Bulgari has unveiled a new, stunning jewel in the vibrant city of Dubai, a super-luxurious urban oasis designed for the well-heeled traveller or leisure seeker.

The Bulgari Resort Dubai is a first-of-its-kind development for the Italian luxury brand both in terms of scale and magnitude.

Exclusively situated on the man-made island of Jumeirah Bay and developed by Dubai­-based holding company Meraas, the resort brings Mediterranean village charm to the vibrant city of Dubai.

The resort, connected by a 300-m bridge to central Dubai, promises to be a destination of choice for visitors seeking the solitude of an island escape, the feeling of a private home, yet situated just minutes from the heart of the city and its attractions.

Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin spoke of his pride at the resort’s launch and said: “This is a momentous day for us here at Bulgari, to launch in one of the most talked about cities in the world. We hope this architectural masterpiece, not only the stunning design of the resort by our architectural team, but the magnificence of a seahorse-shaped island, will truly put the Bulgari Resort Dubai on the map as being one of the city’s most iconic destinations.”

“Dubai is a visionary city and Bulgari is a visionary Italian brand known for its bespoke service and warm hospitality,” he said.

Bulgari officials proudly point out that both the interiors and exteriors of the resort have been created with the same detail and precision of a Bulgari jewel: pairing rare raw materials according to colour, texture and feel, and sculpting them into objects of enduring beauty. Styled with illuminated gardens and pools and resembling a traditional seaside Italian village, it blends Mediterranean landscaping with the natural surroundings of the shores of the Arabian Gulf.

Created on the overlay of horizontal lines, the building facades are defined by the lively shadow pattern of coral-like sunscreens reminiscent of the mashrabiyah used as shading in the Middle East. In interior areas, fine oak wood surfaces, with long and thin planks, recall the deck of a ship.

The 1.4-million-sq-ft property features the resort with 101 hotel rooms and suites and 20 hotel villas; six residential buildings of 173 sea-facing apartments; 15 private mansions; a Beach Club; and Bulgari’s first-ever Marina and Yacht Club.

All rooms and suites have expansive views over the breathtaking Dubai skyline or the Arabian Gulf, with large balconies to truly soak up the magnificent scenery.

Each room boasts large windows allowing guests to bathe in the light of Dubai’s long bright days, while black-out curtains allows them to shut out the light and recover from jet-lag in the perfect privacy of their personal sanctuary.

Warm, polished woods, rare, hand-selected marble, and superior textiles establish the property’s shining, pastel grandeur while the residential furniture in every room hails from Italy’s outstanding luxury brands – Maxalto, Fies, Flexform, B&B – each piece designed or chosen by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, and often tailor-made for the property.

The finest quality of Arabescato marble for the external walls, Breccia medicea for the lobby, and Calacatta Viola for the La Galleria floors, were selected from the Italian city of Carrara. The rooms’ bathrooms are covered with ‘Trevi’ travertine from Tivoli that echoes Rome’s grandeur, while a scenographic ‘Portaro’ wall is the II Bar backdrop.

Shanxi Black Granite from Mongolia covers most of the floors in the public areas while Imperial Green marble from Brazil enriches the walls of the boardroom.

Throughout the property, the repeated use of the custom-design ‘Moglia Pantheon’ mesh pattern recalls the ornamentation of the historic Roman Pantheon’s floor. The pattern features intricate bronze lattice-work, as well as Bulgari’s eight-pointed star motif, inspired by the Campidoglio floor in Rome.

Iconic Bulgari photographs – often of vintage celebrities dating to La Dolce Vita, a 1960 Italian drama – are framed above the common areas while original jewellery sketches from the Bulgari archives are placed tastefully within rooms or in hallways, recalling the more-than-130 years of Roman jewellery design history.

As with all the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, the Bulgari Resort Dubai was designed by renowned Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. In the spirit of vintage constructions from the 1930s, the architects hand-selected or custom-designed every detail of the resort for consistency, comfort and purity, and to maintain an uncompromisingly Italian style throughout, say officials.

“Each high quality piece, from the marble bathtub to the sculpted door handle, is incorporated seamlessly with utmost discernment. In this way, the Bulgari Resort Dubai was created by one hand, one style, one ethos; the pure integration of an Italian soul, coupled with Bulgari’s superior approach to luxury,” they say.

The resort’s five categories of villas are fashioned to enable families and friends to create a bespoke experience. Ranging from one to three bedrooms, with options to connect villas, the properties vary from 175 sq m to 540 sq m in size, all with a personal butler service and private pool and gazebo.

