Dubai to open world's first hotel with a rainforest

Dubai's Rosemont Hotel & Residences will become the world's first hotel with a rainforest when it opens in 2018. Photo / Plompmozes

Dubai's new rainforest hotel will make for a unique guest experience.

Dubai is already famous for the world's tallest building, massive artificial islands and mind-boggling extravagance, but it will soon be home to another spectacular claim to fame.

The world's first hotel with its own rainforest is scheduled to open in the desert city in 2018 - complete with an artificial beach, splash pool and trees that spray mist.

The man-made rainforest - in the middle of a desert city - will have a pool and an artificial beach for guests. Photo / Plompmozes

With a reported build cost of £230 million (NZ$413m), the Rosemont Hotel & Residences is the latest example of over-the-top luxury in the emirate, which has fast become a go-to destination for holidaymakers and a major hub for air travel between the West and Asia.

Well-to-do guests will pull up in luxury cars and park under a screen which can display images of vegetation or marine life. Photo / Plompmozes

Renderings of the five-star hotel and apartment project, which will be operated by the Hilton brand Curio, offer a glimpse into what the 6967-square-metre, man-made jungle will look like when it opens to visitors.

It will be located inside a five-storey podium at the base of two 47-storey towers, and filled with exotic plants to make for a unique guest experience.

The attraction will cater to families thanks to its artificial beach and pool, and is said to be the first rainforest in the Middle East.

The hotel will have 450 guest rooms and suites in a tower that will also have a lobby on the 26th floor, an upper-floor pool that extends over the edge of the building, fine dining, VIP lounge, spa and meeting rooms.

Designed by ZAS Architects, the 450-room hotel will be operated by Hilton Worldwide under its Curio brand. Photo / Plompmozes

Other family-friendly amenities include an adventure play area for children, a bowling alley and trampoline park.

Located on a three-acre site, the project, owned by Royal International, also calls for 280 private residences in a serviced apartment tower with shops and places to socialise.

One of the hotel's most thrilling spots will be its infinity pool, which extends over the edge of the building. Photo / Plompmozes

The hotel and apartment towers were designed by ZAS Architects, which has offices in Canada and the United Arab Emirates.