Review: The Dubai EDITION Hotel

On this trip I had just 24 hours in Dubai, so I decided to stay at the Dubai EDITION. The 275-room hotel opened in November 2021.

There were two reasons I decided to stay here. First of all, it was a good deal (as most hotels in Dubai are in summer). Second of all, I was kind of expecting the hotel to be a hot mess, and I figured OMAAT readers would enjoy that. I assumed that because of the drama related with the hotel’s opening, where it was going to open under a different brand, because it wasn’t up to EDITION brand standards initially.

Well, I’m happy to report that the Dubai EDITION greatly exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations. This is a solid hotel that offers good elite recognition. I’d say the main thing I didn’t love is that the public areas feel a bit more clubby than I’d prefer — it almost feels more like a W than an EDITION.

Booking the Dubai EDITION

I paid 800 AED (~$218) for my one night at the Dubai EDITION. Best of all, I booked through the Marriott STARS program, which offered additional perks, including a $100 property credit and complimentary breakfast (which is valuable, since Bonvoy elite members don’t otherwise receive free breakfast at EDITION).

As a point of comparison, the hotel would have cost a staggering 74,500 Bonvoy points if redeeming points. I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, meaning an award stay would have cost the equivalent of ~$522. Something seems very broken with award pricing, if that’s the dynamic off-season pricing (especially since the hotel was nowhere close to full, so presumably Marriott’s reimbursement rate would have been very low).

Dubai EDITION location

The EDITION is located in downtown Dubai. The hotel is about a 20 minute drive from Dubai International Airport (DXB), and just a short walk from the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. The streets around the hotel aren’t necessarily ideal for walking, but I’d say it’s still a pretty central location.

Everyone comes to Dubai for different things. Many treat Dubai as a beach destination, in which case this isn’t the place to stay. I view Dubai more as being a cosmopolitan city and I appreciate easy access to good restaurants and the airport, so I like staying in DIFC, near the creek, or downtown.

Dubai EDITION lobby & check-in

The Dubai EDITION has a rather striking lobby, with very high ceilings and a cool design. There’s a spiral staircase that goes up several floors, which gives you a sense of just how high the ceilings here are. The lobby has plenty of seating, and in the evenings there are lots of candles on, which is the primary form of lighting in the lobby.

Reception was located inside the entrance and to the left. My arrivals experience was great — as I pulled up in a taxi, a bellman helped me with my bag and escorted me to check-in. The associate checking me in was friendly, and quickly called the guest relations manager, who greeted me.

She thanked me for being a Bonvoy Titanium member and for booking through the Marriott STARS program. She…