First-ever Zaha Hadid-designed luxury resort to open in Dubai

A new luxury hotel in Dubai? This would hardly be cause for a celebration in a city with a skyline filled with five-star hotels, luxurious beachfront resorts and a continuous string of new glistening ultra-contemporary skyscrapers. A new luxe development — The Alba — developed by OMNIYAT, a leading Dubai developer — is aiming to provide a new benchmark for luxurious living from its opening date slated for 2028.
Announced during the Monaco Yacht Show, The Alba, to be managed by Dorchester Collection, will mark several firsts in upscale residences and luxury hotels. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the property presents the first of its kind mixed-use garden retreat on the sands of the Palm Jumeirah on the Arabian Sea. 

Valued at $US1.9 billion, the property, which continues the legacy of ZHA’s founder, known to create buildings at once futuristic, spatially imaginative, ever more artistic and technologically advanced, is characterized by undulating curves that echo those found in the surrounding waters.
The hotel, to be stationed on the Eastern Crescent of the Palm Jumeirah, will offer breathtaking views of iconic Dubai architectural landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, encompassing the districts of downtown Dubai, Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

Mahdi Amjad, founder of OMNIYAT

“With this project, we’re providing a level of residential living previously unseen in the emirate,” said Mahdi Amjad, OMNIYAT’s founder in an opening statement. “This project is particularly special as it offers a harmonious blend of nature and cutting-edge design. Dubai derives so much of its charm and lifestyle from its seaside location, and The Alba – featuring OMNIYAT’s signature focus on crafting privacy-centric residences – enhances this unique connection with the water by offering a personalized waterfront experience.”

“The Alba is our next luxury chapter in Dubai in partnership with OMNIYAT,” said Christopher Cowdray, President of Dorchester Collection, during the launch event in Monaco. “Each space will be a sanctuary within an exclusive enclave that will offer residents and guests both privacy and serenity in this dynamic city.”

The Dorchester Collection presently operates The Lana, a five-star hotel in Dubai, designed by Foster + Partners and operated by OMNIYAT that opened in 2023 Dubai’s Business Bay.

The interior design of the residences will complement The Alba’s focus on nature, particularly the elements of water, greenery and beaches. Each residence is set to offer bright, bold and expansive spaces with floor-to-ceiling heights extending over three metres. Residences range from two-bedroom furnished and three-bedroom unfurnished units to three or four-bedroom simplex and duplex units and opulent penthouses.

In addition to The Alba’s own amenities, including pools with private cabanas, sun loungers, and social gathering and entertainment areas, residents will also be able to enjoy those of the hotel, including infinity pools, vitality pools, a fitness suite, beach areas and a branded spa with exclusive treatment rooms, and a wellness center whose operator will be announced next year.

Reflecting the property’s blend with its natural environment, the landscaping around The Alba will be designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. The organic, arched shapes of the buildings are set to emerge as if from a tropical jungle, and will be accentuated by gardens crossed by winding paths and walkways that extend from the property to the beachfront. 

As Cowdray states: “Guests and residents will enjoy exclusivity in Dorchester Collection’s first garden retreat by the sea with its expansive private terraces and immersive wellness offerings, cultivating a sophisticated oasis for reawakening, reconnection and renewal.”

While Dubai’s market for ultra-luxurious dwellings is indeed saturated. The Alba, like OMNIYAT’s other properties in the city – The Opus, The Lana and One at Palm Jumeirah – attempts to rewrite and enhance the standards for luxury living through design, a focus on nature and wellness and utmost privacy. 

Opening image: Zaha Hadid Architects, The Alba, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Courtesy Omniyat