As long as you have a nice pool to chill in (literally), a summer staycation in the UAE is a fun weekend option. Here are some great deals to book…

Provided there’s a very chilled pool, a summer staycation in a UAE hotel can actually be a very pleasant way to pass a weekend.

Even more pleasing is the bill at the end of the stay – almost all of the city’s hotels offer cheaper deals over the scorching months, and so here’s a list of the best options in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and more.

Remember, daily rates will change based on when you’re booking and for what night you’re booking, so the prices quoted below won’t necessarily be exactly what you find. But they should be very close.

This is a rolling list that we’ll constantly update it as deals come in, so it’s definitely one to bookmark…

7 UAE SUMMER HOTEL DEALS

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

So what will I pay? Dhs700 a night

Valid: During Ramadan (so from about the end of May for a month)

The deal: This elegant hotel sits on a 300-metre beach in RAK and has beautiful rooms that you could spend a whole day in, there are also properly-chilled pools. Spend the night here for Dhs700 per couple per night and choose between a complimentary buffet breakfast or an in-room suhoor, depending on whether you’re fasting or not.

Side note: we can highly recommend dinner at the Lexington Grill too.

More info and bookings on website. Tel: (07) 203 5555. 

Fairmont The Palm, Dubai

So what will I pay? From Dhs585 a night minus fees and taxes

Valid: May 27 to August 30

The deal: Relax for a weekend on the Palm at this hotel that boasts four temperature-controlled pools (key in the hotter months). With this deal you will get 10% off the best available rate, free buffet breakfast at Flow Kitchen as well as free dinner or lunch there. You will also get two complimentary hours of play at the Fairmont Falcon Kids’ Club for those over 3.

More info and bookings on website. Tel: (04) 457 3388.

Anantara Qasr Al Sarab

So what will I pay? Dhs1,999 per night for a pool villa with its very own private plunge pool (yes that’s a lot, but it’s usually a lot more)

Valid: May 15 to September 30

The deal: The atmospheric Qasr Al Sarab in the Empty Quarter is well worth the three-or-so-hour drive – you’ll feel completely away from it all when nestled among the mountainous sand dunes that surround it. You can get your very own one bedroom pool villa, with breakfast for two included for Dhs1,999 a night this summer.

And yes, it will be hot, but the fact the hotel is so far out in the desert means the heat is a drier heat all summer long.

More info and bookings on website. Tel: (02) 895 8700. 

So what will I pay? We checked a random night in June and it came up as Dhs425 a night. 

Valid: May 1 to September 30

The deal: Stay at this new hotel over summer and you’ll get 20% off of the best available daily rate, as well as complimentary buffet breakfast and a 20% discount at Cafe Pronto, Arteasan and The Copper Lobster (the latter is the place to go for dinner).

Now, there’s a serious caveat here: the hotel’s beach and main pool isn’t yet ready, but they are offering a free shuttle to a neighbouring hotel’s private beach, and there is a perfectly lovely pool with a swim-up bar to use at the hotel too.

More information and bookings here. Tel: (800) 2088. 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

So what will I pay? We checked a random night in June and the room rate was Dhs420 a night (and that’s without 20% off).

Valid: May 19 to August 21

The deal: This incredibly tall and incredibly popular inner-city Dubai hotel is offering an exclusive deal for UAE residents that means 20% off of the best available rate, complimentary breakfast at Kitchen 6, and then 20% off all food and drinks at 9 of the hotel’s restaurants and bars.

And the restaurants here are all very good – we love Rang Mahal and Prime68 – so this is a great gourmand staycation option.

Plus, there’s a chilled pool, and a great spa (with 4,300 square metres of wellness facilities) where all staycation guests can get 50% off of 60-minute massages from Sunday to Thursday.

More information and bookings here. Tel: (04) 414 0000. 

Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah

So what will I pay? From Dhs280 (minus taxes)

Valid: Friday May 19 to Sunday October 8

The deal: They’re offering 20% off of the already low rate this summer. The hotel doesn’t open until May 10 so if you book it in you’ll be visiting a brand new property. It overlooks the Hajar mountains and has a huge garden – it’s in the centre of RAK’s business district so isn’t necessarily a super-obvious staycation option, but it has a pool, is creek-side and the deal is on offer until October.