Review: Aloft City Centre Deira, Dubai, UAE

Aloft City Centre Deira is the most centrally located of the four Aloft properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates - the other three being in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Production City, and Aviation City. Located by the Dubai creek, it is just 3.6 kilometres from Dubai International Airport (DXB), which is both Emirates' hub and the world's business airport as determined by international passenger traffic.

Previously a Starwood brand and now part of Marriott International, Aloft is youthful, colourful, fun, and referred to as "a vision of W Hotels" (the luxury brand that is also part of Marriott). Typical of its other Aloft counterparts, Aloft City Centre Deira is characteristically vibrant, with neon, splashes of colour, and an artsy vibe all incorporated into one place. It is a mid-sized hotel that features 279 rooms and 25 suites across 14 floors.

Lobby area of the Aloft City Centre Deira, Dubai. A "grab 'n' go" counter (Refuel by Aloft) is on the right

Lobby area with a neon sign

The hotel itself is directly connected to City Centre Deira, a large mall that includes major brands such as H&M and Carrefour. It offers two restaurants, namely The Canteen and Han Shi Fu, a snack bar named Refuel, and the W XYZ bar which features indoor and outdoor seating areas. Selected Marriott Bonvoy elite members are eligible to receive a welcome drink at the W XYZ bar for their loyalty.

View from the entrance to the W XYZ bar

The hotel's Chinese restaurant (Han Shi Fu) on the left, and the walkway to Deira City Centre mall

The room types at the hotel have names like Aloft Room and Savvy Room, and I had the privilege of staying at the Savvy Suite, which is a spacious 1-bedroom suite with panoramic views of the Dubai Creek. I immediately noticed the continuous splash of turquoise, which brings a fun and energising vibe.

Living area of the Savvy Suite

Bedroom of the Savvy Suite

Coffee amenities

The room was well stocked with standard amenities. The bathroom has a long layout with two basins in the middle, the bathtub on its left, and the toilet on its right. Soap and shampoo were dispensed from bulk-sized containers, which was a more environmentally friendly alternative to single-use mini toiletry containers.

Bathroom

Bathtub with soap and shampoo in bulk-sized containers

The hotel also has other nice facilities, such as a pool (referred to as the "splash") which offers great views of the Dubai skyline in the day. By the poolside is also a snack and recharge area which had what appeared to be a popcorn counter.

The splash #urbancoolonthecreek

Snack area adjacent to the pool

A unique feature of the hotel, and something not often seen, is the VOX Cinemas OUTDOOR, with a large screen and comfortable seats where guests can enjoy movie screenings. In fact, the hotel has cinematic-themed suites to cater to movie buffs and cinema fanatics alike.

VOX Cinemas OUTDOOR located within the Aloft City Centre Deira

A fitness centre is also on-site, and is available for guests to enjoy 24 hours a day using their room access key card. It features standard equipment and machines for a mid-sized hotel and has a beautiful colour scheme.

A 24-hour fitness centre

Overall, Aloft City Centre Deira offers a great stay particularly for younger travellers who seek an energising and fun vibe compared to the paler and more serious vibe of upscale luxury hotels. Indeed, the staff here were friendly and appeared less serious than what you would expect at an upscale hotel. Particularly notable were the availability of cinema-themed suites and the VOX Cinemas OUTDOOR, and some additional perks include free valet parking available for guests. And while noting that room prices can differ significantly in Dubai depending on the time of the year, this hotel can offer great value for money particularly during off-peak periods.

The Aloft City Centre Deira is located at Baniyas Road, Deira, PO Box 22533, Dubai City, in the United Arab Emirates.