Centara Mirage Beach Resort Opens Family Hotel in Dubai's Deira Island

Sitting a little way off the coast of Dubai, Deira Islands are four newly-established islands that only began welcoming residents and opening its first hotels as recently as December 2020. Now it's setting itself apart by opening Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, the first hotel in Dubai by Thailand's leading family-focused hotel group, Centara.

Steps away from the Souk Al Marfa marketplace, the hotel is all about the family experience. Up to two children can stay and eat for free during each reservation. Which, admittedly, is accomodating enough on its own, but that's far from the only thing that makes Centara famous. The hotel is designed as a vibrant fusion of Thai and Arabian adventures, with brightly coloured elephant statues and murals placed throughout. Over 600 rooms are available at the hotel, each with a view of Dubai's city skyline or the Arabian Gulf's sparkling waters.

The resort includes a huge water park, featuring waterslides, rock jumping points, a lazy river, and a beachfront swimming pool in which to spend your pent-up energy. They've also got an outdoor playground and an aerial obstacle course. For some indoor fun, the kids can explore the three age-specific children's clubs (including one for teenagers), and a candy-themed spa.

Families looking to recharge can chill in the Mirage Family Lounge, where they can relax on bean bags and play games, or visit the luxurious Spa Cenvaree where they can get a classic Thai massage. There's also a wide range of culinary options, from authentic Thai fare at Suna Bua, to Argentinian grilling at Uno Mas, to Lebanese mezze at Sheesh, among others.

Prices start at $160 per night, including breakfast. Travellers must have a RT-PCR test done within 72 hours before departure, and travellers from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Sudan & Lebanon must include a QR code with their PCR report for verification purposes. Furthermore, travellers from select nations (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia) will need a PCR test within 48 hours of departure, and then a RT-PCR test with QR code at the departure airport within six hours of departure.