Marriott Executive Apartments, Dubai

The Cranley Report

Marriott Executive Apartments

Marriott Executive Apartments, Dubai

Hotel Address

Rigga Al Buteen Street
PO Box 81148
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

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Cranley Rating

Marriott Executive Apartments

Photo 1 of 29. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Deluxe Furnished Apartments

Hotel Opened	2002
Refurbishment	The replacement of soft furnishings in apartments is ongoing, with some of the one and two bedroom apartments completed.

Cranley Summary

The Marriott Executive Apartments are located in Deira City, very near to the Maktoum Bridge and just a short drive from Dubai International Airport. This means they have good access to the business district of Deira and to the commercial area of Sheikh Zayed Road and the World Trade Centre. The Apartments comprise two towers connected by a skywalk on the 17th floor of each tower. The skywalk affords spectacular views of the city and Creek areas and allows guests to move between buildings without going outside. There are a total of 172 one, two and three bedroom apartments, which are fully furnished and have a bathroom for each bedroom as well as a guest toilet. There is a modern fully equipped kitchen and every apartment is equipped with flat screen televisions, DVD and CD players and broadband internet connection. On the roof of Block A is a swimming pool with jacuzzi, barbeque terrace, a fully equipped gym with changing facilities, sauna and steam room. They have also recently added a therapy suite, next to the pool where guests can enjoy a variety of body treatments and facials. On the roof of Block B is a children’s playground suited to young children. There is also a Residents lounge and a Meeting Room, both of which can be hired by guests. The Skyw@lk Café is located off the reception of Block A and serves both light snacks and full meals, as well as Starbucks coffee. It also sells the basic necessities, including a range of organic food. In addition, there are grocery stores within walking distance.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Marriott Executive Apartments are located near the landmark clock tower roundabout and the Maktoum Bridge in Deira, the heart of Dubai's business district with its ancient Arabic heritage and culture. It is a fifteen minute walk to Dubai Creek and the souks, whilst the Dubai Creek and Al Badia world-class golf courses are also close by. Guests can visit the Creek promenade which extends from the Corniche, allowing visitors to stroll along the Arabian Gulf coast.

Airports
Distance	6 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi transfers available

Cities and Sights
Distance	0.5 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi transfers available Within walking distance

Layout Description

The Marriott Executive Apartments are designed as two separate identical buildings that are joined together by a skywalk on the 17th floors. The main reception is in Block A, which is also where the beauty salon and Skyw@lk Café are located. The rooms are on the 1st to 16th floors with the pool and gym located in Block A at the roof level and with the children's playground located on the roof level of Block B next to the meeting room and the residents lounge. Block B has a concierge desk on the ground floor. Guests can access their apartments and the rooftop facilities in both blocks via either entrance, then use the skywalk on the 17th floor if necessary.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	English and Arabic
Payment Methods	All major international credit cards and cash accepted.
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Street taxis can be arranged on request.
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged. These include: Tours of Dubai; Dubai by Air; Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman; Dinner Cruises; Safaris to the Desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains; a Night at the Races, Camel Riding, Sand Skiing, Snorkelling and Scuba Diving; Dubai Zoo, the Gold and Spice Souks and Dubai museums. One of the tour companies used is The Big Bus Company, who offer an open top, double decker bus tour of Dubai.

Guest Relations	Standard
Concierge Services	Standard
Medical Facilities	Doctors on call 24 hours with an anticipated response time of 30 minutes according to the Apartments..
Parking	Complimentary undercover parking is available beneath the building, with one space per apartment.

Cranley Comment

Marriott Executive Apartments have a reception in each block, with the main reception desk in Block A, where a full front desk and concierge service is available. The small reception desk is half moon shaped and is directly ahead on entering the lobby area. The ceiling is two floors high, which gives an impression of a large space. Either side of the reception in block A are the Skyw@lk Café and the beauty salon. The lobby area is decorated in a contemporary design with wood panelling and marble flooring. The concierge desk in Block B is set in an almost identical lobby area and has the ladies fashion shop either side of it. Guests can access their apartments and the rooftop facilities in both blocks via either entrance, then use the skywalk on the 17th floor.

Shops & Amenities

Description

Abu Shakra Beauty Salon:
10:00 to 22:00 Daily except Fri
Offering men's and ladies haircutting, make up, manicure, pedicure, waxing and facials.

