Emirates Palace

United Arab Emirates
Africa and Middle East

The Experience

This $3 billion property, completed in 2005, covers 250 acres—and that's just the building. The grounds are equally vast, extending for more than one mile, end to end. By itself, the triumphal arch over the entrance drive is larger than many city hotels. Not surprisingly, the arrival of kings and queens, heads of state and similar luminaries is a weekly occurrence—and you'll be treated like royalty, too. Put simply, the Emirates Palace is one of the most luxurious (and enormous) hotels ever imagined—and the most sumptuous accommodation that Abu Dhabi's ruling family could build.

The Rooms

The Arabian-influenced modern decor features hardwoods, gold leaf trim and fine marble imported from four countries, but with every amenity a business or leisure traveler could want. Each room features 24-hour butler service, a private balcony or terrace, 50-inch plasma TV (with more than 100 satellite channels), wifi and a minibar that includes a global selection of mobile chargers and adapters. Suites are additionally equipped with laptops; the premium three-bedroom Palace suites also include silk wallpaper, custom Swarovski crystal chandeliers, a lavish dining room and a Jacuzzi.

The Service

Much of the Palace's income is derived from hosting conferences and banquets; its boardrooms for 20 and ballrooms for 2,300 are as top-notch as the rest of the hotel. You'll also find tennis, a well-equipped spa and fitness center, two pools (one for adults, with bar; one for families and kids, with waterslides), and nearly a mile of private beachfront including a PADI-certified dive facility. Upscale boutiques offer high-end shopping, and when you're ready to eat, there are a dozen venues ranging from a caviar bar to outdoor BBQ. Some phenomenal day trips can be arranged, too—say, if you want to hit up Iran for some custom carpets, hop over to Bahrain for pearl diving or float in the Dead Sea in Jordan.

The Highlights

The Palace has a remarkable events schedule, ranging from world-class art exhibitions to film festivals in the 1,200-seat theater to outdoor concerts for up to 20,000 people. (Elton John and Justin Timberlake have performed here recently.) That said, simply walking the vast hotel is a memorable highlight itself. If it looks like gold here, it is; the Palace goes through over ten pounds of fresh gold each year—just in pastry decoration. A visit here is quite literally a day spent in the life of a king.

 

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