First impressions are everything when it comes to luxury hotels. While there’s no shortage of extravagant places to stay in Dubai, the following five top the charts for their impressive and artful lobbies.

Burj Al Arab

Known as the world’s most luxurious hotel, in its short tenure the Burj Al Arab has become one of Dubai’s most significant landmarks. Sumptuously decorated in gold, the hotel’s atrium rises from the lobby to reach 600 feet – the highest in the world! If that doesn’t dazzle you upon entry, then I’m not sure what will.

Armani Hotel

The world’s first hotel designed by acclaimed Italian designer Giorgio Armani, the lobby of the Armani Hotel is an exquisite testament to designer’s style and artful taste. The lobby features towering bronze arches conjoined to form a cocoon-shaped canopy. Minimalist detailing adds an understated and refined elegance to Armani’s hotel lobby prompting the visitor to explore further inside.

Zabeel Saray

Hand-painted frescoes, elaborate murals and Turkish artworks make this hotel a regal masterpiece evoking the style of the Ottoman palaces. The lobby greets guests with the imposing expression of this period in Turkish history. Guests will be enraptured to explore the hotel’s grand space which includes world-class restaurants and a lavish Ottoman-inspired spa.

The Monarch Hotel

The lobby of The Monarch is an Arabian masterpiece – palm trees extend up to the atrium and a raised cafe area where live music resonates soothing tunes throughout the space. Mashrabiya-screened balconies elongate the space while soft lighting and warm earth tones imbue the hotel with a charming and warm ambiance.

Grosvenor House