![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F426APXW6CEDQOM5LLQJLVZAGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15d336cb5bcda307a21cc11dd887d3320f09672fa5ec4cc931388bd8da2c7ce2&width=400&height=225)
The midships lobby area in the restored QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W4YOS23DD6LA56GYPHOUJ7B5JM.jpg?smart=true&auth=761064b36dadfa8c4d5bb6ef046e283ed9667cb17a038e06608f4e246080b23c&width=400&height=225)
QE2 reopened in 2018 as a floating hotel at Port Rashid. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GERNPGIINV64CFQTEO37FLAIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1abdd18201503e19119cf729a0c0bb625458d40ff2b0e75551184dcf19c587a6&width=400&height=225)
A theatre where live entertainment is held on Dubai’s only floating hotel, the Queen Elizabeth 2, which is being taken over by French hospitality group Accor.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EC5GT7QOBMDPVH7NCNV5GLF5KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7af342f037d14d370288e111dd0c3d0991e4260fb8ae9d103ddeb64e20927c2e&width=400&height=225)
The interior of the ship, which is permanently docked at Dubai's Mina Rashid port, has been completely preserved.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UOE5KNOSKJMESC3ZGAEZ442S5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=e148eba4e4a4793ec82728703cf2bfad632031181752b7c33699c4597298819e&width=400&height=225)
The midships lobby area in the restored QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D6ASAR2THEEKXYJIG3WCYEJQAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a16db72b7a4af0038d9748e0fe4fb58f0d27a408825468f3f7914583d391a34&width=400&height=225)
The old Golden Lion pub.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7VM6VYKHMHHA2EQEZW3F2PYSZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=390f50329814d865d95951491ae8f9f64b52f5b440d1bec5dbe8f2b08bb3fe20&width=400&height=225)
The casino is filled with slot machines - now purely decorative.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOIVOMLT6RTD3FTCOZOLBFAEL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6de8f53671358adbacf4e79bd9729e53cb013628d3fb10a0df2280ed5da569a&width=400&height=225)
A games arcade cluttered with old machines remains.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NN374FIB4M4Z7VVNKJGSYRLXDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4509c7166be22bb7fd435503b34a0e7df3b811d58c9c6fe42e2cd939e60764b&width=400&height=225)
The QE2's stairs have been restored.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AFULVQPEBTICNRYSYA5F65PMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c504f381c683293f9f1990cce50bb43ea98ce2ce0c0ad15fdf8fa54405ab2af7&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has 447 hotel rooms and nine food and beverage outlets.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KSXYCVMHFIHLBDB7ZZ6FMXSOCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1bd2a47399c1a9355ccb8b342cd211a5719bb4462064827b73ed0756e2ec6b0&width=400&height=225)
Inside a deluxe room on the QE2 hotel.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NT767BN7SREVGHFTFRBYSJDQ7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=893171ac7fd80e7f91778574fa731aa2b5787bb2134737c4662641c1c8b58589&width=400&height=225)
Inside the renovated Yacht Club restaurant on the QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SBPGQ5BVDQ73NZDJBSOW5BMZJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5379733cbc6f74551b7babe19a78a80070f031a7fd6f433ddee127d5efd41e03&width=400&height=225)
The corridors are all soft carpet and 1970s kitsch.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6WPWZBDTPSLGBJ4YRQVBMCEAVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9657e66077ca2ff68a771a13fcb8cc1c577610faae0d46a6c09e17fb79c63d50&width=400&height=225)
The ocean liner is named after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F426APXW6CEDQOM5LLQJLVZAGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15d336cb5bcda307a21cc11dd887d3320f09672fa5ec4cc931388bd8da2c7ce2&width=400&height=225)
The midships lobby area in the restored QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W4YOS23DD6LA56GYPHOUJ7B5JM.jpg?smart=true&auth=761064b36dadfa8c4d5bb6ef046e283ed9667cb17a038e06608f4e246080b23c&width=400&height=225)
QE2 reopened in 2018 as a floating hotel at Port Rashid. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GERNPGIINV64CFQTEO37FLAIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1abdd18201503e19119cf729a0c0bb625458d40ff2b0e75551184dcf19c587a6&width=400&height=225)
A theatre where live entertainment is held on Dubai’s only floating hotel, the Queen Elizabeth 2, which is being taken over by French hospitality group Accor.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EC5GT7QOBMDPVH7NCNV5GLF5KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7af342f037d14d370288e111dd0c3d0991e4260fb8ae9d103ddeb64e20927c2e&width=400&height=225)
The interior of the ship, which is permanently docked at Dubai's Mina Rashid port, has been completely preserved.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UOE5KNOSKJMESC3ZGAEZ442S5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=e148eba4e4a4793ec82728703cf2bfad632031181752b7c33699c4597298819e&width=400&height=225)
The midships lobby area in the restored QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D6ASAR2THEEKXYJIG3WCYEJQAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a16db72b7a4af0038d9748e0fe4fb58f0d27a408825468f3f7914583d391a34&width=400&height=225)
The old Golden Lion pub.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7VM6VYKHMHHA2EQEZW3F2PYSZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=390f50329814d865d95951491ae8f9f64b52f5b440d1bec5dbe8f2b08bb3fe20&width=400&height=225)
The casino is filled with slot machines - now purely decorative.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOIVOMLT6RTD3FTCOZOLBFAEL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6de8f53671358adbacf4e79bd9729e53cb013628d3fb10a0df2280ed5da569a&width=400&height=225)
A games arcade cluttered with old machines remains.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NN374FIB4M4Z7VVNKJGSYRLXDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4509c7166be22bb7fd435503b34a0e7df3b811d58c9c6fe42e2cd939e60764b&width=400&height=225)
The QE2's stairs have been restored.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AFULVQPEBTICNRYSYA5F65PMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c504f381c683293f9f1990cce50bb43ea98ce2ce0c0ad15fdf8fa54405ab2af7&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has 447 hotel rooms and nine food and beverage outlets.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KSXYCVMHFIHLBDB7ZZ6FMXSOCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1bd2a47399c1a9355ccb8b342cd211a5719bb4462064827b73ed0756e2ec6b0&width=400&height=225)
Inside a deluxe room on the QE2 hotel.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NT767BN7SREVGHFTFRBYSJDQ7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=893171ac7fd80e7f91778574fa731aa2b5787bb2134737c4662641c1c8b58589&width=400&height=225)
Inside the renovated Yacht Club restaurant on the QE2.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SBPGQ5BVDQ73NZDJBSOW5BMZJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5379733cbc6f74551b7babe19a78a80070f031a7fd6f433ddee127d5efd41e03&width=400&height=225)
The corridors are all soft carpet and 1970s kitsch.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6WPWZBDTPSLGBJ4YRQVBMCEAVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9657e66077ca2ff68a771a13fcb8cc1c577610faae0d46a6c09e17fb79c63d50&width=400&height=225)
The ocean liner is named after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F426APXW6CEDQOM5LLQJLVZAGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15d336cb5bcda307a21cc11dd887d3320f09672fa5ec4cc931388bd8da2c7ce2&width=400&height=225)
The midships lobby area in the restored QE2.
Timeframe: How the QE2 got a new lease of life as a floating hotel in Dubai
It's been five years since the world-famous ship was transformed
![Sophie Prideaux](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F12f775da-e760-44f0-9421-603001dd6073.png?smart=true&auth=a1d8def615b59cb2319cadb33b6b250426203024737a98b0c7d17cc97cf4da11&width=70&height=70)
Sophie Prideaux
14 April, 2023
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