Citymax Hotel Al Barsha at the Mall

Location is near subway, but so far from beach. But the hotel has a shuttle on the beach for reservation. Atmosphere and service are very good. Stuff is understandable and carrying. Thanks. Room is normal, there were all necessary here, but there weren’t some small things for a comfortable staying. Cleaning was good. One minus was a high noise level. In the room we heard all that was happening in the street and the hall.

I had a wonderful experience during my stay and the receptionist team welcomed me happily on glance . I appreciate the attention to details that they had noticed I was to celebrate my birthday on 22-02-2026 which was the next morning and they made my day feel so special with surprises all over my room .my heart stays with you for memorable experience captured.(#STELLA,#RUTUJA,#APPLE,#SUMI,) . I highly appreciate your efforts portrayed during my time of stay. I will remember you always.

Very nice and friendly company! The hotel was clean, and also the food was really nice! I recommend it!

I am currently still staying at Citymax Al Barsha (by the Mall) and wanted to share an honest, real-time experience as a long-stay guest. Firstly, the positives: The staff are friendly, supportive, and always willing to help where they can. Housekeeping, in particular, work hard and do their best within the limits of their role. I want that to be clearly acknowledged. However, the persistent smoking issue remains a serious concern. Despite being allocated non-smoking rooms, cigarette smoke regularly enters rooms through the ventilation and ducting systems. I was initially on the 8th floor and later moved to the 14th floor in the hope that conditions would improve — unfortunately, they did not. At times, the smell has been even more noticeable. From what I have observed and been told, some guests attempt to bypass the rules by smoking near open windows or inside bathrooms, assuming the smell will dissipate. In reality, the smoke travels through the building’s air systems and spreads into surrounding non-smoking rooms, making it extremely difficult to escape. For long-stay guests like myself — who spend significant time in the room working, resting, and living — this becomes more than an inconvenience. It affects comfort, sleep quality, and overall well-being. I will be leaving for vacation on the 18th February 2026, and I must admit I am very much looking forward to breathing fresh, smoke-free air again. That alone should say a lot about how impactful this issue has been. I’m not sure what conditions will be like when I return, but I sincerely hope stronger enforcement and preventive measures will be in place by then. To be clear: If you are booking here expecting a genuinely smoke-free non-smoking room, you may want to reconsider — as smoke infiltration has been an ongoing challenge during my stay. The staff try — but policy enforcement and guest compliance remain the bigger issue.

My stay was booked through an agency, which contacted the hotel in advance to arrange all details, including the agreed price. However, upon arrival, I was informed of a charge that was more than double the agreed amount due to what was described as a miscalculation. I raised this issue several times during my stay with reception staff members Nhamo and Apple and was repeatedly assured that a refund or price adjustment would be arranged. When I requested written confirmation, I was told that only the manager could provide it and that the matter would be resolved shortly. Unfortunately, after three days of receiving similar assurances without any progress, I was informed that the previous information provided to me was incorrect and that, in their opinion, the situation was not their responsibility. To date, I have not received the promised refund or the difference in price. This experience was extremely disappointing and represents the poorest level of customer service I have encountered. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this hotel and would advise others to exercise caution when booking.