Located on the prestigious crescent of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Islands, this resort and spa takes its design inspiration from the exotic beauty of the south pacific. The thatched roofs found in French Polynesia are evoked here with a blend of natural stone, exotic dark wood, and accents of onyx that provide a luxurious version of the tropical aesthetic. The public spaces are lined with a tapestry of exotic flora and lush greenery, which seamlessly flows into the gardens of the hotel grounds with its lagoons and streams. Guests will find breathtaking views of either these gardens or the expansive Arabian Gulf From the resort’s many balconies and terraces.

The south pacific theme carries over into a few of the resort’s many on-site restaurants, each of which is uniquely themed with a design, decor, and cuisine to fit a particular mood. The Polynesian seafood restaurant Moana, for one, uses a stylish yet reserved façade with artistically glazed portals and screen wall dividers are used to provide a timeless atmosphere of a scene from somewhere near Tahiti. Moana’s interior aesthetic has an almost French art deco flavor, with a tiered double height space and geometric emerald green chairs. Another dining option is the five-star Porterhouse steakhouse, which combines the island-inspired raw materials of timber and slate with low-level lighting and soft, plush furnishings to create an elegant, subdued warmth. Like the resort’s rooms, apartments, spa, and lounges the color palette of these eateries conjures the seas of a paradise half a world away.