A talking point at the new Raffles Dubai will be the Raffles Sky Garden, its one-hectare-large tropical garden.
Located on the third level of the hotel, it features 129,090 plants including the Traveller’s Palm which has long been associated with the Raffles name.
The garden, designed by Singapore Garden City, comprises of four themed garden areas, based on the four essential elements of life: fire, wind, water and earth.
Flowers in fiery crimson and luscious reds make up the fire garden, while bamboo, weeping willows and ferns that bend in the breeze feature in the wind garden, and low-growing shrubs dominate in the Earth garden. The Water garden houses a stream that gathers into a pond, where a display of water hyacinth takes centre stage.
Paths around the four themed gardens will allow residents to wander through Raffles Sky Garden and enjoy the array of tropical plants.
The gardens converge on the centrepiece, The Eye of Horus, a large glass dome that looks into Café Raffles, adjacent to Wafi City Mall.
Planning for Raffles Sky Garden commenced in 2005. More than 70 per cent of the garden’s plants come from Asia, with the remaining from Dubai.
“Our residents have often commented how much they appreciate the landscaped gardens at other Raffles properties, such as Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap,” said Diana Ee-Tan, managing director, Raffles Hotels & Resorts.
“Raffles Sky Garden, with its exceptional concept and location, will be well-loved by residents and patrons at Raffles Dubai. With this unique feature, and the high standards of hospitality, service and cuisine that Raffles is renowned for, Raffles Dubai will become a treasured landmark in the Middle East.”