Launched by Ian Schrager of Studio 54 fame, in partnership with Marriott International, Edition was envisioned as the anti-hotel chain: luxury properties as unique microcosms of the destination in which they exist, eschewing the bland universality of many international hotel brands. Or, as Schrager told The National: "Hotels that don't act like hotels."
There are Edition hotels in many of the world’s leading cities, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Shanghai, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi, so it was only a matter of time before Dubai got one of its own.
Designed by LW Design Group, with 275 rooms, this latest addition to the Edition portfolio opened in November in the heart of Downtown Dubai.
The welcome
The entrance to the hotel is busy when I pull up, but my car is valeted almost immediately. The lobby, too, is buzzing and stays that way for the entirety of my stay ― the Edition is clearly something of a Dubai hot spot at the moment.
Edition hotels have a distinct scent that extends from public spaces to the amenities in the room, and this is what strikes me first.
A pared-back design aesthetic begins at the entrance, with a neutral palette interspersed with pops of greenery, and sets the tone for the rest of the property, where marble and wood prevail. The lobby is dominated by an oversized chandelier, a design signature that also appears in the Abu Dhabi Edition.
Check-in is at 3pm but when I arrive at 4.30pm, I am informed that my room is not ready yet. While the woman at reception is hugely apologetic, it is 5.30pm before I get my key, a full two and a half hours after the official check-in time. It takes another half hour for my bag to make an appearance. I am given a late check-out the following day, but it is still an unexpected inconvenience.
The neighbourhood
Dubai Edition has secured a prime location just off Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, directly across from The Dubai Mall and the Address Downtown. It’s perfect for those looking to easily access the mall or Dubai Fountains, or for those wanting to explore the wider Downtown area on foot.
It’s a two-minute walk to the mall entrance, cutting out the hassle of having to jostle for a parking spot and then wander for miles before getting to where you want to be. For business travellers, the hotel offers the best of both worlds, a central city location and proximity to some of Dubai’s most famous attractions.
The safety measures
There is a pretty lax approach to mask-wearing inside the hotel, both from staff members and fellow guests.
The room
My deluxe king room is comfortable, with light wood walls, sumptuous beige armchairs and marble and dark gold accents. Lights and curtains are fully automated, but in a way that is clearly labelled and intuitive, unlike in many hotels where turning off the lights before bed time is a rocket-science-like endeavour.
The highlight of the room is its small glass-fronted balcony, which features a table and lounge chair and offers stunning views over the low-rise buildings of Downtown Dubai and the gleaming towers of Business Bay beyond. Burj Khalifa stands in the foreground, and is a sight to behold in the evening, as lights twinkle gently across its facade.
The service
Service is consistently good, particularly at Thia Sky Lounge.
The scene
The hotel’s 193-square-metre pool is compact but, again, has great views of the Burj Khalifa. It is flanked by cabanas and sun loungers, and is busy throughout the weekend. The property is also home to a newly opened spa, with three treatment rooms, and a gym fitted with Technogym equipment.
The food
Restaurants include the Italian Duomo, with its outdoor terrace; Jolie, an inviting Parisian eatery that combines dark oak panelling and teak-wood chairs with terrazzo flooring; and Inti, a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant and rooftop lounge offering expansive views over Downtown Dubai.
Thia, the poolside lounge, offers a little oasis of greenery in the heart of the city, with foliage-covered columns, olive trees and pots of desert rose dotting the space. Its menu elevates poolside fare, including burrata with marinated pomegranate and sherry vinegar (Dh95), cauliflower with manchego cheese (Dh50), a Wagyu burger with horseradish (Dh140) and baby chicken marinated with spicy lemongrass (Dh100). I opt for the quinoa salad with confit duck leg (Dh80), which comes in one of the smallest bowls I’ve ever seen, but is still pretty filling.
High and lows
My delayed check-in is obviously not ideal, particularly given that I am only staying at the hotel for one night. The views, from the room and pool, are the real high, as they offer the opportunity to take in Dubai’s impressive skyline from a new vantage point.
The insider tip
The pool gets busy and has a limited number of loungers, so get there early to secure a spot.
The verdict
The hotel is clearly already striking a chord with locals, and is a good springboard for those looking to enjoy Downtown Dubai’s many attractions.
The bottom line
Current rates for a standard room start from Dh1,199 per night, excluding taxes, including breakfast and a Dh200 voucher redeemable on spa treatments. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at noon.
Dubai Edition, www.editionhotels.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel during the global coronavirus pandemic. It reflects hotel standards during this time, services may change in the future.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
