The world's best hotels: Dubai's Burj Al Arab comes first in Mena rankings

Richard Branson's Kenyan safari retreat takes the crown in the 2021 'Travel + Leisure' World's Best Awards

Dubai's Burj Al Arab ranked first in a list of top Middle East and North Africa hotels. Photo: Unsplash

In the latest annual ranking released by Travel + Leisure magazine of the world’s best hotels, British billionaire Richard Branson's Kenyan safari retreat has taken the top spot.

Mahali Mzuri is a 12-tented luxury safari camp located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy in Kenya. The lodge received the most points in the 2021 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards.

Chosen by readers over a five-month period, these annual awards list the greatest islands, cities, cruise lines, airports, hotels and more.

To compile the Top 100 Hotels in the World, travellers were asked to rank the places they had stayed over the past three years with scores awarded for hotel facilities, location, service, food and overall value.

Richard Branson's Mahali Mzuri in Kenya's Masai Mara has been named the best hotel in the world in 2021. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition

Garnering 99.73 out of 100 points, Mahali Mzuri was commended for its knowledgeable guides and excellent service.

Part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection, the resort's futuristic tents seem to rise up out of the Mara landscape, yet also blend in with it simultaneously. Stays at the world's best hotel start from $1,410 per night.

In second place is another tented camp, this time in Costa Rica. The Nayara Tented Camp at the Arenal Volcano National Park offers clifftop tents each with a private plunge pool that give travellers impressive views of the rainforest below, and the mountain opposite.

Take a look through the photo gallery below to see the world's best hotels in 2021:

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  1. Mahali Mzuri is the world's best hotel in 2021 according to 'Travel + Leisure' ranking. Photo: Jack Brockway / Virgin Limited Edition

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  2. The Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica. Photo: Nayara

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  3. The Opposite House in Beijing. Photo: The House Collective

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  4. Capella Bangkok. Photo: Capella Hotels

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  5. Capella Ubud in Bali. Photo: Capella Hotels

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  6. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini. Photo: Auberge Resorts

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  7. Kamalame Cay, Andros Island in Bahamas. Photo: Kamalame Cay

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  8. The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India. Photo: Oberoi Hotels

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  9. The Temple House in Chengdu, China. Photo: The House Collective

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  10. The Oberoi in New Delhi, India. Photo: Oberoi Hotels

The world's third best hotel according to Travel + Leisure is The Opposite House in Beijing. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, this emerald glass building is filled with minimalist but luxurious rooms and ranks high for its location, which is close to all of the Chinese capital city's attractions.

The remainder of hotels in the Top 10 list are spread out across India, China, Indonesia, Greece, Thailand and the Bahamas.

The World's Top 10 Hotels in 2021

1. Mahali Mzuri, Masai Mara, Kenya
2. Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
3. The Opposite House, Beijing, China
4. Capella Bangkok, Thailand
5. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
6. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santorini, Greece
7. Kamalame Cay, Andros Island, Bahamas
8. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
9. The Temple House, Chengdu, China
10. The Oberoi, New Delhi, India

Top 10 City Hotels for the Middle East and North Africa 2021

The travel publication also released its Top 10 City Hotels for the Middle East and North Africa in 2021. No 1 on the list is Dubai’s Burj Al Arab.

Burj Al Arab was the only one in the Middle East to make the cut for the UAE in the Top 10 Hotels list for Mena. Chris Whiteoak / The National

“In a city that is known internationally for laying claim to a superlative number of superlatives, the Burj is something of a standard bearer. It's unmissable on the Dubai skyline — cutting a silhouette that is truly one of the most recognisable on the planet,” said Travel+Leisure.

The Jumeirah hotel was the only one in the Middle East to make the cut for the UAE. In second and third place were hotels from Morocco, including The Royal Mansour Marrakech and La Mamounia, also in Marrakech. The sprawling Four Seasons Resort Marrakech also ranks in the top 10, listing in seventh place. Hotels in Cairo, Amman and Jerusalem make up the remainder of the Mena list.

Two Dubai properties did, however, earn a place in the travel publication's list of the top five Middle East and North Africa resort hotels.

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  Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa was integral in the set-up of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. All photos courtesy Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

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  The adults-only resort is located about 45 minutes from Dubai and offers luxury tented villas each with a private pool.

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  Desert vistas are unlimited at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai's Desert Conservation Reserve.

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  Suites blend a respect for tradition and authentic Arabian elements with modern pieces and a regal sense of luxury.

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  Each of the tented suites ensures complete privacy, which makes Al Maha Desert Resort popular with celebrity guests.

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  Full-board stays include two desert activities.

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  Dune-driving activities at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

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  Social distancing is easy with couples fully set-up to spend their stay in the wilds of nature or cosying up in their accommodation.

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  Dark sky viewing at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

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  View from a one-bedroom Bedouin suite.

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  Camels trek across the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which is home to Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

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  The main pool at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

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  In-villa dining at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

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  Each villa has its own private pool with endless sand dune vistas.

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  The resort has been open for more than two decades and offers prime wildlife viewing opportunities in the heart of Dubai's desert.

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  Wildlife roam free across the resort and guests are guaranteed to spot a few four-legged friends during a stay.

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  Luxury tented accommodation offers privacy and comfort inspired by the Bedouin lifestyle.

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  Dinner views from Al Diwan restaurant.

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  Arabian oryx, gazelle and other indigenous fauna and flora are protected across the 225 square kilometres that make up the desert reserve.

While Morocco came out on top thanks to another Richard Branson property, the Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas Mountains, Dubai's Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa ranked in second place.

Jordan's Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, and the Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca ranked third and fourth, while Dubai's family-favourite, kitsch-tastic Atlantis, The Palm rounded up the top five.

Voting for the 2022 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards will open in October, with readers able to select their favourite places from the world of travel until February next year.