Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Author: Anothertravelguide.com
Emirates Palace Hotel is Abu Dhabi symbol in a way and absolutely unique in its kind not only in the UAE, but the whole world, too. Opened in 2005, it seems like a sand-color castle rising up from the desert. Especially at night, with a huge fountain splashing at its threshold, it reminds a scene from Arabian fairy-tales.
In terms of costs (3 billion dollars), it is one of the most expensive hotel projects ever. It boasts 1002 Swarovski crystal chandeliers, the biggest one weighting 2.5t, 114 domes, covered in glistening glass-tile mosaics, gold and marble, imported from 13 countries. Its staff reaches over 2000 people, covering 50 languages of the world. 12 000 people have been involved in its construction and the distance between the two farthest wings measures one kilometer, easily turning a morning walk from your room to breakfast in a moderate amount of daily physical activity. Emirates Palace features 1.3 km of white sandy beach, 8000 trees growing in its huge territory, and the atrium of 42m width. It is topped by the world's largest dome, finished in silver and gold glass mosaic tiles, while the guest-rooms splurge with total of 775 plasma TVs. Owned by the state (meaning, the sheikh's family), Emirates Palace is operated by Kempinski hotel chain. Despite its seeming extravagances, the mirage-like castle surrounds its guests with amazing feel of authenticity. Emirates Palace is not at a traditional hotel in the usual sense of the word. Currently it functions as an important venue of Abu Dhabi cultural and social life, housing festivals, concerts and art exhibitions, staring world-famous guest-artists. Art Paris-Abu Dhabi, the international modern and contemporary art fair took place there in 2008 for the second year in a row. Moreover, Abu Dhabi is the first one to hold this originally Parisian project, founded in 1999. The mess was attended by 57 international art galleries, 700 artists from all over the globe exhibited more than 3000 artworks there with prices varying from couple of thousand to several millions of dollars. Damien Hirst, Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse, Man Ray, Paul Cezanne, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol are just few of the famed names having being featured there. A giant bronze turtle by Jan Fabre, named "Searching for Utopia", was displayed on the beach within the framework of a special sculptural project. An exhibition "Emirate Expressions" is taking place there from January 20 to April 16, 2009, offering a vast exposition of the traditional and contemporary art of the UAE, curated by Anne Baldassari, Director of the Musée National Picasso, Paris. The uniqueness of the hotel lies not in luring sounds of waves heard from every balcony, in a presence of a personal valet, and not even fit for a sheikh luxury surrounding you. It lies in the matchless ambiance, saturated with the presence of global culture, leaving an aftertaste that doesn't vanish like any other five-star mirage.
Rates from 7500 AED
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Keywords: hotel, hotels, Abu Dhabi
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