What’s it like to say at Dubai’s new vertical resort?
When a hotel opens in the UAE, it’s a blockbuster occasion with red carpets and celebrities. Just look back at the star-studded opening of One&Only One Za’abeel, attended by Idris Elba, Mark Ronson, Naomi Campbell, Vanessa Hudgens and capped off with a performance from Jennifer Lopez.
Billed as Dubai’s first urban vertical resort, One&Only One Za’abeel is all about the wow factor, with two bold skyscrapers designed by acclaimed architects Nikken Sekke connected by a futuristic boulevard that defies gravity as the world’s longest cantilever. Known as The Link, this architectural marvel also boasts the UAE’s longest-suspended infinity pool.
Check-in takes place on the 25th floor. Inspired skyline views complement the haven of serenity, where low-slung couches set the mood for relaxation and the sculptured ceilings resemble upturned sand dunes.
Luxurious Living
One&Only One Za’abeel is all about giving guests the VIP treatment with spacious and secluded accommodations that will make you feel like a superstar. We’re talking 178 luxury guest rooms and 51 stunning suites, which are among the biggest in Dubai.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the contemporary accommodations are inspired by Dubai’s enchanting sand dunes and local Emirati culture. They feature a soothing colour palette, sculptural lighting, and rich sand motifs in the textiles.
We check into a Za’abeel Suite on the 51st floor, a lavish corner unit offering 180-degree views of Dubai’s ever-evolving skyline, stretching from the Arabian Gulf to Dubai Frame. The suite features a luxurious living area with sofas and a small dining table. The comfortable king-sized bed encourages relaxation while gawping at those blockbuster views, while the bathroom, complete with its double vanity, Japanese toilet, walk-in wardrobe and sunken tub, utilises floor-to-ceiling windows to frame those spectacular city views.
Culinary Clout
Gracefully suspended between the dual towers of One Za’abeel, The Link is an architectural masterpiece home to a culinary paradise where the world’s most esteemed chefs have converged to create an extraordinary fusion of flavours. The floating boulevard boasts nine culinary concepts from MICHELIN-lauded chefs, including Andalusian cuisine at Qabu by Paco Morales, Middle Eastern favourites at Arrazuna by Mehmet Gürs, Thai delights at DuangDy by Bo.Lan, fancy French food at La Dame de Pic, and Japanese dishes at Sagetsu. There’s even a spherical cocktail bar, aptly named Sphere, where you can sip on twilight tipples that will take you through to the early hours.
Down in the 4th-floor garden, acclaimed Chef Dabiz Muñoz’s StreetXO awaits. Here, a rogue reimagining of street food is served in an environment filled with graffitied tunnels, light fittings made from balloons, glassware resembling human hearts, and staff dressed in straight jackets. It’s an assault on the senses with cocktails made from liquid ceviche or topped with pop rocks and daring dishes, which include Lasagna Not Lasagna and Pekinese Dumplings served with strawberry hoisin.
Andaliman showcases the bold flavours of the Indonesian archipelago amidst an exotic paradise of ornately carved wood and teak furniture. Named after the popular Indonesian pepper, the delicacies include Beef Rendang and dishes cooked on the coconut husk grill. Witness sambal experts craft chilli pastes tailored to your preferences and complement your meal with cocktails inspired by Indonesian flavours, such as the Sumatra Fizz.
Futuristic Facilities
Beside Andaliman lies the garden pool which resembles a Balinese rice terrace with its tired pools cascading through scented frangipani trees and topped with a thatched swim-up bar. This is also where little adventurers can let their imaginations run wild at the KidsOnly Club, where inspiring activities and fun games take place under the watchful eye of One&Only’s dedicated staff.
Spanning 3,800 square metres and three floors, Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie on the 28th floor is a serene spot. The contemporary and calming space includes 29 treatment rooms for wellbeing and clinical therapies, a movement studio with state-of-the-art equipment, a longevity bar with healthy juices, and a cryotherapy, steam and sauna room.
Visitors to the FACT Award-winning Best City Spa in Dubai can take the Longevity Index, a test to assess health from the inside out across beauty, detox, energy, immune and metabolic health. The result: a breakdown of your health in an informative and innovative way. The therapist will then suggest treatments to address your specific needs, ranging from IV Drips, which are a celebrity favourite, to Neuro Wave Stimulation. For us, the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage is prescribed and offers 60 minutes of calm-inducing techniques to rebalance the body by eliminating toxins. Feeling the need to break a sweat? The state-of-the-art fitness hub will have you pumping iron and feeling like a fitness guru in no time.
Tapasake is One&Only’s signature restaurant, and it can be found across the world, from Maldives to Mauritius. However, it’s the blockbuster infinity pool views that are drawing Dubai’s attention, including that of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who recently posted InstaStories from the pool deck. The UAE’s longest infinity pool is located so high, visitors will have their heads in the clouds. The décor is bright and breezy, and boasts shades of blue and white, so you don’t know where the pool ends and the sky begins. Visitors can choose from cabanas, sofas and seats that are sunken into the pool.
The Verdict
The slightly disjointed layout at One&Only One Za’abeel makes navigation tricky, with bridging floors used to traverse the two towers. Depending on where you need to go inside the hotel, two or three elevator changes may be required, which does take some getting used to.
However, in a city of opulent hotels, the luxury on display at One&Only One Za’abeel is unrivalled, anchored by superb staff, luxurious living, and destination dining. If it’s good enough for J. Lo, it’s good enough for us.
GO: Visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com for more information.
