Roda Al Murooj

Housed in a large leisure complex, Roda Al Murooj has an upscale residential feel about it. The brown facade brings an unusual Old English feel to the otherwise glass and concrete surroundings, and each apartment building has a fun name like Lavender, Tulip, or Sun Flower. The central garden area with waterways and shaded walkways add to the community feel of the property. Indoors, the lobby feels more hotel-like with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, light tiled floors, colorful-carpeted lounge areas, simple wooden reception desks, Arabian light features, and two large fake palm trees on each side of the entrance. The Arabian all-day restaurant includes both indoor and al fresco seating overlooking the gardens. Double Decker offers a typical English pub experience; the walls are lined with London bus and underground memorabilia. During the day, the swimming pool area is a popular spot. Guests are a mix of business and leisure travelers, thanks to the central downtown location.

Ideally situated in downtown Dubai, Roda Al Murooj is located within a 10-minute walk from Dubai Mall. The immediate area is lined with high-end fashion boutiques as well as a few cafes and shops. The Burj Khalifa is a slightly further walk, about 20 minutes through the mall, otherwise it's a six-minute drive away. The Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa Metro Station is an eight-minute drive from the hotel. Souk Al Bahar, an Arabic-style shopping center, is a 10-minute drive away. It's a six-minute drive to the Dubai International Financial Centre, a major financial hub in the Middle East. The Dubai World Trade Centre is nine minutes by car. The hotel offers a free shuttle to Kite Beach, which is 20 minutes away. Dubai's most popular beach, Jumeirah Open Beach, is a 20-minute drive and the trendy shops at The Walk are 25 minutes by car. Dubai International Airport is a 15-minute drive or 45 minutes on public transportation. 

The 251 rooms at Roda Al Murooj are fairly standard with dark and generic interiors. Rooms are spacious and all include a lounge area with beige armchairs, dark wooden coffee tables, and dining tables. Suites are even more spacious with separate bedrooms and large lounge and dining areas; plus small kitchenettes. Decor is classic with hues of browns and beiges, including dark wooden furniture, brown patterned carpets, beige curtains, and contemporary artwork. While the decor is classic, some may think of it as being on the verge of outdated. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, work desks, telephones, safes, irons, ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms either feature shower/tub combos or walk-in showers and tubs (in the suites) along with hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and toiletries.  Bathrobes and slippers are provided. Rooms have either city or central garden views and some have balconies. For long-term travelers, there are also 141 Studios, and One-, Two-, Three-, and Four-Bedroom Apartments.

Features are aimed at both leisure and business travelers. The six in-house restaurants/bars at Roda Al Murooj are key features of the hotel. Pergolas is the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, serving a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including Arabic, Indian, Italian, and Japanese cuisine. Buffet breakfasts are not included in all rates. Tabule offers a relaxed al fresco atmosphere with Middle Eastern cuisine like saj and cold mezze. Double Decker is the hotel's British themed pub serving typical English pub grub. Both Circle Lobby Cafe and Ojos Cafe are located in the lobby, serving light meals, pastries, and hot beverages. Three other restaurants are available within the complex, though are not affiliated with Roda Al Murooj. Guests staying on the Roda Discovery Executive Floor have access to the Roda Discovery Executive Lounge which includes free breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening canapes. Room service is available. The outdoor swimming pool with water features is temperature controlled and includes surrounding sun loungers and parasols; plus the pool bar, Anees. Below the swimming pool is a small spa with one treatment room and steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs in the changing rooms. There is also a small, quite stuffy, fitness center with selection of modern Life Fitness cardio and weight-training machines. A separate fitness center and outdoor swimming pool is available for guests staying in the apartments. Three tennis courts are on offer in the apartment section of the complex. Thirteen meeting and event spaces are available, with capacity for 10 to 1,000 guests. There is also a business center with printing and copying facilities. Wi-Fi throughout and valet parking are free. Additional features include free shuttle service, laundry and dry-cleaning, salon, boutique shop, outdoor playground, and babysitting services.