Glamour Ladies Fashion:
09:30 to 13:00 and 16:30 to 22:00 Sat to Thu
17:30 to 22:00 Fri

Cranley Comment

The apartments have a beauty salon adjoining the reception area in Block A, that caters for men and ladies in different rooms. They also have a ladies fashion outlet adjoining the reception area in Block B. The Marriott Executive Apartments benefit from being located near to the City Centre shopping mall which has a much larger range of shops and boutiques. There are other shopping malls a short distance away and more authentic shops and souks in nearby Deira. The gold souk is also a ten minute taxi ride away in light traffic.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	17
Total Rooms	172
Elevators	6
Rooms per Elevator	29
Total Staff	99
Staff per Room	0.6

Check-in Time	15.00
Check-out Time	12.00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Non-smoking rooms available
Room Service	Available 24 hours from the Skyw@lk Cafe
Laundry Service	Same day service for items dropped off by 09:30

Club or Executive Facilities

There is a residents lounge located at the top of Tower B which has a number of sofas and armchairs, large screen satellite television, DVD and CD players as well as a coffee bar area. The room can be hired for private functions.

Cranley Comment

The Marriott Executive Apartments come with one, two and three bedrooms, with two size options in the one and three bedroom apartments. All the apartments have good quality furnishings and are decorated in a European style with stone tiled floors and dark wood furnishings. An ongoing refurbishment of soft furnishings is taking place, with vibrant reds, oranges and yellows being used for furniture and bed covers. The apartments all have flat screen televisions in the lounge as well as a DVD and CD player. The kitchens are fully equipped with good branded appliances and have ample utensils. Guests have use of a residents lounge if they want a change of scenery or a place to mingle with other residents.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
One Bedroom 65	48	24 Creek 24 City	Lounge with: High speed internet access Flat screen TV DVD and CD players Two seater sofa Two armchairs Fully fitted kitchen with: Microwave Hob Cooking utensils Dishwasher Washer dryer Breakfast counter with two chairs Master bedroom with: King size bed Satellite TV Desk/dressing table Hairdryer Safe Ensuite Bathroom with: Combined bath/shower Bidet Bathrobes Bathroom Scale Separate Guest Washroom	2 Adults and one child	65

Cranley Comment

The smaller of the two one bedroom apartments is similar to a hotel suite with a separate lounge and bedroom. On entering the apartment, the guest washroom is on one side with the open plan kitchen on the other. The entrance hallway leads into the lounge with a doorway through to the bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The lounge has a flat screen TV with DVD and CD player and is decorated in a European style with stone tiled floors and yellow sofa and dark wood furniture. The kitchen is separated from the lounge with a breakfast counter and two chairs. The bedroom is similarly well appointed and has an additional satellite television, desk/dressing table and an ensuite bathroom with white sanitary wear and a combined bath/shower. Some of the apartments have balconies.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
One Bedroom 100	26	City	As per the One Bedroom 65 with the added benefit of: Larger lounge Dressing area Dining table for six persons	3 Persons	100

Cranley Comment

The larger one bedroom apartment has a similar layout to the smaller apartment, but benefits from being 50% larger, with the additional space used in the lounge and bedroom. In addition to the sofas, the lounge has a dining table that can accommodate six people. In the bedroom, there is a dressing area before entering the bathroom, which again is marginally larger than the bathroom in the smaller apartment. The décor and amenities are, with the exception of the additional items mentioned, the same as in the smaller one bedroom apartment. These apartments all benefit from having a balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Two Bedroom	80	40 Creek 40 City	As per the One Bedroom 100 with the added benefit of: Additional bedroom Additional bathroom	5 Persons	131

Cranley Comment

The two bedroom apartment is very similar to the larger one bedroom apartment, but has the benefit of an additional bedroom and full bathroom. The layout and furnishings are the same as the other apartments with the exception that the kitchen is slightly larger. The second bedroom has a desk/dressing table and the City View apartments come with a double bed whilst the Creek View apartments have twin beds. The Creek View apartments also have a balcony whereas the City View do not. With the exception of the additional bedroom and bathroom, the amenities and décor are the same as the other apartments.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Three Bedroom 210	6	City	As per the Two Bedroom Apartment with the added benefit of: Additional bedroom Additional full bathroom Utility area Additional satellite television in the kitchen Jacuzzi bath in the master bathroom Separate shower in the master bathroom Kitchen with breakfast table	8 Persons	210

