When it opens in 2023, the Kempinski Floating Palace will usher in a new era for the floating hotel concept, with a range of floating satellite villas that can “motor” away to other anchorages.
Moored next to one of Dubai’s most exclusive stretches of beach on Jumeirah Beach Road, the hotel, with its 156 rooms and suites, along with 12 villas, is accessed by speed boat or private yacht. A connected floating helipad is also installed alongside a mooring dock for up to 16 yachts. Reflecting contemporary lifestyle in the UAE, the principal building is formed of four parts, connected in the middle by a glass pyramid through which large yachts can sail in and out. Every five-star luxury is included, such as exclusive gourmet restaurants, bars, spa, pools, boutiques and banquet areas. The 12 luxury villas, connected to the main hotel by walkway pontoons, are for sale and also for rent to hotel guests, and benefit from all the services offered at the hotel. Arranged over two floors, each is of high quality elegant design with two, three or four bedrooms, crew and staff rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor living rooms, a roof terrace and infinity pool. Large panoramic windows are a special feature, along with all the technical elements of a smart home. Cruising at a maximum speed of 6nm, the villas are equipped with solar panels and are designed to be environmentally friendly. “We are delighted to be able to offer our guests in Dubai such a first experience from 2023 onwards, combining the destination’s reputation as a high-tech city with the timeless European elegance of Kempinski Hotels,” said Bernold Schroeder, CEO of Kempinski Group and chairman of the management board of Kempinski AG. “The highly innovative project by Seagate Shipyard convinces not only by its high-end technology but also through impeccable style and design.”
Bernold Schroeder, chairman Kempinski AG and CEO, Kempinski Group.
Mohamed El Bahrawy, CEO and founder of Seagate Shipyard, added: “We are proud of what we have achieved so far, especially at the Floating Palace in Dubai, where we have partnered with a global leader in the hospitality business. I am so grateful to Bernold Schroeder and Kempinski Hotels for their trust. It is thrilling to see that, for the first time, a brand of the calibre of Kempinski will manage a floating hotel of such magnitude and we are confident that our hotel will soon be one of the top tourist attractions in Dubai. It will undoubtedly occupy an iconic position among floating hotels all over the world.”
