The upscale hotel management company, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, has opened the iconic Ibn Battuta Gate Dubai, its third hotel in the United Arab Emirates, raising its portfolio to 67 properties globally.The five-star Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel offers guests a privileged location in which to enjoy Dubai’s world-class entertainment and shopping. The property is situated next to the landmark Ibn Battuta Mall, in the heart of New Dubai, close to the Metro and not far from Palm Jumeirah and Jebel Ali Free Zone, while the city’s main financial hubs and Dubai International Airport are easily accessible via the adjacent Sheikh Zayed Road highway.
The hotel is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century celebrated Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta and his travelog is elegantly reflected in every aspect of the property including its eclectic architecture, decor and cuisine.
All 396 guestrooms and suites enjoy contemporary furnishings, together with touches that hark back to the hotel’s Arabian heritage and culture. The landmark hotel features 29 individually decorated suites, which have been themed to reflect the travels of Ibn Battuta, and guests booking into these rooms have complimentary access to the executive lounge.
Three floors are dedicated to business travellers, with a separate reception and lounge areas, but the hotel is just as ideal for families, with convenient three-way interconnecting rooms available.
“The hotel has many iconic elements,” said the hotel’s general manager, Jan Kaiser. “It is adjacent to the statuesque Ibn Battuta Gate, which at 60 metres high, is larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.”
The hotel lobby spans 90×30 metres in length and height, providing a sense of grandeur for departing and arriving guests. “We call the hotel lobby the Grand Hall,” added Kaiser. “It is majestic yet inviting and has numerous signature features, including 88 mammoth, eastern-style lanterns dangling elegantly into the wonderful space that is best described as ‘the hub on the house’.”
The Grand Hall is also the gateway to seven of eight equally iconic restaurants and lounges. Guests are taken on a culinary journey with cuisines representing the lands Ibn Battuta visited on his travels.
Centred around an open kitchen, Mistral is a Mediterranean restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets; Chor Bazaar features exotic flavours of northern India; Sicilia, the Italian speciality outlet, offers a rustic and unpretentious menu; and Shanghai Chic is a stylish restaurant offering authentic Shanghai and Szechuan cuisines.
Guests can unwind in a range of relaxed settings, which include Olive Tree, the rooftop pool bar, Majlis – the Middle Eastern Shisha Lounge – and Moroc Lounge, Bar, and Terrace. The gourmet shop, Pastane @ Ibn Battuta is the place to go for freshly baked pastries and breads.
The hotel’s Spa offers an extensive range of ancient cures and modern treatments in six treatment rooms and additional leisure facilities include a fitness centre and 30-metre rooftop pool. For children, the Camel Club offers a wide range of fun-filled activities, complemented by state-of-the-art technology.
Guests can also enjoy exclusive access to the private beach and pool at Oceana Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah, which is less than 20 minutes away by hotel shuttle.
For meetings and conferences, the hotel has 11 thoughtfully-designed meeting rooms for up to 250 people, plus numerous interesting terraces for ‘al fresco’ functions. The Grand Hall can host 1,000 people.
