BACKGROUND The luxury hospitality brand is a part of the Marriott International group. Currently, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company manages 91 hotels in 30 countries worldwide.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Before you enter the lobby doors, just where the car drops you off, there are a few tables for guests to grab a quick coffee. The reception desk stands to the right, beyond which are the lifts that take you to the rooms. From the lobby, a grand staircase leads up to the banquet floor, above which is the 24-hour coffee shop.

WHERE IS IT? Located in Dubai’s International Financial Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, it is a 20-minute drive from Dubai International Airport.

ROOMS I stayed in the base category Deluxe room, spacious at 42 sqm.  A long sofa abuts the floor-to-ceiling window that faces an office building up ahead. The large work desk faces the window, a view that is enjoyable should the room face the hotel’s courtyard or Sheikh Zayed Road.

FOOD AND DRINK The Club Lounge on level 13 is accessible to categories upwards of Club rooms. Visit Café Belge, a European restaurant and bar that serves Belgian dishes, fresh seafood and a collection of beers. Le Cirque is the fine-dining brand from NYC. It is filled with quirky art pieces and serves French cuisine, with an Italian twist. For fine cuts of meat, head to Center Cut, and Cara for a multi-cuisine menu. The bars here include Sunken Garden and Flair No.5. There is also a lobby lounge and a cake shop on the property.

MEETINGS The 1,398 sqm of meeting space has a maximum capacity for 1,513 delegates. The banquets and smaller event and conference rooms are spread across two levels.

LEISURE The spa treatments are inspired by cultural traditions of the Middle-East, as well as techniques from India, Bali Morocco, and Mexico. Other rejuvenating options include the swimming pool, gym, and salon.

VERDICT A centrally located luxurious property for the discerning business traveller.

CONTACT

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, Gate Village, DIFC, off Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 482032 Dubai; +971 4372 2222; ritzcarlton.com

Neha Gupta Kapoor