Cranley Comment

The smaller of the two, three bedroom apartments has an entrance hallway that leads into the large kitchen/utility room. The kitchen is larger than the others described above and has a breakfast table within the kitchen, as well as a breakfast bar with two chairs. Opposite the kitchen is an open plan utility area. The lounge is accessed via the kitchen and has 2, two seater sofas as well as a dining table for eight people. The second and third bedrooms are off a corridor that runs from the kitchen to the master bedroom and each have their own full bathroom opposite them. One of the bedrooms has a double bed, with the other having two single beds. The master bedroom is similar to the two bedroom apartments, but has the additional feature of a jacuzzi bath and a separate shower. All of the apartments have a city view and a balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Three Bedroom 228	12	Creek and City	As per the Three Bedroom 210 with the added benefit of: Corner position in the building with views of the City and Creek Larger lounge Larger kitchen Enclosed utility room	8 Persons	228

Cranley Comment

The largest apartment available is 228 square metres and has three bedrooms. It occupies a corner position in the building, giving it views of both the City and Creek. On entering the apartment there is a small entrance hallway, which leads on one side into the lounge and on the other side towards the bedrooms and kitchen. The kitchen is a large size and as well as having a breakfast bar with chairs, it also has some low set comfortable style chairs with a table and a television. The lounge has the city view whilst all the bedrooms have views over the Creek. The bedrooms themselves are similar, although slightly larger than in the other three bedroom apartment.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Skyw@lk Café

Restaurant Type	Restaurant and Coffee Shop
Restaurant Capacity	Total 100 (of which 60 inside and 40 outside)
Opening Times	Daily 06:30 to 23:00 Breakfast 06:30 to 10:30 Lunch 12:30 to 15:30
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No smoking allowed inside, but smoking is allowed on the terrace outside.
Children’s Facilities	Children's menu, with pizzas, burgers and chicken nuggets.
Breakfast Options	Buffet breakfast and a la carte.

Cranley Comment

Skyw@lk Café is the Apartment's restaurant/coffee shop and is located off the reception area of Block A. It is light and airy because of its very high ceiling and glass frontage. The front part of the café is in a coffee house style setting, where it has a counter with pastries on display and serves Starbucks coffee. The back half of the outlet has a buffet area and seating for about 30 people. The café serves a buffet breakfast and is open for lunch and evening meals each day. It has an a la carte menu that includes soup, sandwiches, pasta, burgers, fish, steaks, and pizzas, which are cooked from the open oven. At the back of the café is a small internet area with three workstations with broadband access. The Apartment's wireless internet works here as well. The Skyw@lk Café has a range of soft drinks, as well as tea and coffee, but does not serve alcohol as it is located in an apartment building. The café is very relaxed and is very much an informal eating area rather than a full service restaurant. Residents may also use the restaurant facilities at the JW Marriott and Renaissance Dubai, where they enjoy a discount on their food bills and may charge their account at the Marriott Executive Apartments.

Bars

Bar Comments

The Marriott Executive Apartments are not licensed to sell alcohol.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

Not available

In-Room Services

Broadband internet connection
Working area
Chairs
Electrical sockets

Business Centre

There are PCs with a printer and internet connection located in the Skyw@lk Café.

Meetings & Events

Venue	Size (m²)	Dimensions L x W x H (metres)
Meeting Room	99	11.0 x 9.0 x 6.0	60	-	40	30	20	20	-

The former Games Room on the rooftop in Block B is now being used as a Meeting Room. The Residents Lounge detailed in the Rooms section can also be hired for meetings, banqueting functions and cocktail parties. AV equipment is available in both rooms and full catering can be provided.

Cranley Comment

The Marriott Executive Apartments are principally an executive residence and they provide broadband internet access in all of apartments, as well as in the Skyw@lk Café. The Meeting Room and Residents Lounge may be hired for small meetings and other functions, but the building is not really designed for major business events. The Meeting Room is only accessible down a spiral staircase from the rooftop level. Because of the staircase, one corner of the room cannot be used as a meeting space.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities	See Restaurants
Playground	There is a large open playground on the roof level of Block B, which comprises various climbing frames and slides. It has a soft landing area

Children's Pool

See Pools

Babysitting service

A babysitting service is available on request at a charge. 24 hours notice is usually required and the service is provided by an external company using trained babysitters.

Cranley Comment

Younger children are catered for with the playground and children of all ages have access to the rooftop swimming pool, though they must be supervised. The Skyw@lk Café has a children's menu, but as these are residential apartments, there aren't too many provisions for children.

