FIRST IMPRESSIONS Firmly directed at a Gulf rather than European audience, this new Kempinski is modern, luxurious and very different from Kempinski properties in Europe, and even the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, which is also managed by Kempinski. The marketing calls it “the first ski hotel in Dubai”, as it is attached to the Ski Dubai indoor ski resort. Not only that, it’s also part of the largest shopping mall outside North America, the Mall of the Emirates.
First impressions are of an extremely stylish and modern hotel with a high-ceilinged lobby, reaching up to the second floor where the 1897 Bar and the business centre are located. Behind reception, a huge rippling waterfall keeps you occupied while check-in formalities are addressed, and then there’s the escort up to the room. I visited during the opening period, so many floors were not yet open.
WHERE IS IT? In the Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road, south of Jumeirah Beach. Depending on traffic, it is 30 minutes upwards from Dubai airport.
The ski slope is behind the hotel; it is approximately 25 storeys high, 80 metres wide and covered with real snow all year round. There are five different slopes of varying degrees of difficulty with a tow and chair lift, snowboard stunt park, pipe snowboard area and 3,000sqm snow park with a snow cavern. Equipment and clothing is included in the ticket price, which starts from AED40 (£5.80) for a child and AED50 (£7.26) for an adult for two hours’ skiing (skidxb.com).
The Mall of the Emirates has 426 shops, an Arabian souk area and a luxury shopping street that packs in Armani, Bulgari, Gucci and Versace. Entertainment facilities include a 14-screen cinema, Magic Planet – a large indoor family entertainment centre with rides, simulators and children’s rides – and a wide range of restaurants and food outlets.
HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 393 rooms and suites over 17 floors, including 15 ski chalets (opening August 2006) which have views of the slopes.
ROOM FACILITIES Facilities in all rooms include large flat-screen plasma TVs with over 40 international satellite channels, DVD and multimedia players, in-room safe, minibar, heated mirrors in the marble bathrooms, separate shower cabinet and toilet, bathrobe and slippers and Kempinski toiletries.
I saw the two types of room currently available: grand deluxe (61sqm), of which there are 228, and a corner business suite (102sqm), of which there are eight. All rooms are a good size, with the smallest being either executive or deluxe rooms (34-47sqm). Many of the rooms and suites are interconnecting to accommodate families. The rooms are further divided into Jumeirah view (which is true up to a point, but is actually a view of the eight-lane Sheikh Zayed Road) and the back of the resort – effectively the roof of the snow dome.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS For breakfast, and in fact every other meal, 24/7 is the buffet choice, serving cuisine 24 hours a day with a soon to open terrace by the pool. For evening drinks there’s 1897 Bar (the year refers to when Kempinski acquired its first property), tucked away on the second floor and very discreet, dark and modern. There is also the Aspen Café, Mosaic Pool Bar and a Vitamin Bar serving healthy juices next to the fitness centre.
Most impressive, though, is the 935-seat Sezzam Dining restaurant, which overlooks the ski slope and can be accessed by non-guests through the mall. It consists of three distinct interactive open kitchens, with the aim of focusing on cooking methods rather than cuisines. Diners can choose from Steam, serving authentic Asian cuisine; Bake, which specialises in oven-baked dishes prepared in wood-fired ovens; and Flame, featuring a large charcoal grill, rotisserie and spit roast. It’s fast with efficient service and is affordable – a quick pick menu is available for AED96 (£13.90). It’s not somewhere you’d want to meet a business associate unless for an informal meeting – it is more suitable for larger groups and families.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There’s a good-sized business centre on the second floor and 15 meeting rooms. Complimentary high-speed wireless internet access is available throughout the property at the moment, but there are plans to charge for it once the hotel has fully opened. A large business lounge is available to guests staying in executive rooms, suites and chalets, offering private meeting rooms and extra amenities.
LEISURE FACILITIES On the second floor a wellness spa was due to open at the beginning of June, including a Softouch Ayurvedic Centre of Kerala, treatment rooms, fitness centre, and infinity swimming pool with sun deck and tennis court, and terrace rooms that open straight onto the sun terrace.
VERDICT The hotel was still a work in progress during my April visit, but is already excellent, promising much for Kempinski’s expansion in the region. It will appeal to business travellers, and to leisure travellers who are less interested in sunbathing in Dubai’s murderous heat, and more keen on skiing and shopping.
PRICE Best available internet rate for a midweek stay in early June was AED1,404 (£204) for a deluxe room and AED2,340 (£340) for a grand deluxe.
CONTACT Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 4 341 0000; kempinski-dubai.com.
Tom Otley
