Hotel Review: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, an Ottoman palace in Dubai

Posted on 15 August 2011 with 3 comments from readers

Just when you thought Dubai hospitality could have no further surprises up its sleeve along comes the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, an Ottoman palace near the end of the western crescent of the Palm Jumeirah.

Its interior is a faithful recreation of the Ottoman empire style at its most flamboyant and decadent in the late 19th and early 20th century. Those who have visited the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul will have an idea what to expect but this is not a museum rather a fully functional, ultra-modern, five-star deluxe hotel.

Excellent service

Dubai has set the global standard for this kind of accomodation and Jumeirah hits new highs with the Zabeel Saray. ArabianMoney found that the service levels matched the superlative interior spaces but let us begin with these.

Turkish architects and interior designers labored for three years on this project, bringing the craft traditions of the original Ottoman palaces to this hotel. It is completely over-the-top and the antithesis of modern minimalism.

You have endless chandaliers of multi-colored glass, soaring public spaces with exquisite marble floors. The public rooms have high ceilings and the main Imperium all-day dining restaurant has columns and mirrors rendolent of the Palace of Versailles.

The main restaurants, Lalezar (click here), Al Nafoorah Lebanese and Amala Indian, are each housed in beautifully crafted spaces well worth a visit, quite apart from the food which is also to Jumeriah’s usual high standard. Club guest have their own magnificent lounge, although even smokers have a superb wood-lined cigar bar and younger guests will like the stylish modern and very white Voda Bar.

This great attention to interior design is continued over into the 400 rooms and suites. Every room has an outsized Ottoman bath tub as well as the more modern rainshower and balcony with sea view.

Ramadan specials

Naturally you have free WiFi, coffee and tea facilities, iPod dock and large flat-screen TVs. From AED800 per night in Ramadan these rooms are quite a bargain this season.

Outside you have an enormous swimming pool complex and a private beachfront with a poolside restaurant serving rather reasonably priced drinks. But then you do need to save time for the hotel’s greatest asset, the fabulous Talise Ottoman Spa, probably the largest and certainly the most opulent in the region.

Here you can enjoy an excellent Sultan massage and stretch out in the Hamman room for a traditional treatment. It’s also priced around average levels for Dubai with 25 per cent off in the mornings.

In short, if you’re heading to Dubai and want something completely different, or want a special weekend away the Zabeel Saray is the place to go.