Page 32 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

30 ❯❯ Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi Highlights

Emirates Palace

The stupendous Emirates Palace hotel dominates Downtown Abu
Dhabi’s southwestern side. Opened in 2005 to rival Dubai’s Burj
Al Arab Jumeirah, the hotel cost a reputed $3 billion and is built
on the grandest of scales, stretching for well over a kilometre
along its own exclusive beach. The hotel’s majestic red-sandstone
exterior, topped with rippling domes and surrounded by gushing
fountains, is guaranteed to impress. Even more spectacular,
however, is the lavish interior, a dazzling, shimmering vision of
marble, gold leaf and opulent decorative features.

NEED TO KNOW
MAP N1 • The Corniche,
Abu Dhabi • 02 690
9000 • www.emirates
palace.com
• Officially you need
an advance reservation
to get into the hotel.
However, the lobby is
open to the public. For
reservations email:
guestrelation@
emiratespalace.ae
• For a soothing evening,
Emirates Palace Spa
offers an array of excel-
lent spa escapes, such
as the signature 24 Carat
Majlis with
Swarovski
Gold Radiance Facial. 1 3
• For afternoon tea or a Crystal Arabian Horse
cup of coffee, call into Al Chandeliers Mural
Majlis coffee lounge or You’ll notice the abundant The most impressive of
the Viennese-style café. use of chandeliers the many plush public
For lunch or dinner, try throughout the hotel – at spaces here is the majlis
Mezzaluna (02 690 7999; Emirates Palace, they’re (meeting area). It has a
12:30–3pm & 7–11pm) used like light bulbs and blue ceiling with frescoes
or Sayad (see p95). appear to be sparkling and a magnificent mural
in every single room. of Arab stallions.
Triumphant
Emirates
2 4
Palace Theatre
Arch
Before entering Emirates Emirates Palace has
Palace you’ll be dazzled given Abu Dhabi its first
by a majestic pink theatre, a remarkable
Triumphant Arch gate venue that is the largest
with a dome on top and a in the UAE. The packed
long and grand driveway programme includes
(left). The gate is usually Russian ballet, Arabic
closed but opened for orchestra concerts and
royalty and dignitaries on musical shows like
special occasions. “The Spirit of the Dance”.

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Three-column, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
030-031_Top_10_Dubai.indd 30 17/05/2017 12:54
Date 12th May 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm