“Gold to Go” gold ingot vending machines? Check. World’s most expensive hotel? Check. Whatever indulgence floats your megayacht, there’s a good chance that the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi bears the gold standard for it. All that glistens isn’t gold, but even years after its debut, and a change in management, this icon of Emirati hospitality still maintains its crown even after many attempts by neighboring Dubai high-rise resorts like the Burj al Arab to wrest it away.
Of course, this being a palace, there is an Arc-de-Triomphe-styled edifice on the driveway for the obligatory grand motorcade entrance. There are two helipads here if you’re avoiding the Corniche. Better yet, a splendid marina is another of the Palace’s well-considered amenities: its 167 berths make for an exclusive, welcoming haven for superyacht owners.
By the numbers
The stats on Emirates Palace are staggering and, let’s face it, took enormous vision beyond merely covering an escalating price tag. Financed by the government and designed by John Elliott of London’s WATG Architects, whose background was well-suited. Elliott spent several years as city planner for Abu Dhabi and had built a palace for the Sultan of Brunei. Construction was first begun in December 2001 and completed at the cost of US$3 billion in November 2005, owning the “world’s most expensive hotel” badge until The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas captured that designation. The renowned Kempinski Hotels brand had managed the property since its very grand opening, but Mandarin Oriental quietly assumed management duties in December 2020 and recently began a surreptitious, extensive refurb. Still, the resort’s gleam of renowned expertise in service remains undiminished. Beyond its façade in a myriad earth tones selected to evoke the shifting desert sands, and into the grand lobby and public spaces typically overrun by throngs of curious tourists in pre-COVID days, there is a regal calm that welcomes guests, nobility notwithstanding. Perched near the end of the West Corniche, Emirates Palace is overlooked but by no means overshadowed by the imposing Etihad Towers. Its nearest neighbor is the gleaming Qasr al Watan, the sprawling Presidential Palace. Emirates Palace sprawls a bit, too. Larger than Buckingham Palace, Emirates Palace boasts a total of 114 domes, including the world’s largest, as its grand lobby centerpiece. Surrounded by 222 acres of gardens and 8000 trees, it is as much a must-see attraction in Abu Dhabi as it is a luxury hotel. Over 200 silvery, dancing fountains infuse humidity into the dry desert heat. A near-mile-long stretch of private white sand beach boasts incredible views and is for overnighting guests only.
Grand entrance
Forty minutes’ drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport, and you will definitely feel you’ve arrived, far less if you’re flying in on your own: only 22 minutes drive from Al Bateen Executive Airport. Of course, this being a palace, there is an Arc-de-Triomphe-styled edifice on the driveway for the obligatory grand motorcade entrance. There are two helipads here if you’re avoiding the Corniche. Better yet, a splendid marina is another of the Palace’s well-considered amenities: its 167 berths make for an exclusive, welcoming haven for superyacht owners. With unrestricted tidal access and dedicated large yacht facilities and services, such as 24-hour dock assistance and a 35-meter dual pump fuel dock, the marina can accommodate vessels up to 140 meters in length. The marina has its own shopping mall, a spa and, if you like, you can hire a seaplane or a car (or car+driver) for a different view of the city’s surroundings. Didn’t arrive on your yacht? No worries. You can charter one here.
Food for thought
With 13 dining, bar & lounge outlets, Emirates Palace continues to satisfy nearly every culinary whim, from Cuban bites at Havana Club to accompany a lust-worthy humidor of Cuban cigars and sampling of rums, to celebrations of local tastes beach-side at Sayad (for seafood) and Mawal for a tour of Levantine culinary traditions. Each continues to win awards and are popular with guests and locals. For Asian cuisine, Hakkasan is difficult to beat. Craving Indian?
You’re in for a treat with Master Chef Hemant Oberoi’s Martabaan. BBQ Al Qasr is the city’s acknowledged most romantic venue due to its intimate seating in sea-side gazebos. And of course, we have to mention the lobby’s Le Café, for afternoon tea, the fabulously gold-dusted and logo’d cappuccinos, and a camel burger also topped with the metal.
