Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the capital's icon — a palace hotel holding a Forbes Five-Star rating and two Michelin Keys, set on its own private bay on the West Corniche with a 1.3-kilometre private beach, a private marina and 85 hectares of gardens. Mandarin Oriental took over the landmark in 2020, and its dozen restaurants include two with a Michelin star each, the Italian Talea and the Cantonese Hakkasan, alongside refined Indian cooking at Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi, Japanese warayaki at Stawfire, the Italian Mezzaluna, a Lebanese Terrace and beachside grills at BBQ Al Qasr; the edible-gold Palace Cappuccino and the Royal Afternoon Tea are rituals in their own right. The Emirates Palace Spa runs a Moroccan hammam with heated marble, two whirlpools, two steam rooms, ice caves and gold treatments, while the grounds hold two pools — one with waterslides and a lazy river — a Beach Club with cabanas, and watersports along the bay. The 390 rooms and suites carry iPad room controls and, in suites, a 24-hour butler, rising to the three-bedroom Palace Grand Suite of around 470 square metres, with the EP Club lounge adding champagne breakfast, afternoon tea and sunset cocktails. On a room-only or bed-and-breakfast basis, around 40 minutes by road from Zayed International, it suits celebratory couples and families alike.