EMIRATE OF TOMORROW

Dubai gives you ample reasons to return. A few months after the culmination of Expo 2020 Dubai, ADILA MATRA travels to the emirate to take stock of its brand-new offerings.

- ADILA MATRA

IT IS MY FIRST TRIP to Dubai after the pandemic. It has been three years; the expo has ended and so has the mask mandate. The airport is relatively empty when I land. I take a deep breath; it is always exciting to land in the glitzy emirate.

First stop: Habtoor Palace Dubai. It is located in Al Habtoor City on the banks of Dubai Water Canal on Sheikh Zayed Road. Within Al Habtoor City are three hotels rebranded in July 2018 to Habtoor Palace Dubai, LXR Hotels & Resorts; V Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton; and Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, offering more than 1,600 elegant rooms between them. The façade of Habtoor Palace reminds me of Paris's opera venue, Palais Garnier. The BeauxArts architecture style extends to the lobby as wellmarble floors, elaborately topped columns, two grand stairways with balustrades, and a chandelier instill awe.

At BQ - French Kitchen & Bar on the first floor of the hotel, I accidently sample oven baked escargot-snails cooked in garlic butter and herbs topped with puff pastry and am pleasantly surprised.

After lunch, I retire to my Ambassador Suite that comes with a view of the water canal. In true Dubai style, the resort has a Bentley Suite that is inspired by the bespoke craftsmanship of Bentley Mulsanne and boasts leather finishes, and wood veneers. I also get a tour of the Sir Winston Churchill Suite, the hugest of the lot with a 12-seater dining area, study, lounge area, and an in-room staircase that connects to the rooftop plunge pool.