A look inside the ME Dubai, the city’s latest breath-taking hotel. (Photo: Meliá)

The wait is over! The Opus by Omniyat in Dubai by starchitect Zaha Hadid is finally open and the ME Dubai is ready to welcome guests.

The first and last hotel designed by star architect Zaha Hadid has finally opened in Dubai, and the hospitality industry is going nuts for this architectural gem.

Located in the heart of the city, this sculptural edifice is called The Opus by Omniyat, and the Melia hotel can be found inside.

We find out more.

Zaha’s swan song opens in Dubai

The long-awaited ME Dubai has officially welcomed guests in the UAE city. Zaha Hadid, the British-Iraqi architect known for her sinewy and futuristic creations, was behind the conceptualisations of both the complex within which the hotel is housed, The Opus by Omniyat, and the interiors of the hotel itself.

Hadid passed away in 2016, and this was the first and last hotel the renowned architect designed, so her legacy lives on.

A single volume with a sculptural opening carved out through the middle of the building that divides it into two blocks at the rear, the ME Dubai is located in the heart of the Burj Khalifa district, and this architectural wonder, the world’s tallest building, can be seen from the new Melia property.

A masterpiece years in the making

The hotel was originally supposed to open four years ago, so it’s no wonder the hotel industry is agog now that guests are finally able to experience the mastery of this amazing architect at work.

Boasting 74 guest rooms and 19 suites, Zaha Hadid’s unique architectural style can be seen and felt everywhere. From the moment visitors catch a glimpse of the building’s exterior, they know they are in for a treat.

The hotel lobby feels both retro and futuristic at the same time, with a low, curved glossy white ceiling inset with snaking LED pathways that sit above Jetson-style circular seating in burgundy upholstery, which took three years to make.

All the furniture in the hotel was either designed or selected by Hadid, meaning her touch is present in every corner.

Contemporary Middle Eastern culture at ME Dubai

Dubai is certainly known as a breeding ground for architectural innovation, and the ME Dubai certainly fits into this category. The hotel will aim to express contemporary Middle Eastern culture through its arts and culture programme, as well as appealing to business travellers who wish to host conferences and events in the space.

The hotel also boasts 18 F&B outlets, a state-of-the-art spa and an agenda of sustainability. ME Dubai is set to become one of the most coveted places to stay in the city, a luxury oasis in the heart of a futuristic desert.

According to our TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION online database, there are 160 upcoming hotel projects in the pipeline in Dubai: