Content Produced in Partnership with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Set on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai glimmers like an unnatural oasis amidst a sea of desert. One of the most luxurious cities in the world, the bustling haven is known as the business hub of the Middle East, but it has plenty for leisure travelers to enjoy as well.

Surrounded by beautiful parks, high-end shopping, pristine beaches, the Fairmont Dubai is well appointed to inspire your sense of paradise and send your imagination running wild. From the exquisite pools to the championship level golf courses, everything about the property was designed to heighten your sense of grandeur. Let’s take a tour of the huge compound.

Dubai has two seasons: hot and hotter.  The cool blue pool water is the perfect way to beat that blistering heat. Post up in a lounge chair for some tanning time while taking in the fantastic view of the Persian Gulf twinkling below. If you think you’ve found a little piece of heaven on Earth, you’re not wrong.

Need to unwind? The 40,000-square ft. Roman spa is the place to get pampered in style. The men’s and the women’s sections both feature magnificent jacuzzis and Turkish baths to sooth those sore muscles (y’know from all that shopping). Top it off with a private treatment in the relaxation room and you’ll forget about the jetlag in no time.

Dubai is famous for its breathtaking seashores, and the Fairmont certainly doesn’t disappoint. Here, you’re just steps from the sand, giving new meaning to ” city respite.” Stroll along the peaceful, sandy stretches and you’ll almost feel like you have the white world all to yourself. Pause for some seaside yoga, a SUP session or take a dip in the warm salty waters of the Persian Gulf.

Smoking hookah is common practice throughout this region of the Middle East. As you lounge outside blowing fruity smoke rings into the warm, still air, you’ll feel like you’re in a scene straight out of Arabian Nights. Cocktail in hand, this is happy hour in Dubai.

The Fairmont also keeps a well-stocked humidor for those interested in the finer things in life. Cigar connoisseurs will be particularly impressed by the stogie selection, cigar sommelier and “locker room” where you can meticulously maintain your own collection.

If you think the city was busy during the day, the nightlife pulses at an even higher frequency once the sun goes down. Nighttime is truly when Dubai springs to life. Two of Dubai’s hottest nightclubs, Cavalli and Cirque le Soir, are inside the hotel, drawing travelers from across the city to drink, dance and socialize.

When your eyes get heavy and your body says it’s time to retire, your room is within easy stumbling distance. Having recently undergone a $9.5 million renovation, all the accommodations are done to the 9s. This is the city of opulence after all and the Fairmont Dubai wouldn’t have it any other way.

Just 10 minutes from the world’s largest shopping mall and directly adjacent to the city’s famed beaches, the Fairmont is the perfect basecamp to explore everything Dubai has to offer. It’s a place of fantasy, but the reality looks pretty good too.