By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter


An impressive blend of Arabian elegance and European grandeur is one of the unique highlights of Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha, Qatar’s new ultra-luxury resort, which is now open.
General manager Wissam Suleiman said art plays an important role in the project which has showcased more than 3,000 pieces of art.
Exhibited both indoors and outdoors of the hotel, the paintings, sculptures, and installation arts were created by artists from around the world including Doha-based artist Ahmed al-Bahrani who crafted the 18-metre ‘horse’ sculpture at the entrance.
“This iconic resort was built for people who are looking for unparalleled luxury experience and lifestyle,” he noted.
The hotel hosts more than half a million pieces of mother of pearl: 330,000 decorating the walls and 280,000 hand carved into the furniture seen in most of the rooms.
Another attraction includes the hand-made Murano glass oyster chandeliers from Italy, which took three weeks to assemble all the 44,000 pieces of oysters across four chandeliers exhibited within the hotel’s lobby.
More than 3,000 pieces of handcrafted glasses and more than 9,000 pieces of handcrafted chinaware were made exclusively for the hotel.
Suleiman said the opening of resort serves as an important milestone both for the company and Qatar, which is now becoming a world-class destination.
Described as the city’s new premier destination, Marsa Malaz Kempinski has 281 luxurious and spacious rooms and suites.
Compared with other hotels, its deluxe room is 65 to 75sq m big while its Royal Suite is spread across 800sq m of space.
Meeting and conference facilities include the Palazzo ballroom measuring 1,100sq m (11,538 sq ft), ideal for VIP delegations or a stunning location for weddings.
The resort also features an exclusive beach located in a private bay along with outdoor swimming pools, water sports facilities, yachts jetty and tennis courts.
The hotel’s 3,000sq m Spa by Clarins has 23 treatment rooms, exclusive female areas, a health club, indoor pool, beauty salons, saunas and steam rooms.
“I strongly believe that when they say that Qatar deserves the best, and I see this hotel, I think this is the best for Qatar,” said Suleiman.
Once fully operational later this year, the resort will offer dining and entertainment options for visitors and guests across 11 food and beverage outlets described as an unprecedented number in Qatar.
Currently, the hotel hosts a selection of six different types of restaurants which offer an array of international food.  These include the Levant-inspired recipes at Al Sufra, traditional Spanish cuisine in El Faro, a blend of European and Mediterranean flavours from Sawa, as well as Pan Latin dining from Toro Toro, redefining Italian cuisine in Antica Pesa and Japanese fine-dining in Nozomi.  
The Bohemia lounge offers a wide range of signature and unique cocktails while the Café Morano serves some of the most delicious coffee and pastries.
The resort also has al fresco pool-side dining, a sophisticated lounge and an unparalleled rooftop lounge with large open-air terraces.
“Doha’s new premier resort is the perfect place to start the journey of discovering Qatar’s unique culture and heritage combined with the fast-paced development of this modern city,” Suleiman added in a statement.