If you’re watching your dirhams at the moment, this may not be the article for you. Abu Dhabi, as we all know, has the world’s best high-end brands, luxury resorts and five-star service. But there are some residents who like to add a touch of gold to their weekly events. Read on to find out all the extravagant gold-inspired offerings this city has to offer.
The gold souk
Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, despite its ageing exterior, is glistening inside with gold. Connected to the mall is the gold souk, which is filled with gold shops that buy and sell the precious metal. You can find just about any karat you wish to purchase, with many of the stores offering a dipping service. This means you can take older gold jewellery, or even items made from other metals, and have them dipped in gold to plate the exterior. This doesn’t last forever and you will need to get it re-dipped every several months. But it is a lot cheaper than a solid gold item and it can freshen up a piece of jewellery that you may have left gathering dust in a drawer.
Sat-Thu 9am-10.30pm; Fri 4pm-11pm. Gold souk, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, between Electra Street and Al Falah Street, www.madinatzayed-mall.com.
Cappuccino 
Forget your double-whipped-skinny-mocha-chai-latte-frappuccino, or whatever fancy coffee you order at your local java stop. If you want some bling over your roasted beans, then take a trip to Emirates Palace and try its 24-karat gold cappuccino. Before you get to the gold, you’ll be treated with a delicious blend of aromatic coffee that will certainly put a zip in your step. But instead of leaving the hotel with a frothy moustache, it’s more likely to be the most expensive one on the street, as the cappuccino has been sprinkled with 24-karat gold flakes. Your lavish drink is served with a date and the sweet of the day, which varies, including macaroons or local-made baklava.
Dhs60. Served in Caviar Bar and Le Café. 7am-12.30pm. Emirates Palace, Corniche West (02 690 9000).
A palatial hotel
If you’ve ever been inside the opulent Emirates Palace hotel, you’ll know it is not short of gold. Whether it’s the cappuccino we just mentioned, or the spa treatment and gold ATM (we’ll get to those shortly), this Kempinksi-run hotel is dripping in golden decoration. When the hotel first opened its doors in 2005, Manoj Kuriakose, who is still there today, was part of a team who made sure that 22-karat gold leaves were applied to the ceiling and other facades throughout the hotel – totalling 2,000 square metres.
Gilding, another name for the application technique, is an art in itself. Gold leaf is made by rolling and pressing thin sheets of pure gold, and hammering it until it is wafer thin. It’s so delicate that the main tool that Kuriakose and his team use, is their hands. A year-round process sees the team use their fingernails to preserve the original details of the ceilings, while creating different facets and creases that highlight the red or yellow varnish used as a base. Approximately 50 gold leaves are required to cover merely one square metre at an approximate cost of Dhs330, and it takes around one day to complete the work, which will cover just four to six square metres.
Leopold’s of London
More tea, sir? Maybe not at Dhs500 per pot. The most luxurious tea at Leopold’s of London – and arguably in the UAE – is the black tea from Keemun in China; a 22-karat gold blend. We are told the tea is good for your bones and for your skin; it is meant to help reduce acne. If this really is your cup of tea, you can even take home a 50g bottle of the stuff for Dhs1,000. Better start saving, then.
Leopold’s of London is located in Boutik Mall, Reem Island (02 673 7420) and Nation Galleria (056 782 6858), Corniche West.
Emirates Palace Spa
Sometimes pampering needs to be taken to the next level. The Emirates Palace Spa offers four lavish treatments that feature gold. First up is the Day of Gold experience. Your day of pampering begins with the Signature Palace Massage to relax your muscles before your body is treated to a luxurious hammam. A light lunch and juice is prepared by the world-class chefs before the 24-karat gold Radiance Facial. Your finishing touch will include a classic pedicure at the Bastien Gonzales Salon, as well as a small treat to take home. This 5.5-hour treatment sounds fit for a king, and so is the price at Dhs4,048.
If you’re not able to fit in a full day of pampering, you may want to consider the 24-karat gold Radiance Facial. The treatment starts with the signature foot ritual, followed by a deep cleansing sequence to prepare the skin. Micronised 24-karat gold sheets are then massaged into the skin under an Ultra Sonic Nano mist: sounds clever! This decadent treatment finishes with a hydrating serum, moisturiser, eye cream and a relaxing scalp and hand massage, and the full treatment is 90 minutes, costing Dhs2,192.
You can also get the 24-karat gold Neck Upgrade package if you have more time (and money) to kill. This 30-minute treatment is the same process as the facial and costs Dhs957.
The Palace Massage is a popular choice; there are three massages to choose from, but we only care about the karats, right? The Harmonizing Palace Massage uses 24-karat gold oil that will rebalance the mind and body, so we’re told. This treatment costs Dhs910.
Emirates Palace Spa, Emirates Palace, Corniche West (02 690 9000).
Downtown decadence
A combo of gold and diamonds is part of a hammam treatment at SoSPA, Sofitel Abu Dhabi. The treatment starts with a wash-down with black soap followed by a steam room session. After that, the SoSPA therapist will use a body scrub to exfoliate the skin, followed by the gold clay mask to heal and purify the skin. Afterwards, swap karats for carats and enjoy a soothing diamond-infused body oil massage that will leave the skin with a radiant glow. After the treatment, a SoSPA therapist will offer you a detoxing green tea.
Dhs1,020 for 120-minute treatment. SoSPA, Sofitel Abu Dhabi, Corniche East (02 813 7777).
Gold ATM
The Emirates Palace is home to a gold ATM machine. Yes, a machine that spits out gold bars and pendants when you put in your credit card. Despite being a bit of a novelty, this has proved extremely popular with both visitors and residents of the capital. The machine is located just after you pass the main auditorium on the left-hand side.
Credit card
If you are going to use a gold ATM, you might as well do it with a gold credit card. Aurae is a company that provides bespoke credit cards made from either 14-karat or 18-karat solid gold. The card gives owners access to exclusive VVIP events across the globe and you will be assigned a dedicated lifestyle manager to assist you in planning your social calendar. The solid gold card sees funds kept at Barclays, PLC in the UK and each card is insured by Lloyds of London against loss or theft. There’s only one drawback: this is an invitation only, private members card.
