The United Arab Emirates is, as most travellers know, probably one of the most luxurious destinations that you could visit anywhere in the world. The UAE consists of seven very different cities that sit near to, or on, the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman and Umm al-Quwain. Each has its own selling points, though most people tend to focus their desires on two in particular: Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
This pair has started to regularly hit the top of holidaymakers’ lists for plenty of reasons – aside from the opulence, its countless malls, tourist attractions and beaches, it is perhaps the hotels that attract the interest of most tourists, even if it’s out of a strange fascination for their over-the-top approach to hosting guests. Built by – and often for – the sheikhs and oligarchs of the UAE, hotels reflect the desire of the privileged to outdo their so-called rivals… or at least prove they have plenty of cash.
Whether you can afford them or not – and chances are you’ll struggle to get anything other than the (still admittedly wonderful) entry-level rooms on even larger budgets – it’s worth learning a little more about three of the big hitters. Here’s a rundown of the ones that will undoubtedly catch your eye in the region:
Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Perhaps the best place for anyone to immerse themselves in the grandiosity of Dubai from the first minute is in the Mall of the Emirates. This is the second-largest shopping centre in the UAE; its real estate was almost immediately snapped up by the prestigious Kempinski hotel chain and its thousands of rooms complement the hard work put in by the wider mall to entertain as many people as possible. Alongside the hundreds of restaurants and shops, it also boasts a massive indoor ski slope – not bad for one of the warmest countries in the world.
In terms of actual space, this is a huge development; the Mall of the Emirates offers no less than 6,500,000 sq ft of room. Given that many people go out of their way to get lost on holiday, these travellers will struggle to find a better place to do so than here.
The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Turning away from Dubai, the Emirates Palace is another big hitter in the UAE. As another Kempinski-controlled hotel – though fiercely independent due to the company philosophy of not establishing a visible brand from hotel to hotel – it is another place that will blow the minds of travellers.
This hotel was designed by John Elliott of the Royal Institute of British Architects, costing a huge £9 billion to develop. While its underground parking for 2,500 vehicles is quite eye-opening in itself, there’s a helipad and marina for those who prefer to fly or sail to their room.
The Emirates Palace puts tourists very close to a wide number of attractions, including the city-state’s Formula One track, the Etihad Towers, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the long-awaited Capital Gate, which was only recently completed.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Last but not least is perhaps the most famous hotel on this list. This is not so much due to its lavishness as it is its design, which takes on the shape of a ship’s sail. The Burj Al Arab sits on its own specially-created artificial island 300 metres away from the Jumeirah Beach, which itself is one of the most family-friendly resorts in the UAE.
The Burj has often claimed that it is the “world’s only seven-star hotel”, though this is continually disputed by rivals on the peninsula and beyond. Of course, the Royal Suite costs $18,776 a night, so the hotel’s owners may have a point.
Photo credit: mall of the emirates
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