On 27 October 2026 Gulf News published a round-up of five Dubai landmarks reopening in 2027. For travellers who build private, high-end itineraries, two names matter most: the Burj Al Arab and the Armani Hotel Dubai, both closed for restoration. Here is what is shut, when each is expected back, and how a private winter trip adjusts without losing the city's signature sense of occasion.
What is closed, and when it returns
The Burj Al Arab closed in April 2026 for an 18-month restoration — its first major refresh since the hotel opened in 1999 — covering interiors, suites, restaurants and leisure facilities. Visit Dubai lists an expected reopening in October 2027, and the hotel is not taking bookings in the meantime.
The Armani Hotel Dubai, inside the Burj Khalifa, closed on 1 April 2026 for a refurbishment of its rooms, suites, restaurants, spa, fitness areas, pool and outdoor spaces; it is expected back in March 2027, with ballroom and event spaces due in January 2027. For context, the Museum of the Future has also been closed since 1 September 2026 and is slated to return in the first quarter of 2027.
What it means for a private winter trip
Neither flagship can host you this season, so a private itinerary leans on other ultra-luxury bases — the newer waterfront resorts on the Palm and along the Jumeirah coast are open and well suited to a discreet, chauffeur-led stay. Your sightseeing is not affected: the Burj Al Arab's exterior is unchanged, and it remains one of the most photographed silhouettes on any private Dubai day.
The practical move is simple. Keep the icons in your route for photographs and viewpoints, and let a private planner place your nights and dining at properties that are open and at their best right now, rather than improvising around a closed landmark on arrival.
A reason to plan the 2027 return
The Burj Al Arab restoration is a rare event — the first in more than 25 years — with the interiors led by French architect Tristan Auer and a stated aim to preserve the hotel's identity while renewing its spaces. For repeat luxury visitors, that is worth pencilling in as a future private stay rather than a rushed first look.
The Armani Hotel's March 2027 return continues Giorgio Armani's original design signature inside the Burj Khalifa. Booking either property early, through a private arrangement, is the surest way to secure a suite in the opening months when demand will be highest.
This winter, enjoy Dubai's icons from the outside and base a private stay at open ultra-luxury properties; then pencil in a 2027 return for the Burj Al Arab in October and the Armani Hotel in March.
