J1 Hotel, a Gran Meliá Hotel, is what used to be known as Gran Meliá Dubai Jumeirah, and the rebrand comes with a dining lineup that’s arguably bigger news than the hotel itself. Zuma, Park Chinois and Novikov have all confirmed outposts at the beachfront property on Port de la Mer, alongside two newly announced names, Jul’s and Tala. It’s set to open in Jumeirah 1 in Q4 2027.
Where is J1 Hotel and When Does It Open?
The hotel sits on a peninsula at Port de la Mer, Jumeirah 1, one of Dubai’s newer waterfront developments. Meliá Hotels International has confirmed an opening in Q4 2027, a shift from the “beginning of 2027” timeline reported when the project first went public in 2025. The hotel will have 366 rooms and suites once complete, up from the 260 keys originally announced, all with ocean views and direct beach access, and 40 of them come with private pools.
What Else is at J1 Hotel Besides The Rooms
This is shaping up as a full lifestyle destination rather than just a place to sleep. Plans include four swimming pools, landscaped outdoor areas, retail space, a ballroom, meeting and event facilities, a fitness centre and a rooftop terrace. The whole thing leans into Gran Meliá’s take on contemporary Spanish luxury, which is the brand’s first outing in the UAE.
The Restaurants Coming To J1 Hotel
Zuma Beach House
Zuma Beach House will be Zuma’s first beachfront location in the Middle East and only its second standalone lifestyle destination after Mykonos. Set along a 140-metre private beach, it pairs Zuma’s izakaya-style Japanese menu with a pool, lounge and bar, plus a resident DJ.
Park Chinois
Park Chinois is taking the rooftop. The London original built its name on 1930s Shanghai glamour and Chinese fine dining, and the Dubai version adds resident and guest DJs on top of the skyline views.
Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club
Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club follows the concept’s 2024 Los Angeles launch, bringing a semi-private beach, bar and private cabanas, with a menu built around handmade pasta, wood-fired dishes and seafood.
Jul’s
Jul’s is new to Dubai entirely. It started in Ibiza and recently expanded to London, built around a Greek-led menu the brand calls “no limit cuisine,” mixing classic Greek flavours with outside techniques.
Tala
Tala rounds out the newest reveals, a Pan-Middle Eastern restaurant overlooking the marina, styled as what the brand calls a “Sunlit Marina Majlis.” It’ll have a main dining room, a show kitchen, private dining, a terrace and a VIP lounge, with shisha available outdoors.
Cazibeli and Rubia Gallega (unconfirmed)
Two more names, Cazibeli (a Turkish sofra-style communal dining concept) and Rubia Gallega (a Spanish steakhouse built around Galician beef), were reported in earlier coverage of the project but weren’t mentioned in the most recent lineup update. Worth treating their status as unconfirmed for now rather than assuming they’re still in.
The wellness side of things
J1 Hotel is adding a rooftop wellness sanctuary developed and run by Waring Wellbeing Hospitality under its Journée Wellbeing brand. The program mixes traditional treatments with newer therapies, fitness classes and visiting practitioners, including Aufguss sauna ceremonies from 432 Social Wellbeing and group Reformer Pilates sessions with Jeju Pilates.
Details at a glance
- Location: Port de la Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
- Expected opening: Q4 2027
- Rooms: 366 rooms and suites, 40 with private pools, all with ocean views
- Confirmed restaurants: Zuma Beach House, Park Chinois, Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club, Jul’s, Tala
- Wellness: Rooftop wellness sanctuary by Journée Wellbeing, with Aufguss sauna and Reformer Pilates programming
Insider tip
With an opening date this far out, the names to watch aren’t really about the hotel yet, they’re about the restaurants. Zuma Beach House and Novikov Beach Club are both standalone dining destinations in their own right and are likely to open ahead of or alongside the hotel rather than strictly after it, going by how Zuma and Novikov have rolled out other locations. Worth checking back on those separately as 2027 gets closer.
This is one of several major properties reshaping Dubai’s beachfront hotel scene. See the full lineup in our guide to luxury hotels opening in Dubai.
FAQs
Is Gran Meliá Dubai still opening?
Yes, but under a new name. The project previously referred to as Gran Meliá Dubai Jumeirah is now officially J1 Hotel, a Gran Meliá Hotel, set to open at Port de la Mer in Jumeirah 1.
When does J1 Hotel open in Dubai?
Meliá Hotels International has confirmed an opening in Q4 2027.
What restaurants are coming to J1 Hotel?
Zuma Beach House, Park Chinois, Novikov Restaurant & Beach Club, Jul’s and Tala are all confirmed. Earlier reports also named Cazibeli and Rubia Gallega, though their status hasn’t been confirmed in the latest lineup update.
How many rooms will J1 Hotel have?
366 rooms and suites, all with ocean views, including 40 rooms and suites with private pools.
Is this Gran Meliá’s first hotel in Dubai?
Yes, J1 Hotel marks Gran Meliá’s debut in the UAE.
Images: Official websites
Also Read: The Hoxton Is Coming to Dubai: Everything We Know About Its First Middle East Hotel
