In an increasingly rapacious Dubai hotel scene, there are very few properties that not only continue to reign over the hearts and minds of guests but also thrive along the way. Shangri-La Dubai does all that and more with a devotion to detail that is exquisite. Misbaah Mansuri tries it out – read on for the full review

Set The Scene

Stepping into the recently revamped 42-storey sanctuary, I am immediately enveloped by a sense of opulence. The lobby, a grand atrium adorned with majestic Lasvit chandeliers, casts a warm glow over royal burgundy and gold hues that promise a stay fit for royalty. It was love at first sight. The check-in desk featured an intriguing backdrop ? a striking art piece composed of hundreds of books in a babel of languages, another fascinating touch. As I lingered, the lounge buzzed with the genteel clink of afternoon tea, while the hum of business deals floated down from the first-floor restaurants. From the golden pillars to the dramatic floral arrangements that crowned them alongside cosy grey armchairs. What I love about this place is that despite its grandeur, there is a comforting familiarity in the air. 
The Rooms

Perched between sky and city on the upper echelons of the tower, I stayed in the hotel’s Picture-Perfect Rooms which are a cocoon of luxuriousness offering a cinematic sweep of Dubai’s skyline. My corner retreat comes with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Burj Khalifa in a tableau s...