Taj Exotica Resort opens on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah with a 70-metre-long swimming pool


Hayley Skirka
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The newest hotel on Palm Jumeirah has opened its doors to guests.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, is located on the East Crescent of the city's man-made island.

The five-star resort has a private beach, an all-natural spa and a 70-metre swimming pool that the hotel says is the longest on the Palm.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, has a 70-metre-long swimming pool and a 230-metre private shoreline
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, has a 70-metre-long swimming pool and a 230-metre private shoreline

Located between Rixos The Palm Hotel & Suites and Aloft Palm Jumeirah, it's the third hotel for the Taj brand in Dubai.

A skylight ceiling welcomes guests into the spacious lobby of the hotel, which has 325 rooms and suites. Rooms are contemporary and spacious, with a choice of oceanfront or city skyline views. The Taj Exotica suite is for those who want to splurge, coming with its own terrace overlooking the pool and a private Jacuzzi.

There are plenty of dining options, including Indian fine-dining at Varq, a gastropub experience at the Roaring Rabbit, Arabic fare at Raia and beachside dining at The Coast. On the rooftop, Palm Kitchen serves an international menu with sweeping views over the Arabian Gulf.

All-natural Jiva Spa will offer therapies inspired by Indian healing techniques with Ayurveda, yoga, mediation and more on the menu. Guests can also unwind on a 230-metres stretch of private beach.

Children will be well taken care of at Popsicle Kids Club, where they'll have their own shallow water pool and an outdoor playground. There are also tennis courts, ballrooms and meeting rooms for sports, social occasions and conferences.

The Taj Hotel group already operates Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers Dubai and Taj Dubai, and is developing a fourth Taj hotel in the city.

Rates start at Dh1,275 per night, excluding taxes. Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai, East Crescent, Palm Jumeirah; tajhotels.com

Prop idols

Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.

Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)

An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.

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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)

Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.

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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)

Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.

Updated: March 09, 2022, 12:44 PM`