Ayman Gharib: "Raffles The Palm Dubai is designed to offer the highest levels of comfort"

Raffles The Palm Dubai – Accor’s most luxurious property in the emirate – situated on the western crescent of the man-made island, Palm Jumeirah flanked by a 500 m private beach and its own beach club. Inside the property a 3,000 sq m Cinq Mondes Spa with 23 treatment rooms, two spa suites and what is being called Dubai’s largest indoor swimming pool. At Raffles The Palm guests can indulge in an array of cuisines comprising of Japanese, Mediterranean and an international buffet. A scrumptious buffet breakfast is served daily in the Le Jardin restaurant. Aviamost met with Managing Director Ayman Gharib who told about the resort’s offering and the steps taken towards sustainability.

Please tell us briefly about Raffles the Palm flagship facilities.

Raffles The Palm Dubai is designed to offer the highest levels of comfort, with the finest European and internationally sourced furnishings and materials used throughout the property. Each of the resort’s 389 luxurious rooms and suites features a balcony and terrace that provide stunning views of the azure Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s urban skyline. The resort’s six Royal Villas and two Imperial villas offer the utmost privacy and comfort in luxuriously spacious surroundings. Guests will be able to experience ultimate relaxation and pampering at the award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa, which houses 23 treatment rooms, two private spa suites and a stellar indoor swimming pool. The resort’s 500-metre-long private white sandy beach will be home to a stylish beach club concept showcasing the very best of Mediterranean cuisine, alongside sophisticated entertainment and much more.

Raffles The Palm Dubai will ensure that every stay is exceptional, where everyone arrives as a guest, leaves as a valued friend and returns as family. Each guest can rest easy knowing that they can expect the very best and more during their stay, from check-in to check-out.

Any Summer packages available, sort of activities?

The resort has plenty to keep guests busy with an outdoor pool, dedicated children’s pool, water sports, cinema, kids’ clubs, plus activities including Young Voyager - an edutainment program brought to life by the Children’s Butler. By booking the Family Seaside Escape offer, you can enjoy a host of benefits including complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner, AED 150 Spa credit, and various kids activities for the children as listed above. Guests can also indulge in the world’s finest wellness and beauty rituals at the award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa. For an intimate escape, a dreamy package including a one-night stay has been specially designed to treat your loved one to an array of dining and spa experiences for an unforgettable moment at Raffles The Palm.

You have a new team of Michelin-experienced Japanese Chefs to reinvent the culinary offering at Matagi…

You are right. Raffles The Palm Dubai welcomes three highly skilled and experienced chefs to elevate the culinary offering at MATAGI. The newly appointed team includes Kappo Master Chef Shimoda, Kaiseki Master Chef Kitada, and Sushi Master Chef Kenji. They are going to reinvent the menu at MATAGI and craft an authentic Japanese experience taking guests on a culinary journey like no other.

We’ll have a wide range of traditional dishes, including Kaiseki, Sushi, and Teppan. With the chefs’ extensive experience and deep understanding of traditional Japanese culinary techniques, they are sure to elevate the dining experience at MATAGI to new heights.

The main theme for ATM 2023 is ‘Working Towards Net Zero’. How are you committed to implement innovative sustainable travel trends?

In line with UAE’s announcement for 2023 to be the year of sustainability, Raffles The Palm Dubai, the iconic beachfront palace, has been gearing up its sustainability efforts aimed at promoting responsible tourism practices.

As part of the commitment, Raffles The Palm Dubai has implemented a range of initiatives designed to conserve energy, reduce waste, and protect the local ecosystem while offering guests a world-class experience. 

In efforts to achieve this goal, the hotel has taken steps for water conservation, including efficient landscaping and recycling, while also focusing on eliminating single-use plastic from guest room amenities, room access cards and launching an in-house water bottling project. 

Another key aspect of this project is to maintain sustainable food and beverage practices across the F&B outlets. Restaurant teams strive to source local, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients to support the ecosystem and homegrown businesses while reducing the carbon footprint. The hotel has also established a conscious partnership with Neutral Fuel LLC to recycle used cooking oil into biofuel.