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| Four Seasons Resort Dubai’s Premier sea-view rooms afford views of the Jumeirah Beach and the Arabian Gulf. |
There’s always something new and exciting in Dubai’s hotel scene. Here are some notable openings and a peek into the Emirate’s pipeline.
The Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach just opened in November, and we say it’s something special, even for luxe-heavy Dubai.
First off, it’s all about location, location, location: Guests here have access to a dedicated 886 feet of Jumeirah Beach, where they can go boating out on the ocean at the onsite watersports club. More interested in land-based activities? No problem. Dubai’s downtown area (along with the Dubai Mall) is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, making it easy to combine a quiet beach escape with an urban excursion.
After a day of kayaking or shopping, the resort offers some nice ways to relax. The spa here looks like it will be special: With only 10 treatment rooms, the environment is decidedly intimate. Cool Touch: The men’s and women’s changing rooms have “aqua thermal” options that go beyond the typical sauna and steam room (think whirlpool, chill experience, rain tunnels and scrub bar). Special programs can be arranged for kids and teenagers (facials, back-and-shoulder massages and mani-pedis) and bridal parties (including couples’ treatments). Reach out to Assistant Director of Spa Sherif Raouf ([email protected]; 011-971-042-707-768) for more details once the hotel opens.
And then there are the guest rooms: With only 237 rooms (49 of which are suites), this hotel offers what could easily be called a boutique experience. We hear the most popular rooms will be the Deluxe rooms and Premier rooms with sea view on the first through third floors. Families and groups are in luck here: All rooms and suites are inter-leading (or outer-connecting, as it were), making it easy for parents and kids (and grandkids) to stay close. Top Tip: Be sure to request a view of the Dubai skyline or the ocean.
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| Warwick hotel Dubai’s Penthouse Two Bedroom Suites have spacious living rooms with a dining or meeting area for six. |
Of course, all bathrooms have both standalone showers and bathtubs, and all of the suites have guest powder rooms.
VIPs will want to book the Royal Suite or one of the Presidential Suites in either the North or South wings of the hotel, all of which look out over the beach. The Royal Suite has a full kitchen, baby grand piano, media room and two terraces (which come furnished with loungers and a table for six guests to dine al fresco). The Presidential Suites, meanwhile, are good for business travelers, with separate living and dining rooms, a media room, a dedicated study and a private gym.
Good to know: Butler service will be available upon request for all guests.
Reach out to Associate Director of Sales Mohamed Abou Doh ([email protected]; 011-971-042-707-708) or Sales Manager for Middle East and GCC Tarif Moussa ([email protected]) with any questions.
Getting There: Dubai International Airport is a 20-minute ride from the resort, and VIPs can get a transfer in a Bentley upon request.
Sometimes, something new within an existing hotel can generate plenty of buzz. This summer, Jumeirah opened new Royal and Presidential Suites at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, which we say are top picks for VIPs. Top of the list is the Royal Suite, which sprawls out over 3,358 square feet and two stories. Its three bedrooms look out over the Palace stables, and all have private dressing rooms and Jacuzzi tubs. If that suite is not available, book one of the three 2,421-square-foot Presidential Suites, which have two bedrooms and include classic European design touches.
Good to know: All suites offer a personalized butler service.
The Warwick Hotel Dubai opened in spring, and we say it has a definite sense of place, with two notable floors that will appeal to more conservative travelers. The Dry Floor has rooms stocked exclusively with non-alcoholic beverages, while the Ladies Floor is a comfortable haven for women traveling on their own. Foodies will be in luck here, with five different dining options to suit a range of tastes. The signature restaurant and bar is World on 44, which has 360-degree panoramic views of Dubai and serves a fusion of South American and Mediterranean fare (ask for trout ceviche). Zenses, on the other hand, serves Pan-Asian and contemporary fusion cuisine and the Zephyr Rooftop Pool Bar serves al fresco BBQ-style snacks. For something less formal, the hotel offers a buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a deli for quick sandwiches, coffee or salads. For reservations, e-mail [email protected] or call 011-971-4506-9636.
Rooms Divisions Manager Ahmad Abi Oula ([email protected]; 011-971-509-508-276) is the person to contact here for special requests: think limo transfers or tours around town, a desert safari, skydiving, a boat cruise or a private tour of the Burj Khalifa (complete with a fountain show, of course).
