Work on one of the most advanced hotel and conference venues in the world – the Emirates Palace – is well under way and on target for its scheduled opening by the end of this year.

Previously known as the Bani Yas Palace, the project is being built to resemble a majestic palace rising from the sand along a 1.3 km stretch of a private beach in Abu Dhabi.
Combining opulence, luxury, state-of-the-art technology and first-class Arabian hospitality, the development showcases the beauty of Arabian culture, adhering to traditional themes and providing an affinity with the national identity of the UAE.
“Its elaborate design and unparalleled facilities were created with the sole purpose of whisking its guests into a world worthy of royalty where their every whim will be fulfilled and their every need catered to,” says a spokesman for Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel group which will manage this unique property.
The site of the Emirates Palace is currently a hive of activity with gold leafing being applied to the ceilings, marble being laid, trees being planted and numerous other tasks taking place simultaneously by a multitude of workers.  
Built in two wings – east and west – the hotel comprises 390 luxury rooms and suites equipped with advanced technology including extra-large plasma TVs in each room and a wireless Internet network that covers the entire property. A touchscreen control panel and fully interactive TV also allow guests full control of all room appliances including lights, air-conditioning and in-room entertainment.
The accommodation at the hotel includes 302 single rooms, 20 double suites, 20 three bay suites and 16 Presidential or Ministerial suites that can be converted into 48 normal suites.
The Emirates Palace will also house 16 restaurants (including cafes and bars) serving a variety of cuisines created by world-renowned chefs. It also features two stunning pool landscapes and two ultra-luxurious spas at the end of each of the east and west wings. 
The conference centre houses the most luxurious and technologically-advanced meeting facilities in the region. These include an auditorium with fixed seating for 1,200 guests, a main ballroom that can seat up to 20,000 persons, an extensive range of 40 meeting rooms and a media centre with 12 press rooms. In addition, six large terraces and a variety of pre-function areas provide many possibilities for breaks, cocktail receptions and banquets.
A special meeting chamber has been designed specifically for Heads of State meetings and is a circular room with tiered seating and a rotating central section for the President and his delegation to sit and chair. Touchscreen voting technology and simultaneous  eight language translation is used in the chamber along with wireless data systems.
Set on 100 hectares of beautifully landscaped park with several open lawns, Emirates Palace offers spectacular outdoor venues for gala dinners and creative events.  The richly landscaped gardens surrounding the property provide a park-like setting with around 8,000 trees, extensive fountains, water features and beachfront landscaping.
The colours chosen for the façade of the Emirates Palace represent the different sand nuances found in the Arabian Desert. The Palace boasts a staggering 114 domes covered in mosaic glass tiles topped with gold finials.
The project has taken shape in less than three years  –  a feat achieved through the efforts of a huge construction team that at any one time, could number up to 12,000 men.  
Emirates Palace is owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi and managed by Kempinski Hotels & Resorts as part of its prestigious portfolio, which comprises distinctively individual properties in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia.