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A warm welcome to China

Just a few short years ago, China barely registered as an inbound market to the UAE. But in 2017, it shot to the number one spot in Abu Dhabi and number five for Dubai with combined year-on-year growth of over 50%.

The reason that Chinese travellers choose the UAE is first and foremost because it is a great stopover when travelling to and from Europe or Africa. One short hop to Dubai and onward connections are a breeze. And we have another destination ticked off the wish-list and added to our WeChat accounts! A selfie at the Burj Khalifa and in front of the fountains wins a lot of admiration from friends and family.

Culture is another magnet for Chinese travellers. More awareness has been created for areas such as Bur Dubai district with attractions like Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and The Dubai Museum. Meanwhile Abu Dhabi is popular for those that want to see The Louvre and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with many guests choosing to spend at least a day in the capital to discover these iconic landmarks.

Because of this, there’s a growing need for hotel options in the UAE that cater to Chinese visitors. Personally, when I’m choosing a hotel to stay in Dubai, I look for the Chinese Preferred Hotel certification from Ctrip, China’s number one travel website. It’s the best indicator of whether or not a hotel will be able to cater to me and my fellow travellers.

Luckily, there are some amazing Dubai hotels that have this certification, and there’s one to suit just about every trip. When I want the full premium treatment of a luxury resort, I book into Palace Downtown, a palatial resort, to enjoy lazy days spent relaxing by the pool or in The Spa, or dining in one of the many restaurants that offers views of The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa.

I love to shop, so one of my biggest priorities when travelling to Dubai is being close to The Dubai Mall. As the world’s largest, it has all of my favourite brands under one roof, as well as some fantastic Chinese cuisine options at very reasonable prices. When I want to stay close by, I check in to Address Dubai Mall or Address Boulevard.

Of course, sometimes I’d rather be on the other side of the city, with access to all the shopping, dining and nightlife of the lively Dubai Marina. Then, Address Dubai Marina is the choice for me.

All of these Emaar Hospitality Group properties go above and beyond when it comes to catering for their Chinese guests. With Mandarin speaking services and Chinese sign instructions on hand, there aren’t any barriers when it comes to communication. This makes a big difference when it comes to how enjoyable my stay is, and really helps make the hotel feel like a home away from home for me.

Another nice touch is that all of these properties offer Chinese language fact sheets to help you get acquainted with the place as soon as you arrive.

They even have Chinese breakfast options, from steamed buns to congee and wonton, so we can maintain the traditions of our culture while we travel. It’s these little touches that make it easy to see why these properties are beloved by Chinese travellers, and why they receive above-average guest ratings too. The quality is in the details, and that’s what keeps Chinese guests returning again and again.

Qi Wang, Chinese travel expert