The 1,700-sq-m Bvlgari Spa adds a further luxurious touch to the guest experience with eight treatment rooms and a 25-m indoor pool with full sea view through its magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows. Adjacent to the spa, a state-of-the-art fitness centre offers the Workshop Gymnasium signature training method: a results-driven approach that redefines the very concept of well-being.

The resort offers sumptuous dining offerings. Renowned Michelin-starred Italian chef Niko Romito has curated a blend of modern and classical Italian concepts exclusively for II Ristorante by Niko Romito, interpreting the exquisite flavours of Italy with modern simplicity. In the same space of II Ristorante, guests will find II Bar, where they can enjoy signature beverages at the quintessential steel and bronze oval bar, while soaking up the magical dusk on the outdoor terrace, with views sweeping across the Arabian Gulf.

Guests can also enjoy a more casual dining experience embodied by a menu rich with Italian simplicity and flavours at II Cafe, while the classically-designed Lobby Lounge offers the residential atmosphere of a living room where guests can enjoy Italian-themed teas and coffees in a relaxed setting, surrounded by famous icons of Bulgari’s rich heritage.

The resort’s beach club features private villa cabanas, a children’s pool and an outdoor pool and restaurant, La Spiaggia, which is the perfect spot to wind down by day or night.

Nestled at the end of the marina, the world’s first Bulgari Marina & Yacht Club is a unique destination which overlooks a 50-boat harbour and recreates the charm of a Mediterranean village in the heart of the Arabian Gulf. Featuring amenities including the Yacht Club Italian Restaurant specialising in fish, the members lounge, outdoor pool and bar, and the first branded kids’ club, the Little Gems Club, the Yacht Club is set to become an exclusive destination.

The resort is also an ideal events destination with the 360-sq-m Bvlgari Ballroom located in the Yacht Club offering superior facilities for bespoke special occasions and business events alike.

A unique coral texture characterises the two main buildings of the hotel. Created on the overlay of horizontal lines, the building facades are defined by the lively shadow pattern of coral-like sunscreens, shiny and light like porcelain.

Recalling a Mediterranean garden, the luxurious low-rise design of Bulgari Resort Dubai creates an earthy, lush and welcoming space, and a contrast to the icons of the more urban, high-rise Dubai landscape. Winding throughout the property, native and imported plants, such as palms, olive, lemon trees, rosemary bushes and flowers bring colour and life to Jumeirah Bay. Bulgari’s landscape designers brought hundreds of trees onto the island, including Australian baobab trees, to establish a natural, verdant setting, a Mediterranean garden in the middle of the sea.


The Bulgari Suites

Spread across 120 sq m, each Bulgari suite has a spacious living area, magnificent marble bathroom, separate powder room and a cosy work space for those who need it. The suite has a stunning wrap-around terrace and full sea view in addition to a large Jacuzzi, making it the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the views out to the ocean.

The Bulgari suites include features such as the signature Bulgari library with a selection of sophisticated coffee table books from the Bulgari heritage archives and international artists, as well as Devialet high-end speakers and Master and Dynamic headphones, a set of Technogym weights and yoga mat to help guests maintain their healthy lifestyle even while traveling.


Villas

For a luxury residential experience, 20 stand-alone villas look out onto the white sandy beach or the resort’s gardens and stunning city views. All with their own temperature-controlled swimming pools and sun-deck, private butler service and staff quarters, they feature a large living room with a marble dining table and one, two, or three bedrooms. With state-of-the-art technology from the gold-plated Devialet Phantom Gold sound system to Master and Dynamic headphones, the finest fabrics and materials from wooden ceiling detailing to fine leathers and marble walls, there is every attention paid to detail.


The Bulgari Villa

The 540-sq-m Bulgari Villa, the biggest on the property, is the ultimate in luxury and privacy. With its own private beach, private security access and a spectacular oval pool. It offers an additional 500 sq m garden and wooden decked terrace, reminiscent of the maritime theme, three bedrooms, cabanas alongside both pool sides, and an incredible view both inside and out. The villa is perfect for large private gatherings or small corporate events, the villa’s kitchen is able to cater to up to 100 people.

Complete with a fully equipped bar and seating area, the villa is the perfect social hub. To ensure everyone is entertained, a 65-inch cinema screen offers a private home cinema experience for adults and children alike. Guests can also link to the adjacent two-bedroom villa to extend the space yet further.