Points Capital

The Armani Hotel Dubai is the hotel inside the Burj Khalifa, and for points travelers it is one of the few ultra-luxury Dubai stays with real card and advisor perks attached. There’s one big catch right now: as of October 2026, the hotel is closed for a full renovation and won’t be back in time for New Year’s Eve. Here’s what it is, when it’s expected to reopen, and how to book it with points working for you.

What the Armani Hotel Dubai is

The hotel opened in April 2010 as the first Armani-branded hotel, a joint venture between Emaar Properties (the Burj Khalifa’s developer) and Giorgio Armani. The hotel says Armani personally designed every element, and the rooms use Armani/Casa furniture. It has 160 rooms and suites and sits in the lower part of the tower, from the concourse up to level 39, with direct access to The Dubai Mall and views over the Dubai Fountain.

Room categories on the hotel’s site (as listed before the renovation) include:

• Armani Deluxe Room: 45 sq m (484 sq ft), one king bed
• Armani Premiere Room: 70 sq m (753 sq ft)
• Armani Fountain View Suite: 80 sq m (861 sq ft)
• Armani Premiere Suite (with or without balcony): 95 sq m (1,023 sq ft), plus larger signature suites

Emaar lists six dining venues: Armani/Ristorante (Italian), Armani/Hashi (Japanese), Armani/Amal (Indian), Armani/Mediterraneo, Armani/Deli and Armani/Lounge, which overlooks the fountain. Emaar says Ristorante and Hashi are recognized by the Michelin Guide Dubai and Gault & Millau UAE. There’s also a 12,000 sq ft Armani/SPA, a fitness center and a pool.

Closed until 2027: the renovation

The hotel closed on April 1, 2026 for a full refurbishment. Early reports targeted a late-2026 return. In mid-September 2026, Gulf News and BBC Good Food Middle East reported a new timeline: the ballroom and event spaces reopen in January 2027, and the full hotel reopens to guests in March 2027. The work covers rooms and suites, restaurants, the spa and fitness areas, and the pool. The hotel’s own website didn’t show a closure notice when we checked, so confirm dates directly with the hotel before you plan anything.

New Year’s Eve: the Armani has historically been a front-row seat for the Burj Khalifa fireworks. For last year’s celebration, Khaleej Times reported a three-night minimum and the six-guest Armani Dubai Suite at AED 45,000 (about $12,250) a night. That isn’t an option for this year. For other ways to watch, see our Dubai New Year’s Eve 2026 guide.

Points and luxury programs: what we confirmed

The Armani isn’t part of Marriott, Hilton, IHG or Hyatt, so you can’t earn or redeem hotel points there. Here’s what we found, as of October 2026:

• Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts: yes. American Express lists “Armani Dubai” as an FHR property. Listed benefits: noon check-in and a room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, a $150 spa credit, Wi-Fi and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout. Platinum Card members earn 5X on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Expect no availability until the reopening.
• Amex The Hotel Collection: no. It’s listed as FHR, not THC.
• Virtuoso: yes. Virtuoso’s site lists the hotel with amenities including breakfast for two daily, one lunch or dinner for two per stay, and an upgrade, early check-in and late checkout when available. You book through a Virtuoso advisor.
• Chase The Edit, Capital One Premier Collection, I Prefer (Preferred Hotels): not found. We couldn’t confirm it in any of these. Check the portal yourself once the hotel reopens.
• U By Emaar: Emaar’s own loyalty program lists Armani among its hotels, but its pages don’t spell out how points work at this hotel. Ask the hotel when you book.

Even without FHR, you can book through any card travel portal at cash value. You’ll earn your card’s portal rate, or you can pay with points at a fixed value. Amex’s page says 50,000 points cover $500 toward FHR bookings, or 1 cent each. That’s weak next to airline transfers.

Booking the Armani through Fine Hotels + Resorts requires an eligible American Express card, such as the Platinum Card. You can compare current offers with our American Express referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal American Express referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn referral rewards, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on American Express’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.

What it costs

With the hotel closed, there’s no bookable rate to quote. As of October 21, 2026, momondo still displayed listings starting at roughly $400 to $470 a night and an average of about $1,200, with suites far higher. Treat those as a rough guide to what this hotel has cost, not current prices.

Getting there on miles

• Emirates flies nonstop to Dubai from several US cities. Skywards miles come from Amex and Citi (5:4), Capital One (4:3) and Bilt (1:1). Chase is no longer a transfer partner. Fees on Emirates awards can be high.
• Qatar Airways connects through Doha, and Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi, the neighboring emirate. Compare both, since partner awards can carry lower fees than Emirates.

Our Dubai on Points guide covers routes and transfer partners in detail.

Safety: the current travel advisory

As of October 21, 2026, the US State Department rates the UAE Level 3, “Reconsider travel,” due to terrorism and armed conflict. The advisory cites the risk of Iranian drone and missile strikes since hostilities began in February 2026, plus flight disruptions. On Oct. 18, the US Mission in the UAE also issued a security alert warning of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. If you plan a 2027 stay, book refundable rates, hold off on transferring points until you’re ready to book, and check your travel insurance for conflict exclusions.

Our take

We haven’t stayed here. On paper, the Armani offers a rare mix: a stay inside the world’s tallest building, Fountain views, and FHR and Virtuoso perks. The downsides are real. It’s closed until at least March 2027, and post-renovation pricing is unknown. You also can’t earn or redeem chain points. And the lower-floor location means you’re in the Burj Khalifa, not near the top of it. With a Level 3 advisory in place, we’d watch for reopening reviews and book only flexible rates.

Sources

• Armani Hotels: Armani Hotel Dubai
• Armani Hotels: Rooms and suites
• Armani Hotels: Dining
• Emaar: Armani Hotel Dubai
• Gulf News: World’s first Armani Hotel opens in Burj Khalifa (2010)
• Gulf News: Armani Hotel Dubai reopening in 2027
• BBC Good Food Middle East: Armani Hotel Dubai renovation for 2027
• What’s On: Dubai hotel closures and renovations
• Khaleej Times: NYE fireworks-view hotels (Dec. 2025)
• American Express: Armani Dubai (Fine Hotels + Resorts)
• Virtuoso: Armani Hotel Dubai
• AwardTravel: The Edit by Chase hotel list
• Emaar Hospitality: U By Emaar
• momondo: Armani Hotel Dubai listing
• Award Travel Finder: Emirates Skywards transfer partners
• US State Department: UAE travel advisory
• US Mission UAE: Security alert, Oct. 18, 2026

Prices, points rates, schedules and entry rules change often; confirm details with the hotel or airline before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.