The vaulted ceilings, sparkling chandeliers and traditional, bright carpets create a grand ballroom at Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, that can be used in its entirety or separated into three.
Hotelier Middle East offers an exclusive preview of Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, the luxury property being developed by Abu Dhabi National Hotels due to open in Q4
It’s almost here: the long-awaited Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal has begun its 60-day countdown and the handover from contractor to operator is underway.
The hotel, expected to be the regional flagship for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company as well as a flagship property for the owner, Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), is slated to open in early Q4 — and judging from Hotelier’s visit on August 1, this target appears to be well within reach.
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As the first media invited to tour the property, spread over a gargantuan 57-acre site in the UAE capital, Hotelier witnessed the handover of a couple of the restaurants and the 1550m² Roma ballroom, which has already been booked out for weddings in November.
We walked the vast property — although did hop on a buggy for a tour of the hotel’s 85 villas — and discovered not only the traditional Ritz-Carlton opulence and grandeur one expects of the luxury brand, but also some pleasantly surprising deviations from the norm.
The Design
The surprise at Ritz-Carlton starts with the sense of arrival, for which the brand is renowned, but at the Abu Dhabi property, this really is something pretty special. The building, designed by architect Otak International with interiors by Sfa Design, sits facing the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and this subtly influences many aspects of the design.
The mosque itself is framed in the entrance to the beautifully appointed lobby so the guest has a clear view of the UAE’s most famous religious monument. Mosaic tile patterns on the floor of the lobby, as well as motifs used in other public areas and on the guest room doors and floors, are exact replicas of the designs used within the mosque, while the lighting of the lobby at night will also echo that of the mosque.
This all adds to the impact of the entrance and lobby, but what is most surprising is its clean, modern, elegant feel — finally, a luxury hotel has steered away from the usual Arabesque influences so common in the region.
Yes, there’s gold and marble and chandeliers — this is the flagship Ritz-Carlton of Arabia after all —but the impression is one of graceful glamour and fine finishes, rather than the ostentatious opulence we feared.
As general manager Pep Lozano, a 20-year Ritz-Carlton veteran explains, the hotel is inspired by 15th to early 17th Century Renaissance architecture and has a distinctly Venetian feel.
The main hotel is comprised of 10 stately buildings in a crescent shape surrounding a landscaped lawn peppered with water features and the signature feature — a 1600m² swimming pool.
In addition, there are the surrounding villas, a 2000m² standalone ESPA spa, although this will not open until mid-2013, and the Venetian Village restaurant and retail complex.
The sheer size and space occupied by Ritz-Carlton establishes the grandeur expected of the hotel while the figures speak for themselves: firstly, ADNH has invested more than AED 1.5 billion (US $408.3 million) in the development. Then there are 447 rooms and suites plus 85 villas; 10 restaurants; 2182m² of meeting space; a ballroom that seats 900; lawns with capacity to hold events for 5000 people; and 1000 staff.
But it is the detail in the design that “makes the difference”, says Lozano.
Three signature outlets have been designed by famed Japanese restaurant specialist Super Potato — marking the designer’s debut in the Middle East and making Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi the first property for which the firm has designed three concepts.
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