Between steering one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, overseeing thoroughbred stables and squeezing in the occasional poetry collection, Dubai’s royal family still somehow finds time to escape. Their holidays, though, tend to look slightly rather different from everyone else’s – when home is a palace, only the world’s most exceptional hotels will do.
Over the years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai – along with his falcon-flying, horseback-riding, scuba-diving son, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan, have offered glimpses into their travels through social media posts and official appearances, revealing a varied collection of favourite hotels.
From ultra-exclusive islands in the Maldives to secret Arctic wilderness retreats and snow-blanketed ski resorts, these are the luxury hotels trusted by Dubai’s royal family.
Courtesy Octola
Octola, Finland
Deep in the Finnish Arctic Circle, this ultra-secluded wilderness lodge is so exclusive that its exact location remains a closely guarded secret — but Sheikh Hamdan is one of the select few to have made it here (Prince Albert of Monaco is another royal fan). Octola’s collection of 10 minimalist, rustic-chic cabins – settled in thousands of acres of untamed pine forests roamed by wild reindeer, bears and wolves – are decked out with roaring fireplaces, fur-covered furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame snow-covered vistas of the frozen wilderness outside. Everything here is completely bespoke – there are no menus or prices – and guests have access to a Bond-worthy arsenal of snowmobiles, cross-country skis, sledges and ice buggies. From early August to late April, the Northern Lights paint the sky in colours every other day, while later in the year, one of Europe’s best salmon fishing rivers – just 20 minutes from Octola – can be found teeming with fish.
Address: Lapland, Finland
Courtesy Velaa Private Island