Courtesy of Kempinski Hotels
It seems just about anything is possible in Dubai. Once a small fishing village, the emirate is now where visitors can find some of the world’s most remarkable attractions. From the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, to The Ain Dubai, the tallest and largest observation wheel, Dubai is all about possibility and innovation. And as part of its quest to continuously progress, the high-tech metropolis and emirate of superlatives is gearing up to be home to yet another landmark, the world’s first floating sea palace resort.
The Kempinski Floating Palace, the first luxury hotel that will open as a floating building, around which 12 likewise floating luxury villas are grouped, will be another breakthrough for the already spectacular tourism industry. The highly innovative project by Seagate Shipyard is anchored next to one of the most exclusive beach stretches in Dubai on Jumeirah Beach Road. Slated to open in 2023, the new wonder will surely make its way to the list of best tourist attractions to check out in Dubai.
The main building, the 156-room and suite hotel, is structured in four parts. It is connected in the middle by a glass pyramid and offers every luxury of a 5-star hotel. The amenities include exclusive gourmet restaurants, bars, spa, pools, boutiques, banquet areas and the possibility for even larger yachts to sail in and out at the centre of the hotel.
The 12 luxury villas, connected by pontoons, are partly for sale but also for rent by hotel guests, who can benefit from all the services offered at the hotel. With high-quality and elegant design over two floors, a roof terrace and infinity pool, the twelve villas have two, three or four bedrooms, as well as indoor and outdoor living rooms. Large panoramic windows and all the technical features of a smart home make staying at the luxury houseboats, which also have crew and staff rooms, a dream. Cruising at a maximum speed of six nautical miles, the villas are equipped with solar panels, making them an environmentally friendly option too.
Guests have the option of being taken to the hotel or their villas by speed boat or arriving directly with their own boats. What’s more, a connected floating helipad next to an impressive yacht parking deck for up to 16 yachts, allows the discerning visitors to arrive in style.
“We are proud of what we have achieved so far, especially at the Floating Palace in Dubai, where we have partnered with a global leader in the hospitality business," Mohamed El Bahrawy, CEO and founder of Seagate Shipyard, said. “I am so grateful to Bernold Schroeder and Kempinski Hotels for their trust. It is thrilling to see, that for the first time a brand of the calibre of Kempinski will manage a floating hotel of such magnitude, and we are confident that our hotel will soon be one of the top tourist attractions in Dubai. It will undoubtedly occupy an iconic position among floating hotels all over the world.”
