Emirates Park Towers Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Emirates Hotel and Resort Group, a subsidiary of the Emirates Group – one of the premium airlines in the world – has a range of exciting projects under construction all over the world. These include the Green Lakes serviced apartment complex and the marina development in Jumeirah beach in Dubai.

However, one of the most poignant is the Emirates Park Towers Dubai, which is a double tower development due to open in 2010 on Sheikh Zayed Road in the Business Bay project.

When it is completed, the 80-storey Emirates Park Towers Hotel & Residence will effectively be two hotels with 900 rooms and suites, 300 hotel apartments, 31 food and beverage outlets (including 20 restaurants) and extensive conference and banqueting facilities. The hotel will also feature cantilevered suspended room balconies, sky terraces, the Emirates' exclusive Timeless Spa, a 25,000ft² health club, a large outdoor swimming pool and a whole host of other luxury features including rooftop bars.

The hotel, on a 20,000m² site, will be surrounded by lush parks and waterways and, featuring among the world's five tallest hotels, will actually be the tallest hotel in the United Arab Emirates. The hotel is expected to have a total floor area of 348,000m², which will include hotel rooms, service rooms, presidential floors, restaurants and car parking.

In addition, a restaurant complex will be constructed along the length of the promenade from Sheik Zayed Road to the hotel towers, overlooking the Creek canal.

CONSTRUCTION

The twin towers and podium of the hotel are to be constructed by NASA Multiplex, a unit of the Multiplex Group, which has been awarded a contract worth approximately AU$715m (Dhs 2.1bn). Multiplex started the work in July 2007. Currently the work has progressed little beyond the earth works and foundations but there are no problems and the project is on schedule for completion by 2010.

Contract works will include two 77-storey hotel towers, including roof area and mast structure to an overall height of 395m, a three-storey podium with two-storey basement car park, an auditorium for 650 people, a banquet hall for 960 people, a business centre, a health club, a restaurant construction from ground to level 6, 72, 79 and 80, internal finishes, fit-out and furniture, and external works and landscaping. Other companies involved in the construction of the hotel complex include Dubai Properties and the Middle East Foundations Group LLC.

HISTORY

The project was originally conceived as a single, 350m-tall, 70-storey tower, which was to be completed by 2008 and constructed on the Sheikh Zayed Road. However, the design and location had to be altered because of a change in the route of the creek extension during construction to form the Business Bay.

The twin 395m glittering green glass and aluminium towers will now form a commanding focal point of Dubai's upcoming Business Bay and Sheikh Zayed Road, overlooking the Burj Al Arab Tower centrepiece on one side and the new creek extension leading to Jumeirah Beach on the other.

DESIGN

Futuristic in design by Archgroup Consultants, the building will break new architectural ground by featuring sky terraces and cantilevered rooms projecting out of the towers, giving them a distinctive stepped appearance. Located behind the Dnata Travel Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, and flanked by parks and waterways, the hotel will also be connected to Dubai International Airport, Dubai city and Jebel Ali by a new monorail link.

HOTEL FACILITIES

All suites will come with a fully-equipped kitchen, complete with all modern appliances, bathroom with bath/shower and guest amenities, LCD TV with international channels, DVD player and sound system, high speed internet access, daily housekeeping service, same day laundry/dry cleaning service and 24-hour room service.

Guests will be able to choose from any one of the 20 restaurants, the 24-hour deli and coffee shop with patisserie/bakery, the Mediterranean Spa Restaurant and bar area and the Signature Penthouse Restaurant.

The Emirates Timeless Spa will offer a range of treatments for men and women using natural ingredients such as Ayurveda. Guests also have access to the gymnasium and outdoor swimming pool.

There will be a fully-equipped business centre and meeting room, open 18 hours daily. The centre will feature a six-person meeting room, Wi-Fi, glass-enclosed PC stations with full internet access, printing facilities and a private telephone exchange (PABX) as well as a secretarial and PA service on request.

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