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”.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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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
Section 375
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Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Price: From Dh126,000
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
