Superlatives are common when it comes to hotels in the United Arab Emirates. However, with the Emirates Palace, opened in 2005, the sheiks of Abu Dhabi wanted to top everything that had been built before. Extending along Abu Dhabi’s Corniche known for its fine sandy beach, the hotel’s façade is more than half a mile long. 114 domes decorated with mosaics give the gigantic structure the appearance of an Arab desert palace. The interior showcases Oriental splendor at its most lavish. 1,002 chandeliers—the largest weighing more than 5,500 pounds—illuminate the opulent rooms.
