I was so excited to visit the Jabal Omar Makkah Hotel and review the property, which is the last one in the front row of the development. I had seen the signs for years prior, so I was so excited when they asked me to review the property.
I was offered three nights to try the hotel; however, MuslimTravelGirl paid for all flights and incidentals in the hotel and spent money while there. The review is my honest opinion of the property without any interference from the hotel.
This is the last hotel in the front row of the Jabal Omar development in Makkah. Since I have reviewed all the other hotels in the front row, I was so excited to have the opportunity to review the Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah as well. I feel it is a great addition to the competition of five-star hotels in Makkah.
The question – Which is the best hotel in Makkah? Is one of the most popular on this website, as well as on my YouTube channel.
The hotel is located just after Conrad Makkah and occupies the whole block of four towers, with 1100 rooms available at total capacity. During the low season, they don’t operate all four towers, only two. They said they operate at full capacity during Ramadan and Hajj.
As expected, Jumeirah’s customer service can be felt throughout the hotel. Considering that some of the nicest hotels in Dubai are in Jumeirah, including Burj Al Arab, you can’t deliver anything less.
This Umrah trip was a girls’ trip only. I decided to take my best friend and our daughters, and I am so glad we did this. We had so much fun and created amazing memories.
Check-in
The check-in process was efficient and fast. Hanan, the girl who checked us in, was quick and very professional.
They have several check-in desks, so I don’t think there will be delays unless it is peak time. We checked in at 1 pm, and even check-out was efficient at noon when we left.
One thing I love about the Middle East is that we had to walk for a bit between Conrad and Jumeirah due to the taxi, and the security guard saw us and asked if we were going to Jumeirah. He then took some of the suitcases to help us out.
This is the customer service I would expect. He didn’t even know I was reviewing the hotel.
Suite at Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah
The development is similar in terms of room layout and design to the rest of Jabal Omar, especially Conrad and Hyatt, which are the other two direct competitors.
The furniture and decor are all Jumeirah, so they are of good quality and feel relaxing and luxurious without being over the top. I feel this is where the hotels can differentiate and emphasize the unique style of each brand.
We were given a Deluxe one-bedroom suite with a Haram view with twin-size beds. I wasn’t aware of what they would offer when we agreed on the review, but the suite was big enough to accommodate all four of us.
The twin beds easily accommodate an adult and a toddler, which is where I slept with my daughter. We pushed the bed towards the wall, and it was safe and very comfortable.
The living room was a corner with floor-to-ceiling windows and a Haram view. Like most of the development, the property doesn’t have Kabah views, but they do have Haram views.
Our suite had a sitting room with a sofa and an armchair, which were comfortable and nice place to have food and relax, especially if you have kids who sleep earlier than you.
They placed our two rollaway beds next to the window, which was great since I slept after Fajr with Haram views. Plus, their rollaway beds were very comfortable.
The bedroom was windowless, and although it was a little dark in the day without the light on, the girls enjoyed their room. They basically kicked us out of the room and allocated us the rollaway beds.
The bedroom also had a desk and a chair, and there was enough space for an extra rollaway or suitcases if needed.
Like all the others, the room had coffee and tea-making facilities. Next to the front door, there is a wardrobe, and you can fit clothes there for a week.
Bathroom Jumeirah Makkah Hotel Review
This Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah suite had only one bathroom at the entrance, which was spacious and luxurious. The toiletries were from Amouage, a high-end brand in the Middle East. I didn’t use the shampoo and conditioner, but the body lotion smelled nice and felt good.
There is a shelf in the bathroom where you can put your own toiletries. I just wish there was a little more space for putting your own things and toiletry bag as a woman. But this is a general hotel thing rather than Jumeirah Makkah’s problem only.
Overall, the bathroom is comparable to the rest of the 5-star hotels in the Makkah Jabal Omar development.
Food at Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah
Since my daughter was born, I usually choose hotels with lounge access or restaurants as we eat there most of the time. If you are doing an Umrah during the summer, it is also more convenient, knowing we will find something she will eat.
So, I feel I have a good understanding of the rest of the five-star hotel restaurants in the Jabal Omar development.
I have to say the Jumeirah Makkah Jabal Omar restaurant Patras, where we ate most of our dinners, offers some delicious food, and the staff made the experience even better.
They were attentive not only to us but also to all the guests, and several times, they helped a lady next to us who was alone with her child.
I always feel that a five-star hotel is more than furniture; it is made by the staff, and I would not expect less from Jumeirah Makkah.
We had most of our meals there, and every night, they offered something different, so there was plenty of variety.
One of the kids’ winners was the kids’ corner. They set up a corner with savory and sweet snacks for the kids with kids’ tables.
The kids loved it and talked daily about it. The first day, my daughter was disappointed that they only opened in the evening.
I honestly think it is an awesome idea, and I feel the rest of the hotels are missing a point there. It is nothing super difficult to do; there are so many kids and families on Umrah that it will just make it more entertaining for them. So it is a great idea.
We also had lunch there one day, and it was a la carte service only. Price-wise, the Patras restaurant was good value for money, considering you are in a five-star hotel in Makkah. I found it similar to prices in UK restaurants.
Their pizza, kids’ pasta, butter chicken, and mixed grill were all delicious, and I would recommend them.
Laundry and Room Service at Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah Review
We had a few room service deliveries and laundry, and they were efficient and fast.
They gave us our laundry back in a few hours, which is amazing because I used the laundry in the Hyatt and Conrad, which definitely took longer.
Prices are also comparable to UK hotels. My abaya laundry was 45 SAR. Considering I travel to Umrah with 2 abayas and carry-on luggage, I always do laundry in hotels just for convenience, and I factor in this cost. I do have a masterclass where I talk about how I save money for traveling and those incidentals.
The room service we ordered was also fast and good. Our ginger tea was with real ginger and a big flask, so it was worth the 30 SAR we paid for.
Location
The Jumeirah Jabal Omar Makkah Hotel is one of the last four towers of the Jabal Omar development, just after Conrad. You can either walk to the walkways next to the Intercontinental or go straight from C1 and walk up the escalator behind the toilets.
Since it is a front-row location, it took us 10 minutes to walk from our room to the Kabah area during Asr.
Like the rest of the hotels, C1 has a small mall, but since it is still new, there are only 2 shops.
Bin Dawoud supermarket and the rest of the hotels and food areas can be reached within minutes, either from inside the mall or by walking outside on the street.
Overall, the location is very comparable to the Conrad and Hyatt hotels. I have a full YouTube video of the Umrah coming soon, and I took videos of the location for those who are more visual, like myself.
Overall
The Jumeirah Makkah Hotel is an excellent addition to the Jabal Omar hotels. It is a five-star hotel with good customer service, which is to be expected from the Jumeirah brand. Expect those prices, but if you are a Westerner coming for Umrah and have a choice between the rest of the hotels in the development, definitely consider staying.
We didn’t have any complaints, and I will happily pay cash to stay there again.
Other articles to consider reading
The Ultimate guide to DIY Umrah
The best hotels in Makkah
Budget hotels in Makkah
Conrad Makkah Hotel Review
Hyatt Suite Review