Dhow Palace Hotel, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: Dhow Palace Hotel

Dhow Palace Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

P O Box 121545
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Dhow Palace Hotel

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Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	None

Hotel Opened	2006
Refurbishment	N/A

Cranley Summary

The Dhow Palace Hotel is a landmark in Bur Dubai with a distinctive dhow shaped exterior and it maintains a nautical theme throughout the hotel. It is located in the business and shopping district and is within walking distance of Dubai Creek and Port and is only a five minute drive away from the World Trade Centre in light traffic. The hotel offers guests a choice of superior accommodation including Deluxe Rooms and a range of suites all with plasma television screens and interactive entertainment facilities. Guests have a wide variety of dining options with a choice of six cafe's and restaurants which include Docklands, with an international menu, Aangan which is an Indian restaurant and the Ranch Steakhouse. For entertainment there is the Queen Quays Bar located on the ground floor opposite Docklands Restaurant. Guests also have the use of a fully equipped gym with sauna and steam rooms and a rooftop swimming pool. The hotel also provides for business travellers with facilities including a serviced business centre, boardroom and conference and meeting rooms.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The hotel is located near the Gold Souk in Bur Dubai, just across the Creek from Deira. Its location means it is about fifteen minutes from Dubai International Airport and twenty minutes from Jumeirah Beach to which the hotel runs a shuttle service. Major shopping centres such as the Mall of the Emirates are twenty minutes away. Very near to the hotel is an array of electrical and computer shops, the Meena Bazaar with its gold, clothing and electronics stores and authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. The Dubai museum is also very close, as well as Sheik Rashid's original home that is now a tourist attraction.

Airports
Distance	6 km
Airport Transfers	Meet and greet service at airport

Cities and Sights
Distance	1 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi Transfers Private cars available Daily complimentary shuttle bus to Deira Centre which leaves at 14.00 and returns at 17.00.

Hotel Layout

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Layout Description

The Dhow Palace is a very modern eight storey building with underground parking in the basement level. All the restaurants are located on the ground floor together with the Queens Quays Bar. The accommodation is arranged over the upper seven floors with the Gym and Health club being on the top floor. There is also a business centre located on the top floor and the hotel has an outdoor rooftop swimming pool.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 Hours
Languages Spoken	English, Arabic, Hindi
Payment Methods	All major credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Called on request from the street
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged including Tours of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman, Dinner Cruises, Safari's to the Desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains, a Night at the Races, Camel Riding, Sand Skiing, Snorkelling or Scuba Diving.

Guest Relations	Standard
Concierge Services	Tour desk Car hire desk
Medical Facilities	Doctor on call 24 hours with 30 minutes notice
Parking	Complimentary underground car park. Valet Parking

Cranley Comment

The Hotel lobby has a large central atrium with two glass fronted lifts at the rear; these provide guests with a panoramic view of the lobby on ascending to the upper floors. On entering the hotel the Docklands restaurant is on the left hand side with the Queens Quay Bar directly opposite. The reception and concierge desks are located further into the lobby on the right hand side and beyond the Anchor cafe area. At the rear of the lobby is a gift shop and jewellery store and beyond these to the left are the entrances to the other four restaurants.

Shops & Amenities

Description

At the rear of the lobby beyond the reception desk are two retail outlets. These are the Desert Memory gift shop which is open 24 hours and White Rose Jewellery which is open 09.00 to 23.00. The hotel also has a travel desk at the front of the lobby on the left hand side. In addition the hotel has the Marco Karam Hair and Beauty Lounge which as well as offering hair cutting an styling also offers manicures, pedicures, facials, make up, eyebrow and lips tattooing and waxing.

Cranley Comment

The Dhow Palace has a limited range of retail outlets within the hotel, however there several local shopping centres within walking distance. The hotel also provides a daily shuttle bus to the Burjuman shopping mall and the Mall of the Emirates is also only a short taxi ride away.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	7
Total Rooms	270
Elevators	7
Rooms per Elevator	39
Total Staff	320
Staff per Room	1.2

Check-in Time	14.00
Check-out Time	12.00
Late Checkout	16.00 without charge subject to availability.
Smoking Rooms	Non-smoking rooms are available
Room Service	Available 24 hours with a full al a carte menu.
Laundry Service	Laundry, valet and dry cleaning available. Items received before 09.00 are returned by 19.00. Items received before 17.00 are returned at 12.00 the following day. An express service is also available at extra charge.
Unique Features	High ceilings to give a sense of space

Club or Executive Facilities

Executive and Club privileges are provided to guests staying in the Admiral Rooms and above. Additional benefits include Continental breakfast in the Admiral lounge located on the seventh floor. Exclusive check in at the Admiral lounge with complimentary snacks and soft drinks available. Limousine service to and from the airport and complimentary spirits in the lounge from 18.00 to 20.30.

