ABU DHABI, 20 June 2004 — When GCC heads of state hold their annual summit in Abu Dhabi this year, it could be an exciting experience. The summit will not only take place in a seven-star hotel but in a dome-covered palace. At first glance from a distance, the new structure stretching along the seashore could be mistaken for a huge mosque or an ancient palace from the days of Sinbad or Ali Baba.
“It’s nearly finished and most of the work now involves greening and landscaping,” said an engineer at the site. “The hotel will be ready for the GCC summit; afterward, it will be open to the public.”
With a cost of some 1.8 billion dirhams ($490 million), the hotel will have 440 rooms and suites. The design blends the traditional with the latest technology and features 12 restaurants. It will also include the Middle East’s biggest auditorium with room for 1,200 people.
The hotel, named Emirates Palace, is a sprawling compound with a main building and separate villas. What distinguishes the structure is its magnificent oriental architecture, its color and numerous domes which are overshadowed by the even larger mother dome that covers nearly 40 meters.
The bulk of the construction is finished and the focus has now shifted to landscaping and planting palm trees that will emphasize its resemblance to legendary Arab palaces and their settings.
