Shangri-La Hotel Dubai a Shang with a difference

What do you get when you put a destination such as Dubai, which offers some of the most richly furnished hotel accommodation anywhere in the world, with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' first property outside of Asia ?

Dubai home to the only seven star hotel, some of the tallest hotels and now an abundance of some of the most luxurious five star properties in the world could indeed have posed Shangri-La with a challenge. Their resorts throughout Asia are renowned as some of the most luxurious available, richly decorated lobbies, sweeping staircases and sparkling chandeliers mix with some of the highest levels of guest service available.

The Shangri-La Hotel Dubai however, which is expected to open early July 2003, has taken a different route from its sister properties in Asia going for an attractive and luxurious yet contemporary design.

Located atop the new multi-purpose Al-Jaber complex on Sheikh Zayed Road and offering stunning views of the city and sea, the soon to open Shangri-La Hotel Dubai offers a total of 301 rooms. The guest rooms are on floors 29 to 41, with the Horizon Club Rooms on the latter two floors. 

The 231 Deluxe rooms, each of which are around 45 square metres are some of the largest available in Dubai, and are very nicely furnished with a soothing use of colours, woods, and modern curves that help the traveller feel right at home. The rooms are complete with all the modern amenities any road warrior may need, such as electronic safes with power point, broadband internet access, complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, satellite TV, full size executive writing desk which faces the large floor to ceiling windows (all plugs and sockets usefully positioned above the desk), duvets and a choice of pillows. The luxurious marble bathroom offers all the normal amenities plus a bath with hand held shower and a separate shower stall complete with an overhead Rain Forest fixed shower head and an hand held shower head. Female travellers especially will appreciate the solid and powerful hairdryer in the bathroom.

The hotel has 11 Executive rooms which are basically identical to the Deluxe rooms, the only difference being in the size, with the Executive rooms offering 11 square metres of additional space. The Premier Rooms on the Horizon Club Floor add another 11 square metres to this, offering a spacious 66 square metres for guests to relax and unwind in.

The Executive Floor at the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai, called the Horizon Club, is open 24 hours a day and offers guests a whole range of services, including breakfast in the lounge, free broadband internet access, cocktails from 5 to 7pm (which by Dubai standards is not overly generous), one free suit pressing, shoe shine service and 2 complimentary hours use of a meeting room.

The hotel will have three bars and six restaurants, a seafood, Moroccan and Vietnamese amongst the choices of fine dining available. An exciting bar is planned for the 42nd floor which will offer some stunning views over Dubai and this is expected to open early 2004.

The entire 4th floor is dedicated to the health club and includes a gymnasium (open 6am to midnight), outdoor swimming pool (open 6am to 9pm), jacuzzi, plunge pools, movement centre, sauna and steam rooms, nine spa treatment rooms, squash and tennis courts.

In addition, the hotel has gone one step further in ensuring the privacy of its most valued customers, by offering an exclusive fitness centre and swimming pool on the 42nd floor, dedicated for the exclusive use of Horizon Club guests.

The Shangri-La Hotel Dubai may well be offering a different style of property from its sister hotels in Asia, but it has without a doubt, maintained its high level of luxury and service, that will surely make the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai a must stay for travellers to this vibrant Emirate.