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Starwood (or should I now call it Marriott?) has announced the opening of the first W Hotel in the UAE with the official launch of the W Dubai – Al Habtoor City. The property is located around 20 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport and 35 minute away from the Dubai Marina. The Burj Khalifa is only around 2 miles away as the crow flies but, thanks to the convoluted road system in the area, it’s still around 15 minutes drive away.
W Dubai – Al Habtoor City Location (click to enlarge)
This is what Starwood had to say about the new hotel:
Set within the ambitious Al Habtoor City project, the Emirate’s first fully-integrated urban resort, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City rises 33 stories above the vibrant Sheikh Zayed Road, overlooking the newly built Dubai Water Canal with views of dramatic sunsets over the Arabian Gulf. Upon arrival, guests are whisked up 30 floors to the W Lounge (the W brand’s reinterpretation of the staid hotel lobby) where a jaw-dropping, panoramic view of the shimmering city awaits.
Destination restaurant Namu, located above the W Lounge, bathes diners in golden light from the setting sun, offering an original fusion of Japanese and Korean flavors served in a futuristic setting with asymmetrical furnishings. Level Seven, a causal and sociable hotspot, serves fresh Mediterranean cuisine from a theatrical open kitchen and features a chef’s table, and crudo bar. The menu is inspired by the chef’s daily market finds and seasonal produce, including small, shareable plates. Adorned with wood, steel and vintage art, the natural Mediterranean-inspired décor sets the tone for a relaxing and delectable meal.
Igniting the pulsing heart of Dubai’s social scene is the hotel’s WET Deck. Boldly landscaped, the WET pool deck transforms from a glamorous place to lounge by day, with outdoor pools, private cabanas, light bites and refreshing drinks, to an evening hotspot to see and be seen. DJs play hypnotic sets while guests sip on W signature cocktails and soak in the sultry, vibrant atmosphere.
The W Dubai has 356 rooms (including suites) and has been set as a Starwood Cat. 6 property. That means that it will set you back 20,000 Starpoints (60,000 Marriott Rewards points if you transfer them to a Starwood account) for an award night.
No actual images of the property or of the rooms appear to have been released so we’re still having to make do with computer-genrated images to get a feel for the new W….and it looks very, very modern.
I’m the first to admit that I’m not a fan of the W brand (too much style and not enough substance for me) so it’s not that surprising that I’m not wowed by the images I’ve seen.
While I’m sure the beds will be as comfortable as Starwood beds generally are I’m not convinced by the rest of the furniture in the images – theres an element of dentist’s waiting room about it all.
The property will feature the W brand’s signature FIT fitness facility (where guests can work out 24 hours a day) and a FIT Bar that serves healthy snacks and drinks. The hotel also offers guests private in-room yoga sessions with the hotel’s dedicated instructor (no pricing has been mentioned), and will soon introduce SPG Keyless entry too.
Bottom Line
I’m not part of the demographic that the W brand is targeting so that probably explains why I have so little time for it (although I wouldn’t mind trying out the two Miami properties). I’m sure dedicated fans of the W brand will be delighted to have another property to visit but, which the choice of hotels that Dubai offers, I can’t see me visiting any time soon.
For 20,000 Starpoints a night I’ll be much happier at the Grosvenor House at the Dubai Marina and, speaking of Grosvenor House, this is a perfect example of the poor deal that Marriott loyalists have been given with the Starpoints-to-Marriott Rewards exchange rate.
Which do you think is better value – JW Marriott Grosvenor House on London’s Park lane for 45,000 Marriott Rewards points per night or the W Dubai for the equivalent of 60,000 Marriott Rewards points per night? As far as I’m concerned it’s not even close!
All images courtesy of Starwood
