Emirates Palace

Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

If you are not lucky enough to be staying at the Emirates Palace on your next trip to Abu Dhabi try and take out a couple of hours to visit this magnificent building as it certainly features in our top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.  If you are staying in Abu Dhabi city centre, the Emirates Palace is just a 10 to 15 minute drive from the other end of the city, located near the Marina Mall so combining it with a morning of shopping will work well.  The Emirates Palace is one of only three hotels in the world awarding itself the seven star label and we agree, it definitely fits into this luxury category.  From beautifully selected materials, lavish fixtures and fittings, and grand scale in size, this hotel definitely has the X-factor. In fact, the Emirates Palace avoids any reference made to it as a ‘hotel’ and corrects itself as being a ‘palace’ providing the ultimate staying experience.   Unlike its neighbouring rival the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, where you must have at least a restaurant booking if not a room booked to experience the hotel, the Emirates Palace does not require you to book a restaurant to access the main areas of the hotel.  You are welcome to walk around the extensive lobby areas for free, however we recommend you to treat yourself to a luxury cup of tea and cake dusted with real edible gold at their lavish Le Café, where ambience is a calm elegance and you really feel you are ‘Putting on the Ritz!’  After your tea break be sure to visit the world’s first Gold ATM machine which dispenses real gold ingots from cash. 

The Emirates Palace regularly hosts an array of festivals, art exhibitions, screenings and shows, which is another brilliant reason to visit.  A very popular exhibition that almost has residency at the hotel is the Al Saadiyat Cultural Exhibition showcasing the future plans for Abu Dhabi and especially the vision for Plan 2030.  This is an impressive walkthrough and sneak preview of what Abu Dhabi will be like in the next 5, 10 and 15 years.  The scale and plans of development are amazing and a must see for all Abu Dhabi fans.  For more info on current exhibitions at the Emirates Palace please refer to their website.   In addition to all these, there a heap of top class restaurants at the hotel, including one of the only places where you can eat authentic Emirati food at Mezlai. For more information on restaurants, check out the restaurant section.

Points of note

• Dress respectably and smart, remember you are in a seven star hotel and you don’t really want to stick out like the budget tourist. Besides, devouring a chocolate gateau dusted with gold flakes doesn’t really have the same appeal when combining it with flip flops and bermuda shorts!
• If passing by the hotel area, you will see a magnificent archway. You will not be able to pass through this arch as it is reserved for royalty and VVIPs. If you ever get to pass through, you know you have made it in this world!
• To really make a holiday to remember, book a dinner at one of the stunning restaurants, our personal favourites are Mezzaluna or Anar for fabulous views of the sea.  If you are up for uber chic, try Etoiles for dinner, drinks and dancing.

When – Almost anytime is good to visit during the day, but for great people watching seats at Le Café, go during the typical working hours so 10am – 3pm.

How long – Just a brief walk around and no people gazing should take 30 minutes, but to experience true sit-down royalty give yourself 2 hours.

Location  – “Emirates Palace”, at the end of the Corniche on the way to Marina Mall. You can’t miss it!

Cost – Just a walk around: 0 Dhs, Cup of tea/cake/afternoon tea package: 40 – 200 Dhs, dining at one of the restaurants: start at 300 Dhs+ per person

Booking – booking required (+971 2 690 9000) if you want to guarantee a seat for tea, and imperative if you are going for a meal.

More Info - http://www.emiratespalace.com  +971 2 690 9000