Raffles Dubai

Raffles Dubai is a 19-storey hotel that is built in the shape of a pyramid. The luxury hotel is located in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates The design was an inspiration taken from traditional Egyptian architecture. It is located at the Wafi City Development,[1] 15 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport.[2] The hotel features 252 rooms and suites, 6 restaurants, a spa, and a fitness center.

History

View of the lobby.

Raffles Dubai was built by the Wafi Group, a Dubai-based diversified business conglomerate that invested more than 140 million US dollars on its first hotel project. The Wafi group entered into an agreement where the hotel would be managed and operated by the Singapore based hospitality chain Raffles Hotels and Resorts. The agreement also marked Raffles’ entry into the Middle East and expanded its presence to 41 hotels in 35 destinations.[3]

The hotel’s signature pyramid shape was conceived by architect Bryn Lummus and developed locally by lead architects Arif & Bin Toak. The interior of the hotel was designed by the Dubai-based LW Design group. Construction began in April 2005 and the hotel began its operations in 2007. Raffles Dubai welcomed their first official Guest Mr. Jérôme Straub from Switzerland on 12th October 2007. The main influences of the interior decorations comes a blend of Middle Eastern and Asian designs with emphasis on the 4 elements of life - earth, air, fire, and water. The hotel lobby also showcases the work of painter Hatty Paddar.

In March 2013, Raffles Dubai showcased the world’s most expensive Red Diamond Abaya, which was designed by March Wingham.[3] Later that year in November 2013, the hotel presented the Million Dollar Art Exhibit in associate with CASI Global New York. The exhibit featured contemporary Spanish art from artists such as Juan Muñoz, Miguel Barceló, Francis Picabia, and more.

Special features

The garden on the third floor.

The Egyptian-themed pyramid shape is considered a prominent feature of the hotel, topped with a glass capstone that constitutes three stories of its structure.

Another prominent feature of the hotel is the Raffles Garden that can be found on the third floor of the hotel. The garden was designed with four areas representing the essential elements of life - Water, Air, Fire and Earth. These converge on a large glass dome, the Eye of Horus, god of the sky which, according to Egyptian legend, acts as the garden's centerpiece.

The Raffles Spa has six treatment rooms and a VIP suite overlooking the city. It is one of the first spas to offer the Egyptian Gold, a 24-carat gold facial treatment and provides a cooling system on the entire wave-shaped pool deck.

Each Presidential Suite at Raffles Dubai has a theme, Earth (natural hues of creams and browns), Fire (fiery splashes of color in the fabrics and dark timber finishes), Air (a blend of creams and whites) and Water (elaborate fountains).

Restaurants

Raffles Dubai features 6 on-property food& beverage options:

Awards & Accolades

Since its opening in 2007, Raffles Dubai has earned a variety of hospitality awards including:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Wafi City Retrieved 11.04.2014
  2. ↑ "Raffles Dubai Official Site Retrieved 06.03.2008
  3. 1 2 "Wafi Group signs with Raffles International" 2005, Retrieved March 6, 2008
  4. ↑ "Raffles Dubai" Retrieved 11.04.2014
  5. 1 2 "Readers' Choice Awards 2014" Retrieved November 4, 2014
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Coordinates: 25°13′40″N 55°19′14″E / 25.22778°N 55.32056°E / 25.22778; 55.32056

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