‘Within Sand’: First Saudi film shot in NEOM to hit cinemas across the Kingdom on Feb. 15

DUBAI: Luxury hotel operator Dorchester Collection — known for its iconic establishments including The Dorchester in London and The Beverly Hills Hotel in Hollywood — has opened its first hotel in the Middle East, The Lana in Dubai.

The hotel will play host to the first Dior Spa in the UAE, scheduled to open in April 2024, and also boasts 50 works of art created by local and global creatives.

Richard Alexander, general manager of The Lana, told Arab News that Dubai is the “perfect setting for the new Dorchester Collection inaugural venture in the region.” 

Dubai is “a pivotal crossroads for people traveling around the world and has become almost a hub to both business and luxury tourism,” he explained. “It is a bridge between cultures and economies between the East and the West.”

The hotel is located on the Marasi Bay marina, near Downtown Dubai, and overlooks the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

“We are in the cosmopolitan heart of the city. An ideal place for people who want to explore the city. We’ve got Burj Khalifa right on our doorstep. We have the Dubai Opera here as well. We have panoramic views of the skyline of Dubai,” he said. 

“The building itself is remarkable, architecturally,” he added. 

The 30-storey building, which has 225 rooms and suites, was designed by architecture firm Foster + Partners. 

“The way they built in the tapestry of Dubai, the cultural tapestry, the shades from the desert … they brought all of that into their interiors. Then, Dorchester is known for its floral arrangements. We had with us our head florists from London for several weeks curating our flower arrangements around the hotel,” Alexander said.

The hotel’s Dior Spa will open in April, and it’s something the general manager is particularly keen about.

“Being able to partner with Christian Dior, and having the first Dior spa in the Middle East is going to really be a huge advantage for us and our guests,” Alexander said. “We will handcraft the personalized wellbeing escapes based on our guests’ desires and preferences.”

The Lana also features eight dining establishments, including eateries by chef Jean Imbert, chef Martin Berasategui, and pastry chef Angelo Musa.

The hotel’s interiors were designed by Parisian duo Gilles & Boissier and include 50 pieces of art created by local and global creatives.

One of the standout pieces is a creation by Australian collector Nancy Tschetner. Alexander explained that she crafted “the sheikhs’ portraits in the reception area and they are made of  millions of sand grains that have been colored. So, it hints back to the Dubai environment of being surrounded by the desert.

“Then there’s Flavie Audi, a French Lebanese artist, and he has a seven-piece glass installation also in the reception. It synergizes with the energy of Dubai and the light of Dubai, which is so prevalent,” Alexander added. 

The Lana is the 10th Dorchester Collection hotel and is the first new opening for the group in more than a decade.