Sultan-Style
For true one-percenters, there are 48 7,320-square-foot Palace Suites. Guests can get in for a mere $15,000 a night, which is about half the price of most big city presidential suites (A suite at the Four Seasons in New York will cost you over $30,000). James Cameron stayed here, as have Bill Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi, and Elton John. The suites are a bit more Elton than Jovi.
Enormous Swarovski crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings in the suite entrances. There’s a Romanesque bathtub raised by marble steps, and the ubiquitous mosaic tiled wall.
There are silk brocade sofas in the living room, a private dining room with seating for 12, and balcony with views of Abu Dhabi. It looks like a city of the 22nd century, the buildings outlined with blue neon lighting.
In addition to the suites, there are some parts of the Palace that are completely off-limited to ordinary people, even wealthy ones: six Royal Ruler suites with private car access.
“Each Ruler suite is dedicated to leaders from the Emirates,” said hotel representative Mohammed Alauoi of the seven cities that make up the UAE. “No one but them has ever stayed here.”
Media cameras were not allowed inside, but we were blown away by the private cinema, private library, gold and marble staircase, spa bath, gold leaf vanity sinks, boardroom, hair salon, and ridiculous rotating canopy bed in each Ruler suite.