14 top Dubai mani-pedis

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the hive of activity on Time Out’s website, it’s that there’s plenty of debate about which salon offers the best manicure and pedicure in the city. We’re not surprised: Dubai is a city that likes to look after its nails. Service here is relatively cheap, especially compared with London and New York, where mani-pedis tend to cost from Dhs205 to Dhs440 – in comparison, the cheapest ladies’ mani-pedi in our round-up is just Dhs120.

In an attempt to scout out the city’s top nail destinations, the Time Out team (male and female alike) anonymously visited some of the best salons in town, as selected by our Body & Mind editor, to help steer you towards the most excellent. At each venue, we tested a standard mani-pedi combo (or a simple manicure for the boys) and rated factors including the ambience of the spa, the comfort of the seats and the quality and longevity of the polish used. So, if your cuticles are of concern, refer to our easy-to-use chart to find out which salon suits your needs.

Name: Hello Kitty
Town Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road (04 344 9598).

Ambience: Mildly chaotic, but unpretentious. Everyone here is clearly having a bit of fun – including the six-year-old sitting next to you.

Seat comfort: Not great – you’ll find yourself sitting on a shallow sofa, with a very straight back.

Friendliness of staff: They were softly spoken and patient – as you’d have to be in a salon that caters for youngsters. Guests are also, amusingly, referred to as a ‘kitty’ when booking.

The manicure: Good. They originally recommended angular square tips, but are happy to do a natural shape as requested.

How long before it chipped? Excellent. We opted for Orly polish and it started to grow out before it chipped. In fact, we’re still waiting for it to chip.

Range of services: Standard manicures with Orly and Essie polishes, as well as Minx, Gelish, and something called ‘nail whitening’.

Extras: None to speak of, though you can order a decadent cupcake during your treatment for an extra Dhs21.

Are they in a rush to get you out? They left us to our own devices after the treatment, so we left in our own time.

Mani-pedi Cost: Dhs140

Rating: 3/5

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