When it comes to luxury hotels, Dubai has it all. Desert charm, beachfront relaxation and buzzy metropolitan hubs are scattered throughout the city, with new additions popping up at breakneck speed.
But there are a handful of luxury hotels in the city that fall into the veteran category, standing the test of time and continuing to attract visitors – old and new – decades after opening.
Among these is Park Hyatt Dubai, a sprawling picturesque haven in its own quiet corner of the old city, that continues to set the bar for luxury.
The National checked in for a stay at one of its new pool villas.
The welcome
After turning off the E11 to the private gate that marks the entrance of Dubai Creek and Yacht Club, we are greeted by a fedora-wearing security guard, who is noticeably cheery. He directs us to the hotel’s entrance, a short drive along a palm-lined road, where private villas sit on one side and the sparkling marina faces them on the other.
After pulling up to the entrance, equally friendly valet staff are quick to help us with our bags, which we don’t see again until they appear in our rooms later that afternoon. Check-in is from 3pm, but we arrive a couple of hours early to grab some lunch and laze by the pool, which is no problem. In fact, staff at reception tell us they will do all they can to ensure our room is ready as quickly as possible and, within half an hour, they’ve come to find us at the pool with our keys.
The neighbourhood
Just a short drive from Dubai International Airport and around 15 minutes from attractions including the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, Park Hyatt Dubai is part of the old city but close enough to the action at the heart of Downtown Dubai. Thanks to its location in the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club complex, it feels quiet and serene in its own little corner of the city.
The room
Park Hyatt Dubai first opened in 2005, but we are here to try one of its newly modelled villas, which opens out directly onto the resort’s new lagoon pool.
It’s surprisingly spacious, with a huge lounge area, complete with an office nook, washroom and sliding doors opening to the first of two terraces, where seating surrounds a small firepit. Back inside, an equally spacious master bedroom lies through wooden double doors at the far end of the lounge, where we find a perfectly made king-sized bed waiting. The bed looks out towards the terrace space and the azure pool beyond, a view that we happily lie back and drink in.
Through arched doorways, a master bathroom features a double sink, free-standing bathtub, double walk-in showers and a dressing area, with open shutters to the bedroom, again designed to optimise the view.
Neutral tones, abstract vases and rattan fixtures give the new villas a laid-back, contemporary feel, with touches of azure laced throughout the room complementing the outdoor surrounds.
The service
All staff we encounter throughout the resort are friendly and professional, and go above and beyond to help. Once, after finding ourselves in the wrong block searching for our room, which subsequently turns out to be on the other side of the resort, a groundkeeper escorts us all the way to the right block, which took a good few minutes out of his day.
The scene
With its whitewashed buildings, topped with azure domes, and flowering bougainvillaea trees scattered throughout, the resort feels distinctly Mediterranean, with scenes more akin to those usually found on Greek islands than in the UAE. Still, touches of Middle Eastern design are subtly sprinkled throughout the resort, giving Park Hyatt Dubai a charming character that has kept guests returning for close to two decades.
As well as a good-sized palm-lined main pool, the hotel is home to two lagoon pools – Al Porto, a family-friendly spot overlooking the harbour that opened last year, and Twigg, the chic private beach club operated by Rikas Group that serves incredible views of the Downtown skyline and impressive Mediterranean fare.
Elsewhere, the Amara Spa, set on its own private patio, is the epitome of serene, with treatment rooms having their own private gardens, complete with trickling water features and outdoor showers. My 60-minute signature treatment with Nikita puts me into a trance-like state, and I practically float back to my room.
The food
Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. Daily breakfast can be enjoyed at Brasserie du Park, where a perfectly curated buffet is on offer, as well as a la carte options. Noepe offers the ideal laid-back pre-dinner sundowner spot.
As well as the aforementioned Twiggy, dining options include The Thai Kitchen, afternoon tea spot The Lounge and seafood restaurant Boardwalk.Set on a terrace overlooking the creek, the restaurant has stood the test of time, having been operational for more than 26 years. There are also a few casual spots for dining and drinks throughout the resort, including Jones the Grocer, QD’s and Lakeview, which has a 900-year-old olive tree from Italy as part of its design.
Highs and lows
The tranquillity of Park Hyatt Dubai, alongside its stunning grounds and architecture, makes it one of the most picturesque spots in the city, leaving guests feeling a million miles away. There are no real lows but guests should be prepared for a bit of a walk to their rooms through several corridors, which can be a little confusing to navigate upon arrival.
The Insider tip
The most photogenic spot in the hotel can be found by heading towards the spa, where a grand stairway heads down towards a blue tiled floor, making for the perfect Instagram backdrop.
The verdict
Almost two decades (and many, many new luxury hotels) later, Park Hyatt Dubai’s appeal endures thanks to its Mediterranean vibes, charming aesthetic and sheer variety of facilities.
The bottom line
A twin lagoon-view room starts from Dh995 per night, while a lagoon beach suite starts from Dh5,345 per night. Check-in is from 3pm; checkout is at noon; hyatt.com.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
more from Janine di Giovanni
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
LIKELY TEAMS
South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
