Emirates Palace - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 3 km from Qasr Al Watan and 37 km from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the Emirates Palace is a luxury star hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Located on Abu Dhabi's waterfront, it is one of the most expensive hotels in Abu Dhabi and a must-visit for anyone who finds themselves in Abu Dhabi.

Known for being one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, the Emirates Palace Hotel is operated by Mandarin Oriental as of 1 January 2020. The hotel project was started in December 2001 and was operated by Kempinski from opening in November 2005. Due to the change in management, the Palace will be renovated over the course of two years, after which it will be fully rebranded as a Mandarin Oriental property.

Spread over an area of about 100 acres, the grand building of the Emirates Palace is an iconic structure of Abu Dhabi in the same way as Burj Khalifa to Dubai. The building was designed by British architect John Elliott in collaboration with Reza Rahmanian. The design of the hotel is a playful mix of cherished Islamic architectural elements such as balance, geometry, proportions, rhythm and hierarchical emphasis to create a unified whole. The inspired grand dome with elaborate geometrical patterns dominates over 114 smaller domes spread over the building. The color of the building aims to reflect different shades of sands found in the Arabian Desert. The construction costs were around 3 billion USD (11.02 billion AED) making it the third most expensive hotel ever built. It is only surpassed by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Las Vegas (3.9 billion USD) and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (5.5 billion USD).

The palace features 394 rooms, 12 restaurants and bars, 40 meeting rooms, an auditorium and a ballroom, a private beachfront, a marina, two swimming pools and two fitness centers. Featuring 114 domes gilded in marble and gold, the property is ensconced by waters of the Arabian Gulf and landscaped with pathways of palm trees and fountains. The rooms are spread over two wings as well as a primary central building. The majority of the suites are furnished in gold and marble. The main primary building houses an expansive marble floor and a large patterned dome above picked out in gold. The penthouse floor has six Rulers' Suites which are reserved exclusively for dignitaries, such as royalty. The palace is renowned for hosting operas and orchestras during the Abu Dhabi Classics concert season. It also screens the Abu Dhabi Film Festival thus helping in the cultural expansion of the city. Other attractions of the place include Barakat gallery exhibiting the fine arts from Egypt, China, Greece, Rome, and Africa, the famous afternoon high tea in the vestibule (AED 160), and gold bars dispensing ATM.

If a stay at the 7-star hotel is not possible, one can still experience the luxuries the hotel has to offer with the guided tour of the beautiful hotel. Visitors have access to only certain areas of the hotel like the lobby, exhibitions and outdoor areas. The Emirates Palace Guided Tour is an exclusive and royal experience that takes visitors through a secret VIP entrance with an elusive tour of the Palace few visitors ever get to see. Go around the landscaped gardens in a club car after which you can indulge in local customs as you partake some Arabian coffee, tea, and dates in the Bedouin Tent, on the grounds of the Emirates Palace. Visitors can go on a camel ride by the shores of the white sand beach after the meal or go for something less adventurous, and more soothing like a therapeutic spa treatment. In the end, dazzle yourself with a signature elixir--the very special Palace 24 karat gold Cappuccino in addition to the signature Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi cake.

The Emirates Palace Tour books out months in advance. It is a good idea to schedule your Emirates Palace visit on a weekday as massive crowds on weekends can make it a hassling experience. It would be best to be dressed in smart casuals as dress codes can be strict in some areas. Do avoid shorts and slippers.

Timings: 10 AM - 4 PM, Closed on Friday

Entry: Free, AED. 330 per Person for Guided Tour