You absolutely must…
Must do:
Visit a traditional Arabian souk, with the most famous of all being the fascinating gold souk.
Must see:
The resort has views of The Palm Island Jumeirah, Dubai, one of the world's most impressive developments
Must experience:
Take a desert safari, speed through the golden sand in a 4WD and enjoy the thrill of dune bashing.
The Whole Story
Here the scale is still old world, and harks back to a time when Dubai was a fishing village, not Vegas in the Middle East. The scale of the buildings at this hotel belong to a time when Bedouins were still in the majority, the gardens, with beautiful fountains and exotic trees, are like those in Persia, and a one kilometre-long beach that used to look out on nothing but the gulf.
One & Only has truly created an oasis, and to their credit they have made sure it is in an Arabic style. Here, you feel like you’re in the Middle East. True, a lot of the more monumental decorative features, such as the distinctively arched corridors, are derived from Morocco, but it still represents the pinnacle of Islamic culture, and as such it’s appropriate. It’s true it’s all a bit theatrical, but it has been done very well. The Moroccan restaurant for example is staffed – chefs, waiters and maitre d’s included – by Moroccans, and the amount of space allocated to the gardens and corridors corresponds to authentic proportions of Moorish palaces.
But make no mistake; you are not staying in a theme park or museum. A lot of thought was also given to entertainment of the guests. That’s why the swimming pools are as large as lakes, and the Nina restaurant, a colourful Oriental number, serves Euro-Indian fusion food. Then there are the bars, which are not just corners of restaurants with a few stools. My favourite – and everyone else’s judging from the number of people – was the rooftop bar where a Bedouin tent-like interior has been created on the roof to allow guests to enjoy a night time view of Dubai’s ever-changing skyline. The One & Only Royal Mirage looks like a fantasy and works like a dream. It’s a very well managed hotel, and as a guest you feel special. And with this they have achieved the most genuine of all Bedouin traits, a natural sense of hospitality.
The Rooms
The Arabian-styled private residences each cared for by a specifically-selected, dedicated team, house a retreat of 1 Garden Villa, 16 Suites and 32 Prestige Rooms. Spacious and created with the finest detailing, all are sea facing with private balcony or terrace, and the elegant Garden Villa also provides a luxurious and ornate environment within the most exclusive part of the resort.
Prestige Room – wonderful views of the scented gardens and the Arabian Gulf.
Junior Suites – can be combined with a prestige room to create a 2 bedroom suite.
Other room types are available.