Beaches

Al Mamzar

Location	5km
Description	Al Mamzar Park looks out over a blue lagoon to the Emirate of Sharjah on one side and the Gulf on the other side. It is open daily from 08:00 to 23:00 and there is a nominal entrance fee.
Private/Public	Public
Size/Frontage	The park is a peninsula, in excess of one hundred hectares, that extends into the Persian Gulf. There are five different beaches, all with their own amenities including refreshments and children's climbing frames and swings.

Facilities	A small charge is levied for a sun bed, umbrella and towels. Swimming pool under shade (separate charge) BBQ facilities Refreshments on sale Showers Children's playgrounds Amusement arcade Volleyball Football goals
Parking	There is complimentary parking outside the park and a nominal charge is levied to bring your car into the park.

Cranley Comment

The park offers sheltered public beaches, swimming pools, pleasant green spaces, and designated picnic and barbeque areas. An ideal place to spend an afternoon, the park also features a spacious amphitheatre and children's playground area.

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	8km
Description	Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach open from 8:00 to 23:00. Visitors must pay a small charge to enter the beach area and sun loungers and parasols are available for hire. Visitors to the Jumeirah Beach Park should note that one day per week is designated as 'Ladies Only' day and they should check before visiting which day it is.
Private/Public	Public
Size/Frontage	The beach has a water frontage of about four hundred metres and is approximately twenty metres wide.

Facilities	Facilities include showers, toilets, snack bar, sun loungers and parasols for hire, a children’s adventure playground and a grass area with barbeques and straw parasols.
Safety	Lifeguards on duty.
Parking	There is a small charge to bring your car into the park or there is complimentary car parking available nearby.

Cranley Comment

The Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach with a small charge for entry. The beach park has a large beach with lifeguards, sun lounger and parasol hire, toilet facilities and a snack bar for cold drinks and fast food refreshments. There is a grassed area and an area planted with trees, where barbeques are available for public use. There are football goals and beach volleyball facilities on the beach in addition to an adventure type playground to keep younger children entertained.

Pools

Roof Pool

Opening Times	Open 24 hours although the changing facilities are open from 07:00 to 22:00
Temperature	Temperature is controlled at 30 degrees celsius
Depths	Max 1.50 metres Min 0.25 metres
Size	15 metres long 6 metres wide

Facilities	Moulded plastic sunbeds with padded covers Parasols Jacuzzi Towels Changing facilities with lockers, showers and toilets BBQ areas
Safety	There is a pool attendant but no lifeguard permanently on duty.

Cranley Comment

The pool is located on the roof level of Apartment Block A and is connected to Block B by the skywalk. The pool is a rectangular shape with a jacuzzi at one end. There is a shallow end to the pool, which makes it suitable for children, although they must be supervised by an adult. Around the pool are moulded plastic sunbeds and parasols, with wooden decking which has a BBQ and cooking area for guests use. The pool terrace is also decorated with plants and pots to give it a garden feel. The Rooftop Spa is in a building on a terrace adjoining the pool.

Sports & Gym

Gym & Health Club

Opening Times	24 hours
Description	1 Power Plate (charge applies) 4 Treadmills 3 Bikes 1 Stepper 1 Rowing machine 11 Resistance machines 6 TV screens Star Trac CV equipment Nautilus Resistance equipment Separate men's and ladies sauna and steam room A range of massages for men are available in the guests rooms which include: Express scalp, neck and shoulder Express back, neck and shoulder Therapeutic body
Size	15 metres x 10 metres

Cranley Comment

Skyfitness, the gym, is located at roof level of block A and is accessed via a spiral staircase from the swimming pool level. It is well stocked with up to date equipment and includes one Power Plate pro5 machine, which is the very latest acceleration training equipment. The room benefits from natural light from the roof deck above. There is attendance between 07:00 and 22:00 and outside of those hours the changing and sauna and steam room facilities are closed, but guests have 24 hour access to the gym. There is a small fridge containing fruit juices, energy drinks and bottled water, for gym users. The gym also has a water cooler and a complimentary fruit basket.

Golf

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Description

Opened in 1993 and extensively re-modelled in 2005, the course is set next to Dubai Creek, close to the city centre and Dubai International Airport. The championship course was re-designed by Thomas Bjorn and is set in undulating fairways lined with palms, attractive water hazards and shrubbery that give it a tropical and secluded feel despite being close to the city centre. The complex also features a nine hole floodlit par-three course. The course was voted in November 2005 as one of the top 100 world courses to play and hosted the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000.

