Mandarin Oriental to Open Landmark Property in Downtown Dubai This October
The new Wasl Tower location brings branded residences, a rooftop helipad, and 10 dining venues to the heart of the city.
Photo: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental will open its second Dubai property this October, joining the city’s dense luxury landscape with a new build inside the sculptural Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road. The 63-story tower—known for its twisting ceramic façade and passive cooling fins—is among the latest architectural statements on Dubai’s main artery, anchoring a stretch of high-end development that includes the Museum of the Future and ICD Brookfield Place.
The hotel, called Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, will include 259 rooms and suites, along with 224 branded residences—the first time the group has brought its residential model to the UAE. It’s one of several city-center openings for the brand this year, part of a broader shift toward urban hubs alongside resort growth in markets like Bali and Riviera Maya.
While Mandarin Oriental’s beachfront property on Jumeirah has become known for its resort-style feel, the Downtown counterpart leans fully into the vertical city. Interiors emphasize skyline views, and a rooftop helipad nods to the return of high-level executive and event travel. A two-floor wellness space integrates newer movement and recovery therapies alongside more traditional spa programming, in line with the brand’s next-generation approach to health and longevity.
Dining will be a core part of the experience, with 10 venues spanning multiple cuisines and bar styles—more than most urban hotels in the portfolio. While individual concepts haven’t been announced, the volume suggests a play not just for in-house guests but for the local dining and nightlife crowd.
The tower’s mixed-use format also sets it apart. With both residences and short-term rooms sharing the space, the atmosphere is likely to feel more lived-in than transient, marking a shift from the city’s flashier, more transient hotel models.
Opening bookings are now live, with the debut timed just ahead of Dubai’s peak season.
