By Keren Schiffman
About the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi
Regal Arabian splendor blends seamlessly with state of the art technology in Abu Dhabi's iconic landmark, the Emirates Palace Hotel, one of only two 7 star hotels in the world. Walking though the majestic gates, you'll be instantly transported into a new realm of majestic splendor.
History
The gold leafed dome in Palace's Reception Hall
It took 20,000 workers 3 years to build the Emirates Palace Hotel, costing approx 3 billion United States dollars. The hotel was designed by Wimberley Allison Tong and Goo from the UK, and it opened its doors in November of 2005.
Function
A corridor in the Palace
The Emirates Palace serves as an impressive hotel and conference venue, ideal for both corporate and leisure travelers.
Geography
Ariel view of the Palace and its 1.3 km private beach
The Palace is located just 3 km from Abu Dhabi's city center, in the capital of the U.A.E. It's convenient to the major business district, shopping and local attractions.
Architectectural Features
The Palace Archway at night
The Palace boasts The Emirates Palace Archway, which is covered in Italian stone, and larger than Paris's Arc de Triomphe; as well as 1,002 Swarovski crystal chandeliers and over 1 million sq ft of marble. There are also 200 fountains amid 600 acres of exotic park grounds.
Size
A bedroom fit for a king
The Palace is comprised of 394 rooms and suites, ranging from 55 sqm to 680 sqm. There are 40 meeting and conference rooms, a ballroom that holds 24,000, as well as an open air concert area seating 20,000.
Fun Fact
A golden dining experience
While The Palace Hotel squeezes 200 tons of oranges for juice each year, the real juicy fun fact is that they use 5 kg of pure edible gold a year just for decorating deserts!
Resources
About the Author:
Keren Schiffman spent nearly a decade as a producer with CNN. She has been published in "Travel + Leisure" and continues to write travel articles while plotting her next great adventure. Schiffman earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tulane University.
Photo Credits:
http://www.hotels.com