The top treatment in the hotel’s six-room spa is the signature Indah Balinese Massage, which can run for 60 or 90 minutes, as needed, and includes skin-rolling, kneading, stroking and pressure-point stimulation, combined with essential oils. Good to know for those who want to hit the town (or attend a business meeting) looking their best: The hotel has two salons for men and women—gents can get a shave at L’atelier M, while ladies can get their hair and nails done at W Lounge. Good to know for couples: All six treatment rooms at the spa are for individual use only.
Contact Kirana Spa & Health Club Manager Suzan Trieh ([email protected]; 011-971-045-069-991) with any questions or requests.
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| Jumeirah Emirates Towers’ Versace-inspired Presidential Suite is adorned with classic black and white themes. |
We hear the top digs are the Penthouse Suites and the Penthouse Two-Bedroom Suites on the 37th-42nd floors. These have top views of the Burj Khalifa, and more than 30 are available, making them good picks for large families traveling together. Beyond the Penthouse Two-Bedroom Suites, families and groups will want to book the Executive Two-Bedroom Suites, Club Two-Bedroom Suites and the Deluxe Two-Bedroom Suites. Note: There are no connecting rooms, so families will have to step into the hallway when moving between their accommodations.
Luxury travel advisors should reach out to Director of Sales Samira Khrichfa ([email protected]; 011-971-4506-9882) or Director of Sales & Marketing Joydeep Ghosh ([email protected]; 011-971-4506-9800).
What’s Ahead
Jumeirah has revealed a new “lifestyle brand” of hotels, to be called Venu, which are slated to open in the Emirate (and then beyond) over the coming years. We hear Dubai-based developer Meraas Holding is in discussion with Jumeirah Group to operate the first Venu hotel on Bluewaters Island in Dubai, but no opening date has been announced yet.
Dubai has several notable properties slated to open by 2018. Hard Rock International has announced its first hotel in the Middle East: The Hard Rock Hotel Dubai Marina is set to open in mid-2015 as part of Marina 101, which is named for how many floors it has and will be the second-tallest building in the UAE when it opens. The tower will be divided into three different levels, the first of which is the 281-room Hard Rock Hotel on the first 33 floors of the building. We hear the hotel will have a club lounge and a restaurant on the 101st floor, and business travelers can take advantage of meeting and event space, including an outdoor terrace at lobby level and the 101st-floor lounge area. As for accommodations, the top suite will likely be an iconic Hard Rock Rock Star Suite, but the curating artist has not yet been chosen. We’ve been assured, however, that all rooms will look out over the skyline or the water.
As of press time, Taj Hotels is expected to open a property in Dubai in December. The Taj Dubai, located in the Burj Khalifa downtown area, will have 296 guest rooms (including the Taj Club rooms with some special perks), 20 junior suites and 14 luxury suites. Top Pick: The two suites occupying the top floors of the building—The Tata Suite and The Maharaja Suite—will include their own private dining, living areas and views over the downtown area.
Mandarin Oriental is set to manage a new Dubai hotel in 2017. Mandarin Oriental, Dubai’s 200 rooms and suites will include 12 over-water villas accessible via private bridge. Each villa will have its own infinity-edge pool and a private swim platform, allowing for direct access to the Arabian Gulf.
Also in 2017, a new Atlantis resort is expected to open on the Palm Jumeirah island. With 800 rooms, suites and 250 luxury hotel apartments, the Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences will be right next to the existing Atlantis The Palm, Dubai hotel and resort.
When it opens in 2018, The Bulgari Hotel at Jumeirah Bay Island will be located on the exclusive Jumeirah Bay Island, off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Road, sculpted in the shape of a titanic seahorse. The luxury marine’s 1.7 million-square-foot complex will be framed by lush landscaped gardens and it will be defined by 100 rooms and suites, 20 residential villas and a marina.
Advisor Insight:
We spoke with Virtuoso’s senior vice president global product partnerships, Albert Herrera, to find out what he was most excited about in Dubai. The Emirate, he said, has “so much product. There’s a new Palazzo Versace that’s being planned for the area, which mirrors the original Versace in Australia.
“Jumeirah is creating a lifestyle brand, Venu, to further penetrate the market. It’s going to cater to a younger, hipper audience...they’re looking at a different demographic [while] preserving the integrity of what Jumeirah stands for.
“Then there’s everything on outside, 30 minutes away, but still technically Dubai, like Al Maha—it stands the test of time. We were there in April. It was out of this world. It’s the whole desert experience like you’ve never experienced before—the quality represented what the destination has to offer so perfectly.”