As a business destination for travellers, Dubai is all about comfort and convenience.
For true blue entrepreneurs, they are always on the lookout for opportunities to expand their businesses. We have just the city to recommend: Dubai, which always raises the bar and offers the highest standards of comfort and convenience.
Since the city is centrally located between East and West, it is easy to access from all the world. With more than 88 million passengers arriving at and departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB), and with Al Maktoum International Airport prepared to handle 240 million passengers before Expo 2020 Dubai starts, the city holds the title of most-visited country in the world.
According to The World Economic Forum, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second safest country in the world, an assurance indeed for visiting delegates. The distance between DXB to most of the hotels and downtown Dubai takes an average of 15 minutes with Dubai Metro. All you need is a NOL card to get access to one of the 26,000 hotel room located along metro line.
With transportation facilities that make it easy for business travellers, the port city in the UAE makes for a convincing case as the perfect business event destination.
For more information about Dubai, visit www.visitdubai.com.
HOTELS FOR ENTREPRENEURS
If there are hotels to ensure leisure travellers a holiday to remember, business travellers are looking for facilities to ease their work process. Currently, there are more than 700 hotels, 111,000 hotel apartments and by the end of 2019, there will be a total of 132,000 rooms in the country.
There is a huge number of accommodations with international and homegrown hotel brands including Jumeirah Group, Rotana and Address. But the debate that Dubai is a “luxury destination” is going to change as they have started to produce a wide range of hotels according to travellers’ budget.
“If you are comparing in term of prices between Dubai and other destinations, probably our hotel pricing might be higher. However, if you are particular about the price, we are definitely worth the value,” said Sabrina Ding, Associate Director of Sales, Asia of Jumeirah Group at a Business Events Leadership Forum, Palazzo Versace.
At first impression, I would agree that Dubai is an expensive business destination. But, after numerous hotel inspections, I realised that the experiences come with the price that you pay for. From three to five-star hotels, every single one of them has its own values and is all about warmest of hospitality.
ZABEEL HOUSE BY JUMEIRAH
This hotel at Al Seef reveals a loft-style vibe. The global hotel company, Jumeirah Group is known for multiple luxury hotels and the company has decided to diversify with a wide range of hotels in Dubai.
It’s a bit different from the other hotels that they own. The interior and exterior is eye-catching, especially with all the unique furniture at the lobby. Consisting of 200 rooms in three different such as the Plus, the Popular and Suites it will fulfill the needs of businessmen, solo travellers, couples and families.
I would say it is a perfect stay for those who working, as an oversized oak table in the room provides the avenue to do all your work. At the lobby area, there are five meetings rooms and a creative space. Don’t forget to squeeze time into your schedule and cycle around Al Seef with a complimentary bicycle provided by the hotel.
On the last day of my trip, the stay became more memorable when I discovered its rooftop pool with a gorgeous view of Al Seef.
For more information about Zabeel House by Jumeirah, visit www.zabeelhouse.com.
PALAZZO VERSACE
The name itself conjures up a palace surrounded by palm trees and flowers. Palazzo Versace is a dreamy venue for meetings, weddings and social events in Dubai. The five-star hotel is a public space surrounded by a very exclusive fabric design by Versace, but of course. Featuring 215 rooms and suites, each floor has its own theme and colour, with a neoclassical masterpiece with subtle traces of Arabian architecture. It makes me feel like I’m living in fashion heaven!
A must do, before one starts the morning, is to admire the view overlooking the Dubai Creek. What better way to start one’s day!
Gala Grand Ballroom offers a seating capacity of 550 guests in a banquet setting or 900 guests in a cocktail setting. The ballroom has high ceilings and its striking entrance starts with a pre-function foyer before one heads to the main ballroom.
If there are things to be discussed privately, Palazzo Versace provides three fully equipped meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 50 guests – Milano, Roma and Venezia. In addition, the three rooms located on the first floor within the Business Center is surrounded with a beautiful terrace and plenty of natural light.
For more information about Palazzo Versace, visit www.palazzoversace.com.
MADINAT JUMEIRAH
Connected by waterways, Madinat Jumeirah can access directly to three grand hotels – Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Mina A’ Salam and the newly opened Jumeirah Al Naseem.
