Burj Al Arab takes top honors in Middle East travel awards

(AFP PHOTO/RABIH MOGHRABI)

The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai has been voted the best hotel in the Middle East for the eighth year in a row.

The plush property was one of a host of winners at this week's World Travel Awards' Middle East ceremony, the first in a whistlestop World Travel Awards tour which will see further regional ceremonies in Antalya, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Bangkok, Thailand and Montego Bay, Jamaica before the year is out.

Also picking up prizes in the competition, billed as "the Oscars of travel," were Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, the region's leading airlines.

Etihad took the overall award for leading airline, picking up a prize for its cabin crew, inflight entertainment and first class offerings too, but Qatar won the prize for best business class and Emirates took best economy class.

Dubai airport won leading lounge (operated by Emirates), leading airport and leading airport hotel for the Dubai International Hotel.

Despite a difficult year, Dubai won the overall prize for leading destination, beating regional rivals Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

http://www.worldtravelawards.com/

Key Winners - World Travel Awards Middle East

Leading Hotel - Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Leading Leisure Hotel - Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai
Leading New Hotel - Makkah Clock Royal Tower – A Fairmont Hotel
Leading Resort - Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Leading Luxury Beach Resort - Al Qasr at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Leading Desert Resort - Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Abu Dhabi
Leading Family Resort - Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi
Leading Golf Course - The Address Montgomerie Dubai
Leading Luxury Hotel - Raffles Makkah Palace, Saudi Arabia