Luxe Beat Magazine AUGUST 2015 | Page 19

Travel D ubai is an amazing city with so much to see and do. In the center of it all, near to the beaches and top shopping malls, is the area known as WAFI where you’ll find an icon of architecture and hospitality, the Raffles Dubai. This stunning Egyptian pyramid is as much a landmark as it is a hotel. Everything about this place is gargantuan, from the lobby, the rooms, and all of the venues which are grand in size and décor. The tastefully Egyptian esthetic melds with modern interiors and you’ll find delightful art pieces throughout the property and in each room. As you enter the property, you’ll find Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, many with plates from nearby Arab countries. Inside you will be immediately struck by the grandeur of the lobby with its five story atrium and tall granite columns with the Egyptian etchings. Raffles Dubai is a marvel fit for the Pharaohs, with exquisite stained glass, intricate mosaics, carvings and sculptures at every turn. The main influences of the interior decorations comes a blend of Middle Eastern and Asian designs with emphasis on the four elements of life: earth, air, fire and water. There is a lovely lobby reception and coffee area with tourists and locals sitting closing business deals or friends meeting up for a chat. After a quick check in I was escorted to my room by the bellman. As the doors opened, I was immediately impressed. The room was attractively decorated with earth tones with dark woods and crimson pops of color. Like the hotel, the rooms are massive and are 70 square meters for the standard room which is the size of most hotel suites. The amazing pool at Raffles Dubai ABOVE-RIGHT The Glass Dome and Wafi Mall ABOVE-MIDDLE The wow factor pool at Raffles Dubai RIGHT Raffles pool golden columns 19