First look: The St Regis Dubai, The Palm opens on Palm Jumeirah


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

One of Dubai's most anticipated hotels has opened on Palm Jumeirah.

The St Regis Dubai, The Palm, is now welcoming guests for a five-star stay in one of the city's most popular neighbourhoods.

Towering above Dubai, the hotel is spread across the first 18 levels of The Palm Tower. Offering guests sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf and the city's skyline, the hotel also brings the level of service that the St Regis is famed for to the Palm Jumeirah for the first time.

With two infinity pools – one exclusively for adults – an Iridium Spa and St Regis' signature butler service available for all, the luxury resort opens at a time when many are taking more staycations due to international travel restrictions.

“The St Regis Dubai, The Palm is an exquisite addition to our global portfolio and offers a century-old legacy of uncompromising refinement and bespoke service on Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah," said Sandeep Walia, area vice president for the UAE at Marriott International.

Guests can book one of 264 rooms, taking their pick from king, twin, family or deluxe rooms. For a little more space, there are also 25 Metropolitan and Astor suites, as well as a coveted 248-square-metre Presidential Suite.

The grand staircase in the lobby of The St Regis Dubai, The Palm is inspired by the staircase built in 1904 at the first St Regis in New York City. Courtesy St Regis
The grand staircase in the lobby of The St Regis Dubai, The Palm is inspired by the staircase built in 1904 at the first St Regis in New York City. Courtesy St Regis

Floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms and suites make the most of the hotel's location, offering views over Palm Jumeirah, while guests will sleep on feather-soft mattresses with Frette linen and down-filled pillows.

The interiors are a mix of modern glamour and local influences that also capture the elegance the brand is known for. Case in point is the hotel's grand staircase in the lobby, which has a design reminiscent of the lobby in the first St Regis New York, built in 1904.

The Dubai version features gold detailing and encircles a sparkling chandelier inspired by the shape of the Arabian palm tree.

Ladies-only afternoon tea

Ladies-only afternoon tea is served daily at Her by Caroline Astor, at the newly opened The St Regis Dubai, The Palm. Chris Whiteoak
Ladies-only afternoon tea is served daily at Her by Caroline Astor, at the newly opened The St Regis Dubai, The Palm. Chris Whiteoak

Fans of the St Regis legacy will want to pay a visit to Her by Caroline Astor, named after the matriarch of the brand. This ladies-only tea room is where curated tea pairings and a locally inspired take on St Regis's signature afternoon tea will be served daily.

The St Regis Dubai, The Palm is an exquisite addition to our global portfolio and offers a century-old legacy of uncompromising refinement and bespoke service on Dubai's iconic Palm Jumeirah.

When it comes to St Regis legacies, they don't get much more famous than the Bloody Mary – a drink created more than 80 years ago at the King Cole Bar at The St Regis, New York City. In Dubai, mixologists at the new St Regis Bar have invented a local take on the beverage. The Glitzy Mary features traditional Emirati flavours including date syrup, an aromatic bezaar spice blend, sun-dried lime and earthy saffron.

Cordelia, the hotel's all-day fine-dining restaurant, has a dinner menu featuring seafood and prime cuts of meat. It also serves daily breakfast and lunch.

For some quality leisure time, there are two swimming pools – one for families and the other reserved for adults-only – as well as a whirlpool. Guests lounging poolside can enjoy light meals from Dip Pool Bar.

One of the swimming pools at the newly opened The St Regis Dubai, The Palm. Chris Whiteoak
One of the swimming pools at the newly opened The St Regis Dubai, The Palm. Chris Whiteoak

This is also where the hotel will mark the transition from daytime to evening with a daily bottle sabering at dusk, another of St Regis' famed traditions.

Pampering at The St Regis Spa involves a wide range of options, such as a signature spa treatment using 24k gold. Fitness enthusiasts can head to The Workout Room, open 24 hours a day.

Elsewhere, the soon-to-open St Regis Beach Club is a short walk from the hotel and guests will be able to access the private shoreline and 100-metre infinity-edge pool. Being developed in partnership with Nakheel, the luxury beach club will also be home to a variety of dining options.

Visitors checking in at The St Regis Dubai, The Palm have direct access to Nakheel Mall and The View at The Palm, a lofty observation deck at the top of The Palm Tower.

The hotel is also well-placed for sightseeing – it's one monorail stop away from Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm, and a short drive from The Pointe, home to the world's largest fountain.

Rates from Dh1,400 per night, The St Regis Dubai, Palm Jumeirah; marriott.com

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Alan%20Wake%20Remastered%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERemedy%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Microsoft%20Game%20Studios%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%204%20%26amp%3B%205%2C%20Xbox%3A%20360%20%26amp%3B%20One%20%26amp%3B%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20Nintendo%20Switch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Dark Waters'

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper 

Rating: ****

PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

The Outsider

Stephen King, Penguin

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
Drishyam 2

Directed by: Jeethu Joseph

Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy

Rating: 4 stars

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5