La Dolce Vita

Tucked in the heart of the city, but with a Mediterranean village charm, the new Bulgari Resort Dubai makes the perfect island retreat for Hashirin Nurin Hashimi, who seeks the sun, the sea and the city

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi

I AM A CITY GIRL; I LOVE THE VIBE OF a bustling metropolis, and how its art and architecture evolve with modernity. But that doesn’t mean I don’t fancy a weekend on the beach. That is why a destination such as the Bulgari Resort Dubai, which combines the sun, the sea and the city appeals to me. We were privileged to be among the first to discover this urban oasis last December.

A stone’s throw from Downtown Dubai, connected via a 300m bridge, the fifth and newest property of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is set on a man-made seahorse-shaped island on Jumeira Bay. “Every project starts with an amazing location, which is like a rough stone that you cut, polish and craft into a beautiful jewel,” said group executive vice president, Silvio Ursini. Like its high jewellery creations, these locations are exclusive, as evidenced by Bulgari’s portfolio: Milan, which opened in 2004, Bali in 2006, London in 2012, and Beijing last September. Ursini explained, “When I look at a site, I think about the size, the views, the sunrise and sunset—physical attributes that make it special. Then there are ‘irrational considerations’ or what we call genius loci. It’s a feeling.”