The UAE has been at the forefront of luxury travel for a long time. And the New Year only promises to take it further, with a gamut of top hotels set to open their doors to national and international visitors. Though we cannot list them all for you, we bring you five must-visit properties in 2011.
Dubai
Ritz Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC): On January 12, this five-star property will open its doors to the city. The award-winning luxury-hotel company's second property in Dubai, it is boldly contemporary in design with a French limestone façade and elements of Art Deco. A unique design facet showcases a ten-storey outdoor waterfall cascading down the building, directly into the courtyard facing the lobby. Besides 124 executive residences, 341 rooms and two royal suites, the hotel will also offer international fine-dining options including the Blue Rain, the hotel's signature Thai restaurant, and a 1,400-square-metre ballroom. Recreational amenities include a fully-equipped health club, indoor pool and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, featuring 13 treatment rooms.
Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah: Kempinski is set to launch its second property, and its first beach resort, in the first quarter of 2011. The hotel will have 244 luxury suites, penthouses and villas offering striking views either over the Palm Jumeirah lagoon and the Dubai skyline or undisturbed views of the Arabian Sea, five acres of landscaped gardens, 500 metres of private beach, a 1,200-square-metre free-form outdoor swimming pool including a shaded area for children, an extensive gym with state-of-the-art equipment, a magnificent spa and a kids' club and playground, and a range of restaurants. This will be complemented by the Emerald Palace Kempinski Palm Jumeirah Dubai, which is due to open in 2012.
Palazzo Versace: Overlooking the Dubai Creek, The Palazzo Versace, slated to open early this year, promises to deliver the ultimate, luxurious lifestyle. One hundred and sixty nine private residences and 217 hotel suites will be housed within a classic palace that will blend with fine detailing from Middle Eastern architecture. The Palazzo Versace echoes the layout of famous historical palaces. More than 100 specialists from around the world have been specifically recruited to produce the beautiful detailed mosaics to grace various parts of the hotel. The unique Versace mosaic designs include meanders, Medusas, cornucopias, vases and Greco-Roman decorative borders.
Abu Dhabi
Grand Canal Resort: The capital's latest water-themed resort near the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, overlooking the sea, is set to be launched this year. Based on a Venetian theme, enhanced by waterways and canals, the resort will be located between the bridges on the Maqata Channel. This project includes 595 rooms and suites, 100 villas surrounded by water channels and 29 suites, each with a spa, to preserve the privacy and comfort of the guests. It will also house 17 restaurants and 20 shops.
Al Ain
Hili Rayhaan: Located in the heart of the Garden City, a new Rotana property promises the ideal weekend getaway for everyone — from couples and families to corporate executives. Just 30 minutes away from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, the hotel offers 257 luxurious rooms and suites, state-of-the-art business services with six fully-equipped and flexible meeting rooms. The property also features three food-and-beverage venues and the signature Bodylines fitness centre and health club with a swimming pool, besides steam, sauna and massage rooms.
