Life & Style | Travel

Palace of suite dreams

Reader Edwin B. Lasquite captures in his heart and on camera the image of the Emirates Palace Hotel.

  • By Edwin B. Lasquite, Correspondent
  • Published: 23:40 July 4, 2008
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  • Image Credit: By Edwin B. Lasquite
  • The main entrance of the hotel.
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Abu Dhabi, my home for the past four years, holds a special place in my heart.

All through my stay here, I have been enthralled by its many enchanting attractions, all of which come together to lend it a magical feel.

But even amid so much beauty, one landmark in the UAE capital deserves a special mention — the Emirates Palace.

A marvel of Arabian architecture that rises like a mirage on the coast of Abu Dhabi, the hotel, one of the world's most expensive, is sure to leave anybody who walks through its gates spellbound.

Bewitching beauty

At least, that was the effect this structure of splendour had on me when I visited it on a recent weekend.

Not just me, even my friends from Dubai, Kababayans from City of Tagum, Davao del Norte, Mindanao, the Philippines (Tagumeños — that's what they call people from the City of Tagum), could not help but fall in love with the hotel, which is at once larger than life, pleasing to the eye and exudes warmth and a welcoming atmosphere.

Weekend muse

Our weekend adventure at the Emirates Palace also coincided with my photography project, in which I was focusing on taking pictures of the city by night.

And the Emirates Palace — with its sandstone structure stretching for a kilometre, 114 domes gracing its roof, more than 200 fountains shooting up curtains of water and the entire complex floodlit in the evening and sparkling like a jewel — made for the perfect subject.

Landscaped glory

That's not all, pristine gardens, free-form pool areas and an immaculately maintained jogging track that runs around the entire property form part of the pleasing landscape.

In fact, the only thing that could compare to the beauty of the hotel's exterior was its interiors.

As we walked past the shops within the hotel, we found ourselves stopping every so often to feast our eyes on some of the world's most exclusive luxury brands in jewellery and fashion accessories that were on display.

We were so stunned by our surroundings that we almost forgot to take photographs! The décor inside is a masterful blend of regal Arabian splendour and the latest technology.

State-of-the-art living

Acres of gold leaf and the finest marble adorn every inch of the hotel, which boasts 302 rooms and 92 magnificent suites, each equipped with the latest creature comforts, leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the guests are pampered.

In addition, there are six large terraces and a variety of pre-function areas that are ideal for chilling out or even for organising receptions and banquets.

Bedecked in light

Our tour through the hotel felt like a surreal dream, but the Emirates Palace had reserved for us an even more wonderful parting gift.

As we turned back one last time to savour the splendid sandstone façade that had transported us to a different realm, we saw it bathed in a spectrum of light, dimming and glowing, changing colour and looking more beautiful with every passing moment. We stood there, transfixed by its beauty.

Unique experience

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Emirates Palace — a gem of a hotel with a beauty that people rarely get to see, not only in the emirates but in the entire world.

Our visit provided us with an experience that will remain etched in our memories for a long time to come.

Did you know

  • The Emirates Palace is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi and run by the Kempinski group.
  • Open since February 2005, the Palace — on the Abu Dhabi corniche — is more than a hotel, offering quests a truly regal experience.
  • Covering an area of 1,000,000square metres and with a private beachfront that is 1.3km long, the Emirates Palace is arguably the most impressive resort ever to be built in the Middle East.
  • The building, designed to reflect the different shades of the dessert, features 113 domes covered with mosaic glass tiles, and is crowned by a magnificent 60m-high dome.
  • At any time, it employs a staff of 2,000.
  • The hotel has 302 deluxe rooms and 92 suites comprising a total 755 plasma TV screens.
  • There are 1,002 chandeliers — all made from Swarovski crystals — and 140 elevators.
  • A walk around the hotel is approximately 2.5km long.

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