Not since the opening of its sister property, Atlantis The Royal on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, has there been so much fuss made over the inception of a new hotel, but One&Only One Za’abeel is not just any old property — it marks a number of firsts for the city and for Kerzner International. Designed by architects Nikken Sekkei, the conspicuous dual towers of One Za’abeel soar 235 and 305 metres above Trade Centre roundabout, at the heart of the city, creating a new statement landmark on Dubai’s futuristic skyline, and acting as a metaphor for Kerzner’s sky’s the limit approach to the future of hospitality. Housed inside are offices, residences and two new hotels: One&Only One Za’abeel marks the premier vertical Urban Resort for the One&Only brand, and SIRO, a cutting-edge fitness concept making its debut in Dubai, but with plans to open in Montenegro later this year.
One&Only One Za’abeel is also home to the first Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie in the UAE, and boasts the world’s longest cantilever dubbed The Link, that acts as a bridge connecting the towers, and houses a remarkable new dining destination encompassing culinary concepts from celebrated chefs such as Anne-Sophie Pic, Paco Morales and Mehmet GÜrs, as well as nightlife concept Sphere, that is set to become the city’s go-to for all things related to food and fun in Downtown.
The room interiors are designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, who drew inspiration from the local culture and surrounding energy of the city, represented through the sandy beige, cream (za’abeel means ‘white sand’ in Arabic) and blue colour palette, with a splash of sunset orange, artfully melded with luxe tactile textures to create exceptionally elegant living spaces with the appearance of private apartments. What feels like personal touches are seen in stacked coffee table books and unique ornaments, even a custom-made backgammon set by Dubai-based Lebanese furniture designer Nada Debs sits on the coffee table of theduplex Skyline Loft, specially crafted for One&Only One Za’Abeel.
Anything is possible by capturing Dubai’s entrepreneurial spirit perfectly through the window frames, enhanced by the frenetic movement of the city below. Even the vast bath tubs present the option to soak within the cityscape. Food is a big deal here, and the carefully selected, award-winning chef partners — who debut their first-ever Middle Eastern venues, no less — are notably the best in their cuisines. Culinary excellence on display comes from Anne-Sophie Pic, the most decorated female chef in the world, who brings her exceptional French restaurant La Dame de Pic to The Link. She is joined by Spanish chef Paco Morales’ concept Qabu; Finnish-Turkish chef Mehmet Gürs, whose concept Arrazuna celebrates Middle Eastern cuisine; a unique take on Thai food from Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones at Duangdy, and Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s sophisticated journey through Japanese cuisine at Sagetsu. All housed in The Link enclosed in the cantilever, the stunning venues are each individually designed by the chefs within house codes and offer absolute authenticity and memorable eating experiences to write home about.
Outside The Link, the culinary world’s enfant terrible Dabiz Munoz, voted the world’s best chef, introduces StreetXo, a graffiti-enhanced venue that focuses on street food with a rebellious twist and unexpected pairings, currently one of Dubai’s most coveted restaurants. On the roof of the cantilever sits the Instagram-sensation Tapasake, the longest suspended infinity pool in Dubai (yes, that’s a thing) that demonstrates an entirely new angle to see the city. Sophisticated and with limited availability, it has the same mood as a private members club and serves artistic small plates — putting the ‘tapas’ in Tapasake— of wagyu tataki, divine mushroom wonton, refreshing tiraditos and cebiches and light salads to be enjoyed laying on loungers, or in the chic surrounds of the restaurant. While, of course, showcasing breathtaking views.
If you’re travelling with a young family, the Garden Pool welcomes children and invites a more casual crowd. Designed to mimic the lazy sway of a Balinese beach club, surrounded by lush vegetation and stylish macrame umbrellas, the turquoise-tiled temperature controlled pool is an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. The dual towers soar above, acting as a reminder to where you are, and on-hand at a moment’s notice are pool boys with trays of exotic sunscreen, fresh fruit snacks and a menu of light bites. Just beside the pool sits Andaliman, the Indonesian restaurant — in keeping with the Balinese theme — that offers a menu of spicy and aromatic dishes accompanied by the star condiment sambal, of which there are eight different types.
Aside from the spectacular views, cutting-edge cuisine and elegant interior design, One&Only has made its name by providing exceptional service, and at the One Za’abeel property in particular the attention-to-detail is exact.
The staff here know what you want before you do, a mark of true experts in hospitality, you are even invited to join your hosts on a Whatsapp group to ensure any last minute needs are met: restaurant or spa bookings, queries about the in-room tech, or any advice you might need about seeing the city. An iconic address and new landmark on Dubai’s skyline, the vertical resort and all of its firsts signal a new era for One&Only, and we like it.