Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel has been voted “Middle East’s Leading Hotel” for the eighth year in a row at this week’s World Travel Awards 2011 Middle East Ceremony.

Presenting the award, Manon Han, Executive Vice President, World Travel Awards, said: “Regarded the world over as the ultimate place to stay, this iconic hotel continues to define Dubai as the very definition of pure, sheer luxury.”

The seven star property was one of a host of winners at this week’s World Travel Awards’ Middle East ceremony, the first leg of the World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Tour which will see further regional ceremonies in Antalya, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Bangkok, Thailand and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

After a year of surging recovery, Dubai won the overall prize for leading destination, beating regional rivals Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Dubai International Airport won leading lounge (operated by Emirates), leading airport and leading airport hotel for the Dubai International Hotel.

Also picking up prizes in the competition, hailed as “the Oscars of travel”, were Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, the region’s leading airlines.

Etihad took the overall award for leading airline, picking up a prize for its cabin crew, inflight entertainment and first class offerings too, but Qatar won the prize for best business class and Emirates took best economy class.