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The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), is the world's only 8-star luxury hotel, operated by Kempinski and opened in November 2005. This magnificent structure is the work of renowned British designer John Elliotson.
The Emirates Palace is truly an architectural marvel built in the desert, a luxurious structure that only a wealthy nation like the UAE could afford to construct. The hotel cost approximately $3.9 billion – a colossal sum. It is also famous for using 40 tons of gold to decorate certain areas. The Emirates Palace currently employs around 2,600 staff members from approximately 50 nationalities, with an average of three staff members serving each guest.
The hotel was built as a masterpiece, intended to become a national symbol, so profit wasn't the primary concern, even though, besides oil, tourism is the biggest money-making engine in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirates Palace Hotel is situated on a stunning 1,000-hectare site, incorporating architecture that reflects the diverse landscapes of the desert. It also boasts a private 1.6km beach connected to the hotel. The exterior is striking, featuring 114 impressive domes, some reaching 60 meters in height and sparkling in the sunlight thanks to their pure gold embellishments.
The hotel is eight stories high and has a total floor area of 850,000 square meters, with the west and east wings containing guest rooms. It is decorated primarily with gold and marble combined with cutting-edge technology. The hotel has 394 rooms of various types. It regularly hosts heads of state, diplomats, members of the aristocracy, business tycoons, and entertainment stars from around the world.
This place boasts nearly 20 restaurants, three bars, lounges, and cafes offering a range of refreshments, cuisine, and entertainment. The hotel's Mezlai and Le Vendome restaurants are famous for their gold leaf-tossed desserts. Each chocolate dessert here costs around $80.
The complex also features two swimming pools and a spa, underground parking for 2,500 vehicles, a marina, and an airstrip with enough space for two helicopters. The hotel owns eight BMW 760s and two Rolls-Royces used for airport transfers.
From the east wing of the hotel, guests can also see the Abu Dhabi royal building. Emirates Palace boasts a 1,000-hectare green park with 8,000 trees, which are replanted every two years. The park features many beautiful trees and flowers, along with over 100 fountains.
Emirates Palace boasts six royal suites, each spanning 680 square meters. The dominant color scheme is a stunning, shimmering gold, a color symbolizing wealth and luxury. Even more remarkably, each suite is staffed with seven attendants on duty 24/7, ready to serve guests at any time. With such opulence and top-tier service, it's easy to understand why a room rate here reaches 2.7 billion VND per night.
Beyond its luxurious and sophisticated design, the Emirates Palace Hotel attracts guests with its state-of-the-art high-tech system. Each guest receives a tablet worth $2,500 (56.8 million VND) to set up an alarm clock, download movies, record videos, or call staff. It is also one of the few hotels equipped with a gold-plated Gold To Go vending machine.
