It’s official: five regional hotels have been named among the World’s 50 Best. Compiled by the World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy— a group of more than 800 anonymous leaders in the hotel industry— the annual ranking highlights the properties that deliver the best stays, services and, of course, the sweetest sleep and rest.
Leading the pack is Atlantis The Royal in Dubai at No. 6, just shy of the top five. Close behind, the Royal Mansour in Marrakech lands at No. 13, followed by Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab at No. 20. Then comes the iconic La Mamounia in Marrakech at No. 30, and finally The Lana Dubai at No. 31.
Beyond simply listing top getaways, the ranking also offers a glimpse into what global hospitality culture looks like today, where it’s heading, and which destinations are defining, and redefining, what luxury can look and feel like in this day and age.
Now in its third round, the panel aims to recognise “the many levels on which hotels operate, as well as the people behind them— celebrating the most outstanding establishments and the individuals who bring them to life.”
Since the ranking launched in 2023, the UAE and Morocco have maintained a consistent presence on the list— even if it’s largely been the same properties trading places year in year out. In the inaugural edition, La Mamounia in Marrakech debuted at No. 6, followed by Royal Mansour, also in Marrakech, at No. 23, and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai at No. 44. The following year saw Royal Mansour slip to No. 38 and La Mamounia to No. 31, while The Lana in Dubai entered at No. 23 and Atlantis The Royal climbed to an impressive No. 9.
With Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman rapidly expanding their respective hospitality industries, the hope is that future editions will reflect the region’s wider diversity.