The first Mandarin Oriental property in the Middle East, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, will open its doors in the first quarter of 2019.

Designed by international designer Jeffrey Wilkes, the resort will feature 178 rooms and 78 suites. It is also home to six restaurants and bars. Portuguese celebrity chef José Avillez – of two Michelin-starred restaurant Belcanto in Lisbon – will take diners on an authentic journey through Portugal with his vibrant menu at Tasca, while at Warayaki-style Japanese steakhouse Netsu, Australian-born chef Ross Shonhan will lead the way with authentic Japanese cuisine in a dramatic setting.

With a 2,000-square-metre spa and gym, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai is also set to make a splash in the city’s wellness and relaxation market. With nine treatment rooms featuring a VIP Royal Suite, heat and water experiences and a fitness centre, The Spa will be a welcoming oasis offering an range of holistic rejuvenation and relaxation treatments. Guests will enjoy Mandarin Oriental’s legendary signature treatments such as Oriental Harmony, and locally-inspired experiences like the Nomadic Sensory, a rhythmic spa ritual that captures the spirit of Emirati Bedouin life, against the soundtrack of the beat of a Doumbek (Arabic goblet drum).