Rath checks in: Top hotel: Stay in Dubai with a view of the Burj Khalifa

Usually, Dubai is more of a stopover than the actual destination on my global itineraries. But I'm really looking forward to my stay at the "Dusit Thani" hotel in the mega-metropolis, as I have a personal connection with this company. It goes back about 30 years and began in Beijing. I worked there for Kempinski in 1993, and when we were acquired by "Dusit Thani," my boss at the time tasked me with "teaching the Thais a bit about German gastronomy." He had little regard for my retort, asking whether he wasn't upsetting the new balance of power. After all, he himself had previously brokered the takeover deal.

Nevertheless, I did as I was told and subsequently worked for Dusit Thani hotels in Bangkok, Krabi, and Koh Samui. Since then, my love for this hotel chain has never waned, even though my last visit was several years ago. The small family business that opened its first hotel in Bangkok in 1949 has grown into a rapidly growing, global, high-tech company. One more reason why I'm looking forward to my trip to Dubai.

As I climb into the BMW 7 Series at the airport that will take me to the hotel, I immediately feel a bit like I'm in Thailand: the friendly driver, the scent of incense sticks in the car, the typical cold towels. Upon arrival at the hotel, I'm greeted with Thai-style bows and as if I've been a regular guest for years.

After the staff, mostly from Thailand, checked me in, it was time to take the elevator. The hotel doesn't start until the 30th floor, and although the building, at 21 years old, is practically ancient by local standards, it is in excellent condition. This is likely due in part to the recent renovation. My room, measuring an impressive 90 square meters, is extremely spacious, exuding modern elegance and pleasantly functional.

The highlight is the large floor-to-ceiling windows and the magnificent view of the city's almost surreal skyline they offer. Skyscrapers sparkling in the sun, the sea, and Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. As a tennis fan, I especially enjoy playing a few sets during my travels. The hotel doesn't have a tennis court, but it does have perhaps the most spectacular padel court of all, located on the roof of the building. Surrounded by the aforementioned breathtaking cityscape.

Even during my time at Dusit Thani, service was always the focus. It's nice to see that this hasn't changed. The employees are simply eager to be helpful. In the lobby, in the hallway, at dinner: I'm constantly asked by cheerful staff if everything is okay or if I need anything. No long faces, no barely suppressed grumbling. If only it were like this in Germany.

Dubai is known for being quite liberal, and not just when it comes to alcohol consumption. At the same time, however, a diametrically opposed business model has emerged: the "dry hotels," which include the Dusit Thani. What is a legal requirement in Saudi Arabia is elevated to a virtue here. There isn't a drop of beer, wine, or stronger spirits in the entire hotel. Neither in the lounge nor in the bar, nor in the many restaurants to accompany meals. Instead, non-alcoholic "mocktails" are served, so lovingly prepared that you hardly miss the "spirit."

The chef reveals another consequence of the "Ohne" concept to me: "Since we don't serve alcohol, we have to focus even more on the food, on creativity, taste experiences, and diverse inspirations." And I notice this in every dish—whether in the Thai or Oriental restaurant, the amazingly good All Day Diner, or in "MaKiRa," which serves the best Japanese cuisine in Dubai.

I'd like to mention one small scene, as it illustrates the tireless attention of the staff and the entire "Dusit Thani" philosophy. On my last day, I booked a limousine to the airport for 8:30 a.m. Half an hour before, I left the room to have breakfast – and met the driver outside, who wanted to collect my luggage. "So you can enjoy your breakfast without worry," he said.

I do, after all, the morning buffet is incredibly impressively set up. Like a weekly market, stalls with Indian, Chinese, Korean, Middle Eastern, and European specialties are lined up one after the other. On my freshly prepared fruit plate, an employee writes "We will miss you" in chocolate sauce. I'm touched and want to reply: "I will miss you, too, Dusit Thani!"

In addition to the regular "Rath Checks In" columns, Capital is publishing the anthology "The 101 Best Hotels: Germany 2025" in collaboration with hotel expert and editor of " 101 Best ," Carsten K. Rath. The book can be ordered by email at [email protected] or online at www.die-101-besten.de/buchband .

The next reunion shouldn't take another three decades, nor will it require a plane ride. Dusit International's first German hotel is set to open soon in Baden-Baden, and industry rumors are already circulating about another hotel in Munich. There's no question that under current CEO Chanin Donavanik, the family is pursuing ambitious expansion plans. Establishing itself as a new star in the luxury hotel industry within just two generations is a major achievement that bodes well for the future.