Sofitel Dubai The Palm sits on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, set among lush gardens on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. The mood is tropical and Polynesian, softened with French art de vivre, across rooms, suites, family apartments and private villas. The big draw is the setting: a 500-metre private beach, one of the longest on the Palm, with six outdoor pools including an adults-only infinity pool. Dining is varied, from the steakhouse Porterhouse and the seafood Moana to Pan-Asian Hong Loong and beachside Mediterranean at Laguna Beach. The 2,500-square-metre Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane adds hammam, sauna and treatment rooms, and there is an Amura Kids Club, water sports and tennis. It suits families and couples who want a relaxed, leafy beach resort with plenty of dining and pools, away from the city’s bustle.