A hotel that cost US$700 million to build sets high expectations, and Raffles The Palm Dubai — the Palm Jumeirah property formerly known as Emerald Palace Kempinski — leans into them hard. The interiors look borrowed from a European royal residence: red velvet, hand-painted 24-karat gold leaf detailing, ornate mouldings and thousands of chandeliers. Even the tea service comes with real silver spoons.
The rooms, suites and private villas follow the same theme. The villas are the pick for serious splurges, with generous floor plans, dedicated service and steps-onto-the-sand beach access. Wherever you stay, the personalised service and beachfront setting are the constants.
Wellness is a genuine headline here rather than an afterthought. The Cinq Mondes Spa covers 3,000 square metres, with 23 treatment rooms, two private spa suites, traditional hammams and an indoor pool, all lit by lanterns and candles so it feels more intimate than its size suggests. Treatments borrow from wellness traditions around the world — massages, facials and body rituals — and frequent guests can sign up for a Raffles Spa & Wellness Membership covering spa, pool and beach access plus discounts on treatments, fitness programmes and dining.
Swimmers get a 25-metre indoor pool, one of the biggest on Palm Jumeirah, with private alcoves and hanging lanterns for company. There's also an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and the hotel's own private beach.
Food comes from several directions: modern Japanese at Matagi, Southern Italian at Piatti by the Beach, and international menus with garden views at Le Jardin. The signature experience is afternoon tea in Blüthner Hall, where the Grand Palaces Afternoon Tea — sandwiches, pastries and cakes with live piano in the grand lobby lounge — was highly commended at the What's On Dubai Awards 2026.
Who is this for? Travellers who want the Dubai resort experience dialled up to maximum opulence — couples on a splurge, spa devotees, and anyone who'd rather feel like they've checked into a palace than a glass tower. It sits on the trunk-side calm of Palm Jumeirah, so you're a short drive from the Marina and the city's main sights without being in the middle of them. Singapore Airlines flies to Dubai daily, making it an easy add-on for anyone already flying that route.
