Emirates Palace
قصر الإمارات
A lavish palace-style hotel billed as 'eight-star', with 114 domes and gold-leaf décor, where you can sip a gold-leaf cappuccino.
Emirates Palace opened in 2005. It was funded by the Abu Dhabi government and is now managed by Mandarin Oriental. The building is an Arabian palace in sand-coloured stone, with 114 domes, a private beach roughly 1 km long and extensive gardens. The interior of the central great dome is decorated with abundant gold leaf and crystal, making it a symbol of Abu Dhabi's luxury image. Non-guests may visit the lobby and some public areas, but should dress appropriately, and security may ask about the purpose of the visit. The most classic experience is ordering a 24K gold-leaf cappuccino or an Arabic afternoon tea at the lobby café. It is pricey, but a good way to admire the dome interior. The boulevard and fountains in front make a good spot for panoramic photos, and the building is especially dazzling at night. The Qasr Al Watan presidential palace is right next door and can be visited at the same time. A taxi from the city centre takes about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
All day (public areas)
Nearby sights
- Etihad Towers Observation Deck at 300
- Qasr Al Watan
- Heritage Village
- Abu Dhabi Corniche
- Qasr Al Hosn
- Hudayriyat Island
- Umm Al Emarat Park
- Mina Zayed Fish Market & Dhow Harbour