His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially opened the super luxury Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah in March, along with Al Habtoor Group Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, owner of the five-star hotel. Joanna Andrews witnessed the event.
VIPs, dignitaries and Consul Generals rubbed shoulders with an elite guest list for the Grand Opening of the super luxury Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah on Wednesday March 12, 2014. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai unveiled the marble plaque alongside Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group. Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group. Also in attendance was His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
Some 300 guests gathered in the lobby to see HH Sheikh Mohammed officially open the hotel and unveil the famous Waldorf Astoria clock - a prominent feature in all of Hilton’s super luxury branded hotels.
Sheikh Mohammed was then given the royal treatment - a tour of the hotel by Khalaf Al Habtoor, where he congratulated the Chairman of Al Habtoor Group on the hotel which is managed by Waldorf Astoria Hotels '&' Resorts, the luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide.
Guests were then treated to a dinner by the pool which boasts spectacular views of the Palm Jumeirah and Arabian Gulf.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah is the latest addition to the Al Habtoor Group’s growing hotel portfolio; the Group now owns four hotels in Dubai, three in Lebanon and one in Hungary.
Al Habtoor said, “Waldorf Astoria is a respected brand which we are proud to formally introduce to the Dubai market. The hotel offers each of the service and amenities that you would expect from none other than a luxury brand hotel like Waldorf Astoria.”
John Vanderslice, global head, luxury brands, Hilton Worldwide who flew in for the event said, “I am honoured to be in Dubai at the official opening of Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, the second Waldorf Astoria property in the UAE. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of over 25 iconic, landmark properties in the world’s most sought after destinations, and the introduction of Dubai to our portfolio is a natural fit.”