. Between the dunes, tables sit beneath strings of lights, spaced far enough apart to feel private. Chef Franck Sanna mixes French cooking with local ingredients – fresh truffle risotto is served alongside traditional lamb ouzi. After dinner, local astronomers reveal the constellations in Dubai's darkest skies.
On one of the reserve’s highest dunes is The Nest by Sonara for a more one-on-one experience. Personal chefs prepare dinner as you watch the changing light; meanwhile, oud music drifts up from traditional musicians below. The ambience feels both intimate and vast – just two places set for an evening in the middle of the desert.
Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Dubai
In a city that is designed to impress, these places understand the value of privacy and personalisation. They remind us that true romance doesn't rest just within a particular setting or a certain service, but in the ability to make the special moments feel like the rest of the world has disappeared.