Location	5 km
Holes	Two Courses: 18 Hole and 9 Hole
Length/Par	18 Hole Course: 6,839 Yards Par 71 sss 72

Facilities

The centrepiece clubhouse is designed in the shape of a Dhow, making this one of Dubai’s landmark buildings. There is a golf academy with high tech studio, double ended driving range, six PGA qualified professionals and a comprehensive pro shop.

Emirates Golf Club

Description

This was the first grass course in the Gulf region when it opened in 1988. The club features two championship courses; the Majlis and the Wadi. The Majlis was the original course and was designed by Florida based designer Karl Litten. The Wadi opened in 1996 and was re-designed in 2007 by Nick Faldo. Despite a number of new courses, it still ranks as one of the best in Dubai. It has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic fifteen times for the last six years in succession.

Location	20 km
Holes	Majlis 18, Wadi 18
Length/Par	Majlis: 7,185 Yards par 72 sss 74 , Wadi: 7,263 Yards par 72 sss 74

Facilities

Teaching academy, two driving ranges (one of which is floodlit), pitching and chipping areas, fairway and greenside practice bunkers. Several bars and restaurants.

Montgomerie Dubai

Description

Covering more than 265 acres of landscaped turf, gardens and lakes, this spectacular golf course provides the player with undulating "links land" style fairways which challenge and intrigue all levels of player. Placement of the drive to the generous fairways remains the cornerstone of any good round. The flat landing area of each fairway can be challenging to find, but a rewarding adventure. With 14 lakes and 81 bunkers, The Montgomerie Dubai, the first and only example of the association between golfing great Colin Montgomerie and Desmond Muirhead, adds a distinctive variety to the golfing landscape of the region.

One of the signature holes is the par 5 fourth, dubbed the Snake hole for its saddleback fairway which doglegs towards the green, with 2 bunkers behind forming the eyes of the snake. Further on, the par 5 ninth, with water down the left, is a tough finish to the opening half. The par 3 thirteenth, a hole designed in the shape of the UAE, boasts a 360 degree teeing area around an island fairway and green, allowing for a completely different golf hole to be played every time. However, it is the par 5 eighteenth that offers a more classic test. At 656 yards it is a monster and, with water protecting the front of the green, it defies even the best player to hit the green in two.

Website: www.themontgomerie.com
Phone: +971 4 390 5600

Location	20 km
Holes	18
Length/Par	7396 Yards, Par 72, sss 75

Facilities

Driving range
Teaching academy
9 hole par 3 Academy course
5 star hotel accommodation
3 restaurants
Cigar lounge
Angsana Spa,
Fitness centre
Outdoor swimming pool
Extensive function areas.

Spa

Name of Spa	Rooftop Spa
Opening Times	07:00 to 22:00

Facilities

Body massages
Body scrubs
Body wraps
Facials
Foot and hand treatments

Cranley Comment

The Rooftop Spa opened in September 2008 in a glass enclosure that adjoins the swimming pool on the roof of Block A. A whole range of spa treatments are available, including a variety of body massages, as well as body scrubs and body wraps, facials and foot and hand treatments. Massages are also available in guests own apartments.

Special Needs

Communal Areas

The Apartments are fully accessible to mobility impaired guests, with ramp access into the lobby areas from the front of each building and a lift operating to all floors, including the rooftop pool and basement parking levels. The Skyw'@lk Café is at lobby level.

Rooms & Bathrooms

There are three adapted apartments.

Restaurants & Catering

The one food outlet is the Skyw@lk Café, which is wheelchair accessible.

Recreation Facilities

The hotel's recreation facilities are all at rooftop level, where the swimming pool is accessible to mobility impaired guests. The gym however, can only be reached down a spiral staircase and is inaccessible, as is the Meeting Room, which is also accessed via a spiral staircase.

Staff Assistance

Staff are trained to offer assistance to all guests, whatever their requirements.

Cranley Comment

The hotel has three apartments that have been adapted for mobility impaired guests, but it was not possible to review any of them for this report. Most areas of the Marriott Executive Apartments are fully accessible to special needs guests, with the exception of the gym and the Meeting Room. All lifts have numbers in braille to assist visually impaired guests.

Environment

Measures

Recycling
Minimise Cleaning Materials
Water Saving

Cranley Comment

The Marriott Executive Apartments have a number of programmes in place for the environment, which includes recycling. They encourage guests to think about water consumption and the use of detergents, by considering whether they need clean towels every day. The apartments are part of the Marriott worldwide programme called ECHO (Environmentally Conscious Hotel Organization) which encourages properties to have processes in place to help the environment.

Marriott Executive Apartments, Dubai, Report Details

12 September 2008 (Third Review)

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