Opening in Q4 2027, the beachfront J1 Hotel, a Gran Meliá Hotel will bring together 366 rooms and suites, destination dining and a new rooftop wellbeing concept in Jumeirah 1…
First announced in 2025, J1 Hotel will feature 366 rooms and suites overlooking the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline, including 40 accommodations with private pools. The beachfront property will bring together an extensive collection of restaurants and bars, a dedicated rooftop wellness offering, four swimming pools, landscaped outdoor and retail spaces, a ballroom, meeting and event facilities, a fitness centre and rooftop terrace.
Image credit: Gran Meliá / J1 Hotel
Named after its Jumeirah 1 location, J1 Hotel will become Meliá Hotels International’s third property in Dubai, joining Meliá Desert Palm, part of The Meliá Collection portfolio and ME Dubai. The opening marks the next step in Meliá Hotels International’s continued expansion of its premium and luxury portfolio. Known for its distinctive expression of Spanish luxury, Gran Meliá combines intuitive service and exceptional experiences with an approach shaped by the character of each destination.
J1 Hotel is set to become a new dining destination for Dubai, bringing together internationally renowned names alongside concepts making their city debut. Among the latest additions are Jul’s and Tala. Originally from Ibiza, Jul’s recently opened its flagship restaurant in London and will now bring its Greek-led concept to J1 Hotel with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a ‘no limit cuisine’ philosophy that draws on flavours and techniques from beyond traditional Greek cooking. Tala, meanwhile, will offer Pan-Middle Eastern dining overlooking the marina. Conceived as a ‘Sunlit Marina Majlis’, the restaurant will combine Riviera-inspired design with the intimacy of an Arabic majlis, featuring a main dining room, show kitchen, private dining, terrace and VIP lounge.
Image credit: Gran Meliá / J1 Hotel
They join the previously announced Zuma Beach House, Park Chinois and Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club. Set along a 140-metre private beach adjacent to the hotel, Zuma Beach House will become the brand’s first beachfront location in the Middle East and its second lifestyle destination following Mykonos, combining its Japanese izakaya-style cuisine with a pool, lounge and bar. On the rooftop, Mayfair-born Park Chinois will bring its signature after-dark experience to Dubai, pairing refined Chinese cuisine and the glamour of 1930s Shanghai with resident and international guest DJs overlooking the city skyline.
Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club will bring its Mediterranean concept to J1 Hotel following its Los Angeles launch in 2024, with a semi-private beach, bar and private cabanas alongside a menu centred on seasonal ingredients, handmade pasta, wood-fired cooking, premium meats and fresh seafood. The wider collection will also feature an all-day dining concept, moving from breakfast and lighter daytime dishes through to sunset and dinner, with further details and additional concepts to be announced ahead of opening. Together, the collection will establish J1 Hotel as a dining destination for both hotel guests and Dubai residents.
Image credit: Gran Meliá / J1 Hotel
Wellness at J1 Hotel will take centre stage on the rooftop with Journée Wellbeing, a dedicated sanctuary developed and managed by Waring Wellbeing Hospitality. Inspired by the relaxed spirit of Mediterranean wellbeing and Dubai’s beachfront setting, the space will draw on the group’s international expertise across luxury hospitality, spa, medical wellness and premium fitness.
J1 Hotel will be led by Pedro Neto, who joins as General Manager with more than two decades of international luxury hospitality experience. Neto spent 17 years with Four Seasons, holding leadership positions across Lisbon, Nevis, Maui and Prague, before moving into General Manager roles in Portugal’s Algarve, including Octant Vila Monte and Verdelago Resort.
Neto commented, “What excites me most about J1 Hotel is the opportunity to create a destination that becomes part of how people experience Dubai, whether they are staying with us, coming for dinner or spending time by the water. After more than two decades working across different luxury hospitality markets, bringing Gran Meliá to the UAE for the first time is an incredibly exciting next chapter. Our focus now is on building the J1 Hotel team and service culture that will bring the brand’s Spanish luxury to life with warmth, personality and attention to detail.”
Opening in Q4 2027, J1 Hotel will mark Gran Meliá’s UAE debut and a new beachfront address for the brand in Dubai, bringing its approach to Spanish luxury together with destination dining, design and wellbeing.
Main image credit: Gran Meliá / J1 Hotel