Mina A’ Salam offers it is two incredible venues – Majlis Al Mina and Majlis Al Sam – that offer flexible space and versatile arrangements, complemented by banquet services. Meanwhile, its conference and events centre is designed to reflect the old sophistication of Dubai such as Joharah and Murjaan ballrooms.
Four lavish meetings rooms are located on the first floor of the conference centre, providing spectacular view of the resort’s winding waterways that suit individual requirements and can accommodate up to 50 guests.
All the facilities are interconnected by three kilometers of waterways and landscaped gardens that are accessible by the main road and authentic abra (water taxi). If you want to catch a breath, there are beach and waterpark areas that are free for all Jumeirah guests in the city.
For more information about Madinat Jumeirah, visit www.jumeirah.com.
AL HABTOOR CITY
Representing a famous hospitality brand in the new neighbourhood, Al Habtoor City comprises three 5-star hotels, three ultra-luxurious residential towers, a permanent water-based theater production and an array of retails and leisure facilities.
Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City offers 1,004 rooms and suites that are beautifully designed to provide a lively experience to guests, whether they are travelling for leisure or business.
From small meetings to large events, Hilton Dubai caters to all of one’s needs. There are 16 banquet rooms that come with state-of-the-art audiovisual system and high-speed Wi-Fi. The hotel also provides Al Joud Ballroom (measuring 1,425sq m of space) with a separate entrance and a pre-function hall, ideal for accommodating big weddings and conferences for up to 1,200 guests.
Don’t forget to treat yourself after work with a trip to Downtown Dubai (the hotel provides a daily shuttle service) where you can visit the iconic Burj Khalifa and indulge in window shopping at Dubai Mall.
For more information about Al Habtoor City, visit www.alhabtoorcity.com.
FIVE PALM JUMEIRAH
This is the venue for glitz and glamour and for the jet-setting social scene. FIVE Palm Jumeirah aims to surprise visitors with a new experience every week when you stay in the hotel – aside from a fantastic beach and its chic rooms.
This man-made island features 468 rooms and suites that has the glamour and vibe of Dubai. The stunning architecture and panoramic views across the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina make it as a hot destination for both, leisure and business travellers.
Being a most preferred hotel for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, FIVE Palm Jumeirah designed meeting rooms and ballroom to elevate expectations to a new level. Vista Ballroom can accommodate up to 450 people and boasts an incredible panoramic vista across the Dubai Marina at all times.
The three meeting rooms on the hotel’s 13th floor can be used on their own or combined, configured to suit individual requirements up to 300 people. All rooms are equipped with the latest technology, including WiFi, projectors, music and TV broadcasting infrastructure and centralised AV control system.
For more information about FIVE Palm Jumeirah, visit www.fivehotelsandresorts.com.
DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION
Two things that I admire about Dubai are their technology evolution and government support. In order to shape the future, the country has provides a global hub of Dubai Future Foundation inside the Emirates Tower.
As a center of business and the future of the economy, the hub is a place where international innovators and leading thinkers explore the challenges of the future and convert them into opportunities for sustainable development through an intensive 12-week programme known as Dubai Future Accelerator.
One of the stories that caught my attention is its ability to extract water from the air! Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is working with DewGood and Veragon to convert solar power and humidity into water harvesting. Through the innovation, the communities are able to create their own clean drinking water out of air.
For more information about Dubai Future Foundation, visit www.dubaifuture.gov.ae.
SMART DUBAI
Dubai’s vision as a smart city is unique compared to other cities around the world. In order to be different, they are working hard with partners across the city to prepare the foundation for a sustainable smart city transformation that prioritises people’s happiness.
Using technology as an enabler, Smart Dubai unlocked the power of blockchain, starting their AI strategy, digital services and a paperless system by 2021.
In order to be a paper-free city, the Dubai Government is going to make all internal and external government transaction 100% digital and this effort will eliminate more than one billion pieces of paper. Sounds impossible? They are one step ahead with UAE Pass launched last October, the first national digital identity and signature solution that can be accessed through an application.
But when it comes to online transactions, people are a bit sceptical about the security. All of these problems are taken care of before going live and they will keep improving, updating and in the midst of creating legal framework to address digital procedures and will overcome any cultural and customary barriers in the move away from paper.
With endless business initiatives and programmes offered by the Dubai government, they have opened a door to more collaboration with other countries to become a dynamic host city for international association conferences, corporate meetings, incentive programmes and exhibitions.
