Dubai's newest hotel has now opened for overnight stays.
The waterfront five-star Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah is welcoming guests from Wednesday.
Set on Palm Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most popular tourist destinations, the hotel is a sprawling family-friendly property with 608 guest rooms, 10 on-site restaurants and bars and an impressive 65-metre-long swimming pool overlooking the ocean.
Making the most of its location on a private shoreline, all rooms come with balconies to ensure guests have views over the Palm Crescent, Ain Dubai and the Dubai Marina skyline.
Guests checking into Dubai’s newest hotel can enjoy all-day dining concept Mowsem, which is Arabic for seasons. The airy restaurant, which can seat more than 300 guests, has views out to the ocean and features sculptural coral-inspired artwork.
SocialBee Lobby Lounge welcomes visitors into the hotel and serves a variety of teas, coffees, snacks and afternoon tea. This sprawling space is managing director Andreas Searty's favourite part of the hotel, because it gives a “feeling of openness and space” he tells The National during our sneak peek.
Keep an eye out for the "bee" references throughout this area — from the cakes created from the nectar sourced locally in Hatta to the honeycomb-shaped plant pots around the periphery. As night falls, SocialBee transforms into an evening hub with drinks served alongside live music from a grand piano.
Stepping outside, the hotel’s 65-metre long, palm-lined swimming pool makes quite an impression. Jacuzzi-style corners, private cabanas and one of the longest swim-up bars we’ve seen, ensure this will be one of Dubai’s new hotspots for soaking up the sunshine.
Beyond the pool, a private beach club is taking shape, and is set to launch in the cooler months. Australian gourmet favourite Jones The Grocer is also on-site and is currently being extended out on to the hotel’s shoreline.
Inside the hotel’s Dh23,000 Imperial Suite
With more than 600 keys, the hotel offers a variety of accommodation options including 54 suites and 82 executive rooms, each of which comes with access to a sleek executive lounge where complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, evening drinks and canapes are served daily, alongside impressive skyline views.
For an ultra-luxurious stay, the hotel's soon-to-open Imperial Suite comes with a sea-view wrap-around terrace and bar, a whirlpool and private sauna and access to the executive lounge. Sleeping up to six people, stays in this spectacular suite cost from Dh23,750 a night.
Relaxation comes courtesy of Eforea Spa, Hilton’s second five-star wellness destination in the UAE, following the brand’s inaugural launch at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. Treatment rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows so guests can enjoy Dubai skyline views pre or post-treatment. The male and female spa facilities are something special — with paving stones set in what appears to be a sparkling sea of crystals, all beautifully catching the light.
While the adults unwind, children will have a blast at the Pirates Kids Club where there’s a covered shallow pool, an outdoor playground and a huge indoor play area in the guise of an oversized pirate ship — complete with crawling tunnels, slides, climbing steps and more.
Coming soon: McGettigan's, Claw BBQ and a Tahitian Village
And there’s more to come.
From next week, Factory Bar + Kitchen by McGettigan's will open with an upscale twist on the popular Irish bar.
“McGettigan's is known to everybody, I don't need to highlight what it is but it's a different concept with the look and feel of a factory,” says Searty.
The new concept is being kept under wraps at the moment, but with a central stage, aged-barrel wall features, potted plants and an entire array of paraphernalia on display, including old typewriters, flat irons and more, it's set to be the Palm's new place to go for sports, live music and more.
A week later, Claw BBQ will join the fold, offering family-friendly American-style bistro dining on the first floor. The restaurant will feature a mechanical bull, pool table, arcade games and a working jukebox, plus an outdoor terrace for more sea views.
Trader Vic's is due to launch in October, offering guests its popular mixed drinks and Polynesian-style menu served alongside island-inspired visuals. Out by the pool, the brand will also launch Tahitian Village by Trader Vic's — a new concept in the UAE that brings together great food, sea views, island vibes and Tahitian thatch structures.
Joining the party in November is BarFly by Buddha Bar. The capacious restaurant features a mystic lounge concept with Asian bites, live music and an extensive terrace that looks directly over the ocean.
It's not the first time that Hilton has unveiled such a set-up. The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is already home to a McGettigan's and a Trader Vic's outlet, while Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island has an on-site Claw BBQ. For Searty, it's a recipe that works.
“These restaurants are good and we want to complement each other and we want people who stay with us to get that experience in the hotel itself. And we believe that our destination at the Palm West Beach is going to be complimenting all the restaurants we have.”
A diverse team
With a highly trained Hilton staff of more than 700 representing 60 nationalities, one of the most diverse in the industry, the hotel also has an even 50/50 split between men and women.
And the team at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah have been trained to make sure every stay there is a special one.
“Perhaps a couple are having their wedding anniversary, and that's the reason they're coming all the way to Dubai. We will recognise this and focus on making some unique experiences around that. We tailor each stay to the individual guest”.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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