Jumeirah Group’s first hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain opens this week. Jumeirah Royal Saray offers a new wave of understated luxury on a private beach in the northern coastal Seef district. Architecturally inspired by traditional Bahraini summerhouses, the hotel features unique rooms, royal residences, poolside cabanas and an upscale restaurant featuring a gin bar.
The Palm Lounge overlooks the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, serving top-end coffee by Colombian baristas and French Patisserie. The Al Hadiqa pool cabanas offer guests freshly blended cocktails shaded by the olive trees that adorn the pool.
PLAY Restaurant & Lounge™, a Dubai concept by acclaimed chef Reif Othman is an exciting addition to the hotel.
Indoor and outdoor meeting spaces accommodate more than 400 people and Talise, Jumeirah’s own brand, will eventually offer a wide range of signature treatments from a destination spa, sitting in its own wing.
General manager, Nordine El Yafi, commented: “Jumeirah Royal Saray is an important opening for us as it’s our first in Bahrain and first in 2018. The hotel will become a key reason for international visitors to discover Bahrain, an ideal destination for a weekend escape for visitors from across the GCC, and a gastronomic hotspot in the city. We are confident that this landmark, understated luxury hotel will have great appeal to the growing number of tourists visiting Bahrain every year and become a particular favorite of Bahrain residents.”
The design of the guest rooms pays homage to the Bahraini pearl diving industry with the colours of nacres – mother of pearl, silvers, and shimmering ocean blue tones. Across the resort, patterns from traditional and royal houses including ‘The House of Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa’ feature heavily in furniture, glass and ornate details. In addition to Bahraini heritage, the design brings together curated materials from all over the world, including hand-blown glass chandeliers in every bathroom from the Czech Republic; five different types of Italian marble; and gold and silver foiled walls by master French artisans.
The hotel is just a short drive to tourist landmarks including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Qal’at Al Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun which dates back 4000 years – as well as Adliya, Bahrain’s buzzing art, food and nightlife district, and Muharraq Island with its narrow, winding alleyways and traditional and royal houses.