Luxury retreats in Dubai are acknowledging the need for havens of calm and comfort above the urban landscape. Taking the form of self-contained leisure destinations that cater to the discerning guest, they serve as oases, offering respite from the heat and activity of this expanding metropolis; places where you can relax, recover and luxuriate.
Desert rose
The newest addition to the Dorchester Collection, The Lana, brings an English gentility and French polish to Dubai’s Business Bay. The elegant Foster + Partners-designed hotel on the edge of the Marasi Bay Marina – a prime location with easy access to Downtown Dubai, D3 (Dubai Design District), the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Burj Khalifa – spans 31 floors and takes inspiration from Dubai’s evolving skyline.
The rooms, too, celebrate the cityscape, each with a different orientation (the expansive duplex layouts getting the most of the sweeping views). Perfectly described as ‘quiet luxury’ by the hotel’s general manager, Richard Alexander, The Lana’s name also alludes to its overall ethos: one meaning is to ‘gently float in calm water’, and its Arabic translation alludes to a ‘warm sense of belonging’.
This is certainly the case. While unquestionably luxe, the hotel is immensely welcoming, with a focus on seamless but discreet service, embodied by a personable staff for whom nothing is too much to ask. Richard reiterates this: ‘The Lana has a very residential feel to it, and we want our guests to feel that this is
a “home away from home” in Dubai.’
Interiors by French studio Gilles & Boissier express this notion of livable luxury through an understated and comfortable design. A palette of muted pinks and beiges is grounded by accents of black and elevated by touches of gold in spaces that foreground texture and detail, drawing on the cultural influence of the UAE.
Allusions to the brand’s European connections can also be seen throughout: the profusion of fresh flowers (a Dorchester signature) and English touches like afternoon tea and the Rolls-Royce fleet. Specially commissioned art installations and exquisite French pastry extend the journey of sophistication that runs throughout. One certainly finds it at Dior Spa The Lana on the 30th floor – a glowing haven for sensory indulgence with its cutting-edge design and wellness offering.
Steered by a team of 130 and led by executive chef Oliver Jackson, dining options include the superb Jara by Martín Berasategui, where the multi-Michelin-star chef takes Basque cuisine up a notch, Riviera by Jean Imbert offering breezy modern Mediterranean, and Bonbon Café, a ground-floor patisserie with acclaimed Angelo Musa at the helm. Other venues include the compact but extremely chic Bitter Honey (cocktails courtesy of a nifty bar cart) and Txakolina, a tucked-away cigar lounge, as well as a rooftop pool bar aptly named High Society – perfectly suited additions for the new luxury retreats in Dubai.
dorchestercollection.com
Escape artistry
Soaring above the city in the gravity-defying Nikken Sekkei-designed One Za’abeel, One&Only’s latest Dubai venue is an indulgent outpost of leisure that negates the need to ever leave. Comprising a set of towers with a cantilevered connecting ‘link’, the city’s first ‘vertical resort’ contains a leisure universe behind its mirrored façade spanning, but not limited to, a three-level spa and no fewer than 11 restaurants.
The intention here is deeply experiential – with focus placed on the culinary arts and cultural integration. With six Michelin-rated chefs, the resort will surely establish itself as a destination for fine dining. A wide array of experiences extends this immersive approach, taking guests further into the culinary and wellness world contained within. Workshops range from mixology and coffee culture to expert-led wine tastings that enrich and engage, while the Montroi Perfume Workshop guides guests through the process of creating a bespoke fragrance.
Spread over three floors, the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie comprises 29 treatment rooms for wellbeing and clinical therapies, a Movement Studio with a state-of-the-art gym, a Longevity Bar and the first Longevity Index lounge in the
region, allowing for ultrapersonalised protocols.
Contextually led architecture and interiors draw on the hotel’s location while alluding to the wider desert setting in a contemporary design that celebrates the landscape (both natural and urban). Its entrance – an organic roof resembling undulating desert dunes – and tranquil interiors feature a serene combination of biscuit tones and cool blues, with local motifs in the form of geometric patterns interwoven throughout.
oneandonlyresorts.com
Seeking sanctuary
A hotel focused on recovery makes perfect sense in a city as fast-paced as Dubai, and for the millions of people passing through, a space that offers a much-needed rest stop seems like a no brainer. Kerzner International spotted this niche – and need – and SIRO was born. A brand that centres on fitness and recovery and offers travellers all the amenities and support they need to optimise their physical and mental wellness while in transit.
Innovation underpins it all – from the room design to the programming – with cutting-edge technology merging with tailored expertise to offer personalised wellness. Five core pillars – nutrition, fitness, sleep, recovery and mindfulness – inform the spaces and facilities. An expansive state-of-the-art Fitness Lab with a comprehensive class roster is complemented by a team of in-house experts, and the dedicated Recovery Lab includes everything from a yoga studio (offering meditation, breathwork, and sound healing) to specialised therapy rooms for all manner of cutting-edge and holistic treatments. Separate male- and female-only areas include infrared saunas, steam rooms, thermo-regulated cold plunge pools and relaxation zones.
High-tech features are integrated into the suites too for optimal comfort and convenience – couched in a cocooning and uncluttered design. Motorised blackout blinds, ergonomic furniture, thermo-regulating mattresses and an in-room recovery cabinet (stocked with exercise essentials) are just some of the features that make a stay seamlessly restorative.
The specialised Fitness Suites and Recovery Suites take this a step further: Recovery Suites include a bathtub and a therapy bed for in-room treatments, while Fitness Suites feature a private mini gym.
Naturally, nutrition is a key component of wellness. At SIRO, guests can consult with the in-house nutritionist to develop tailored meal plans and for one-on-one advice sessions, while the Refuel Bar (grab-and-go options) and 24-hour in-room modular dining allow you to access healthy meals at any time.
sirohotels.com
By Julia Freemantle
Images: Getty Images & SIRO (Mikayla McClean)