Cranley Comment

The Dhow Palace has a range of superior accommodation with a high standard of furnishings and premier amenities. The majority of rooms are Deluxe and have either two queen beds or one king sized bed. The Admiral Rooms have the additional privileges of the Executive Admiral Club and these extra benefits also apply to the suites which comprise of the Captain, Commodore and Viceroy.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe	200	City	Interactive entertainment facilities Plasma TV Two seater sofa Armchair Desk and chair Coffee table High speed internet International direct dial telephone Individually controlled air conditioning Mini safe Mini bar Combined bath/shower Wall mounted hairdryer Bathrobe and slippers. Scales	2 Adults	40

Cranley Comment

Designed and furbished in a traditional Arabic theme the Deluxe Rooms have a high standard of furnishings and decor and have polished wood floors. For the entry level room they are also a substantial size at 40sqm. The rooms have armchairs and an occasional table and have a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Bathrooms have a combined bath and shower and also feature a bidet. They have white sanitary wear and have brown marble and white tiling. One of the features of the rooms is the high ceilings and wide entrance hallway giving a feeling of space. The soft furnishings are a gold theme to add to the feeling of luxury.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Admiral	42	City	As per the Deluxe Room with the added benefit of: Upgraded bathroom amenities Admiral club facilities.	2 Adults	42

Cranley Comment

The Admiral Rooms are very similar to the Deluxe Room but they are larger both in width and length giving large floor area. They are designed and furbished in a traditional Arabic theme and have a high standard of furnishings and decor with have polished wood floors. The rooms have a two seater sofa, armchairs and an occasional table and have a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Bathrooms have a combined bath and shower and also feature a bidet. One of the features of the rooms is the high ceilings and wide entrance hallway giving a feeling of space. The soft furnishings are a gold theme to add to the feeling of luxury.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Captain Suite	12	City	As per the Admiral Room with the added benefit of: Lounge area Guest bathroom Entrance hallway Additional desk and chair Additional armchair	2 Adults	65

Cranley Comment

The Captain Suites are a one room suite with a combined living and bedroom area. The suites are a large area at 65sqm and are designed with an entrance corridor off which is the guest toilet and leads into the lounge area where in front of a floor to ceiling window is a two seater sofa and two armchairs arranged around a coffee table. The bedroom is defined from the lounge area with wood floors as opposed to carpets. The bedroom area is in the far corner and has next to it the desk and chair and plasma screen. The bedroom décor is very similar to the other room types with rich furnishings and good quality wood furniture although the bathrooms have a combination of white and black tiles.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Commodore Suite	6	City	As per the Captains Suite with the added benefit of: Separate lounge Dining table for six Dressing area Additional items of furniture Additional Plasma screen	2 Adults	80

Cranley Comment

The Commodore Suite is a two room suite with the lounge and bedroom in separate rooms. On entering the room there is an entrance hall way off which is the guest toilet. The hallway leads into the lounge dining room which as well as having sofas for five persons also has a dining table that seats six. The bedroom has its own small lounge area a separate dressing area and an en-suite bedroom similar to the other room types. The room is decorated with a blue theme with the drapes and bedspread having a blue base and one of the sofas also being blue.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Viceroy Suite	10	City	As per the Commodore Suite with the added benefit of: Additional sqm Additional furniture items	2 Adults	100

Cranley Comment

The Viceroy Suite is the premier room type in the hotel and has the same blue theme as the Commodore Suite. The accommodation comprises of an entrance hallway, guest toilet and large lounge/dining room with a separate lounge and dining area. Off the lounge is the en-suite bedroom which also has its own lounge area, dressing area and en-suite bathroom. There are a number of extra furniture pieces and sofas as compared to the Commodore Suite given the additional sqm but the principle feature of this room type is the spacious lounge.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Dhow Palace’s restaurants are all located on the lobby level with the Docklands all day dining international restaurant at the front of the lobby and the speciality restaurants located at the rear of the hotel beyond the lift bank. There are a number of fine dining restaurants to choose from including a steakhouse, Lebanese, Italian, Indian and soon to be opened Oriental. A number of the restaurants have live music/performances for added ambiance and the restaurant menu’s can be delivered as room service on request.

Docklands

Restaurant Type	International Buffet
Restaurant Capacity	Total 130 all inside
Opening Times	24 hour all day dining Buffet times Breakfast 06.30 to 10.30 Lunch 12.30 to 15.00 Dinner 18.30 to 23.30
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking areas
Children’s Facilities	Children's menu High chairs Children under six dine complimentary at the buffet Children between seven and twelve pay 50%.
Breakfast Options	06.30 to 10.30 Full international buffet with live cooking station and Arabic options.

Cranley Comment

Docklands is located off the main lobby and is the hotels twenty four hour international restaurant. There is an al a carte menu available at all times and in addition there is a set international buffet each lunch time and evening. The restaurant is decorated with rich wood panelling and highly polished wood floors giving it the “docklands theme.” There is a central buffet station in the middle of the restaurant from where the three main buffets are served. The restaurant has background music for added ambiance and also benefits from natural daylight.

Aangan

Restaurant Type	Indian
Restaurant Capacity	Total 120 (14 person privacy room)
Opening Times	Lunch 12.00 to 15.00 Dinner 19.30 to 01.00
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking area
Children’s Facilities	High chairs Standard children's menu
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

Aangan is a north Indian restaurant where the dishes are prepared in a show kitchen by the Executive Chef Radhey Shyam. The menu is extensive with a range of dishes from the region including extensive vegetarian options. For intimacy or privacy there is a private dining room for fourteen persons and at the rear of the restaurant is a bar which is ideal for pre or post dinner drinks and from where the live band which plays every evening from 21.00 to 01.30 can be enjoyed.

Ranch Steak House

Restaurant Type	Steakhouse
Restaurant Capacity	Total 45