Helix Hotel Abu Dhabi

On April 6th this year, the winning design from Leeser Architects for the Helix Hotel in Abu Dhabi was announced.  This visually stunning five star hotel will maximise the use of natural resources in a spiralling design that makes use of natural light and coastal air along with an exterior clad with panels to harness solar and wind power.  The aptly named Helix Hotel will feature a helical floor space which wraps unevenly around a central void. Guests will be able to look up at, and down on, various public areas, including the rooftop deck with a glass-bottomed swimming pool (suspended high in the air on the left of the artist’s impression).

The developers plan for 208 guest rooms and the hotel will also feature retail, spa and sauna suites. Every guest room will have a slightly different view and the interior temperature will be maintained by a retractable glass door which will allow cooling sea breezes to enter the building whilst a waterfall which recycles sea water will also help to keep the interior cool and reduce humidity levels.

If you can’t wait until the Helix is constructed, then why not try the Emirates Palace instead?  Reputedly the most opulent hotel in the Middle East, it’s been built by the ruler of Abu Dhabi as a palace for incoming heads of state as well as being a hotel.  Everything about the Emirates palace is breathtaking. It has 114 domes, all covered with mosaic glass tiles and a huge range of facilities, an enormous garden and marina and over a kilometre of private white sandy beach. Or give the Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri a try!   It lies between two bridges on the way to downtown Abu Dhabi with food service and facilities up to the usual high Shangri-La standard. There are well appointed rooms some signature Shangri-La restaurants, excellent friendly service and outstanding pools and beaches.