Wen Riu Dubai, Nakheel’s 800-room joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts, opened its doors at Deira Islands last December, it introduced a new dimension to Dubai’s hospitality offering as the emirate’s first four-star, 24-hour all-inclusive beachfront resort – which means guests can leave their wallet behind after check-in.

It is Nakheel’s first hospitality joint venture and the first attraction to open at Deira Islands; while it is Riu’s first resort in the Middle East and its 100th property worldwide.

Besides its 800 mostly sea-facing rooms and suites, the hotel boasts 10 food and beverage outlets, a splash park, three swimming pools, two kids’ pools, water sports facilities, a fitness centre, beauty salon and children’s club. 

Riu Dubai ... striking white facade and impressive height.

Riu’s own technical and interior design team finalised the interior design of the hotel which aims to create a fresh, timeless ambiance with modern lines seeking to merge western decor with Arab nuances, Agustín Díaz, Director of ADG Interiorismo, RIU, tells Gulf Construction.

The main design features are inspired and influenced by the impressive height of the main building, its amazing views and the great arch in the middle of the building, he says. The highlights of the interiors of the facility include light colours, sandy tones, wooden lattices, wall decorations in aged gold finish, textured wallpapers, and contemporary furniture.

The large beachfront hotel echoes the white and blue tones of the sea nearby while the expansive glass windows filter in natural daylight into the rooms, which are kept simple with classic furniture and a fresh decor. The primary goal for all of the hospitality spaces has been to ensure functionality and comfort, combining beauty, warmth and a contemporary feel, Díaz emphasises.

“Riu Dubai’s striking white façade makes an immediate impression and its modern, light-filled spaces and its comprehensive facilities make it the ideal location for a perfect family holiday. Designed as a place to enjoy Dubai’s warm, sunny climate and endless attractions, the hotel offers two children’s pools and three large pools for adults with a broad terrace that has direct access to a large beach. The hotel also offers the new ‘splash’ water park, with slides and other attractions for adults and children alike,” he says.

Hotel spaces ... functional and comfortable.

“The lobby – which we feel is the most important element of a hotel as it is the first and last space that a client sees – creates a ‘wow factor’, especially through its large dimensions with ceilings that soar overhead. In addition, the lobby is built slightly above sea level so that when customers enter, they can appreciate the beauty of the sea through large windows located at the end of the lobby,” Díaz explains.

The furniture and fittings maintain modern lines, fusing western and Arab influences, and use wood and natural materials and the interiors are embellished with paintings.  A striking sculptural golden bull presides over the entrance of the main restaurant.

The hotel has four restaurants. The main restaurant aims to enhance the warmth exuded by the resort and uses texture wood furniture, combined with latticework on walls, and textured wallpaper in shades of pastel green. This is juxtaposed with vertical gardens that try to create a healthy and inviting environment. Paintings with abstract colour strokes complement the decor of this restaurant.

The interior design of the Asian restaurant plays with ceiling textiles that recall the Eastern market squares. On the walls, the designer choose to use paper with bamboo texture, and wooden slats, which along with murals to try to transport the guest to Asia.

The hotel echoes the white and blue tones of the sea nearby.

The Italian restaurant is located directly on the seafront and has glass walls that provide breathtaking views of the sea. The ambiance is reminiscent of the Mediterranean region being more casual in style, with nods to the Italy of the 1990s. More daring colours are used for the furniture and paving.

The Indian restaurant, also located on the seafront, combines materials with wooden textures, root wood room dividers, large planters with plants to create a botanical environment, and natural textiles in windows. It combines a darker colour palette on its walls to enhance its appeal during the late evenings.