I was first introduced to the world of Dubai after seeing top professional tennis players dueling out at an exhibition on top of the seven-star hotel, Burj Al Arab. What’s interesting was the view from the top and the fact that each player were hitting against each other with each from different surfaces on the different ends of the court.
The next great memory I have of Dubai was from a book I picked up at the bookstore few years ago. I started reading the business thriller and finished it within 3 days. This is rare for someone who hasn’t been an avid reader of anything until the last year of college. (Now I read constantly…The Economist, WSJ, Foreign Policy, Malcom Gladwell, etc.) The book was Ben Mezrich’s RIGGED – the true story of an Ivy League kid who changed the world of oil, from Wall Street to Dubai.
Since then, I have heard, seen, and read many aspects of this vastly emerging region. As a business student, there is no doubt that Dubai is part of the curriculum. With the way this world is spinning, every corner of the globe has to be covered.
Tonight I spent hours sitting as a member of the audience of several business & investment presentations/proposals in international finance. Dubai was one of the focused regions. It is predicted to be the next important financial and business center of the world, joining New York, London, and Tokyo. Its free zones and business or investment incentives are highly favorable for foreign investors. Although Abu Dhabi is a lesser known city in the UAE than Dubai, it is equally important and just as significant with strong growth opportunities. Just take a look at the grandeur and the scale of the Fairont Bab Al Bahr and its presence in the region. The designs are refreshing and the architecture is bold. The location is carefully selected, truly a desert oasis.
Source: hotelsmag.com
http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/CA6700338.html
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
– Hotels, 10/5/2009 1:49:00 PM
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, meaning “Gateway to the Sea,” is Fairmont’s first property to open in the capital of the UAE, on the Abu Dhabi Creek. Positioned at the mainland gateway of the city, the hotel sits directly on the beachfront, offering guests the best of both urban life and beach experience.Located in ‘new’ Abu Dhabi, an area destined to become one of the most exciting mixed-use developments in the city, the hotel benefits from spectacular views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with easy access to Abu Dhabi City Centre and Corniche, and is in close proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr boasts 369 guestrooms, a variety of world-class restaurants, 27,000 sq. ft. of function space, a private sandy beachfront, a Willow Stream Spa and two outdoor pools. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr includes the first Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill outside of the UK, serving the choicest cuts of beef and one of the largest selections of wine in the city. Frankie’s Italian Restaurant and Bar has been created by renowned UK Chef White and famed jockey Frankie Dettori.The new properties all offer Fairmont Gold, the brand’s exclusive lifestyle offering featuring warm and personalized service with amenities such as a private reception desk and a comfortable guest lounge, where guests may enjoy an honor bar and cocktail hour canapés, as well as a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast.
Fairmont will continue on its Silk Road journey in 2010 with new properties planned for Makkah, Jaipur and the Fairmont Peace Hotel, a Shanghai landmark for over a century. Fairmont currently has more than 20 new properties in development, including London’s The Savoy, which will re-open within the next year following an extensive restoration program.
Click here for the full slideshow of Fairmont Bab al Bahr
