The hotel that fashion built: Donatella Versace opens the doors to her new Dubai resort - and the 16th century Italian palazzo-inspired design is surprisingly classy 

She is the flamboyant fashionista known for a quirky, sexy style that combines fashion with rock 'n' roll and now Donatella Versace is bringing her trademark style to Dubai.

The 61-year-old, who is Vice President of the Versace Group, as well as its chief designer, has lent her design expertise to an opulent new hotel.

Billed as 'the most luxurious hotel in the Middle East', the five-star Palazzo Versace Dubai is meant to look like a 16th-century Italian palace with subtle traces of Arabian architecture and vaulted ceilings hand-detailed in gold.  

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New images have been unveiled of Donatella Versace's opulent new Dubai resort - and the 16th century Italian palazzo-inspired design is surprisingly classy

Despite the designer's penchant for over-the-top glitz and glamour, her latest offering is surprisingly classy. 

The 215 room hotel, which is the designer brand’s second high-end hotel, boasts swanky suites, a bar designed by a music legend, and exclusive fabrics from the international fashion house.

The hotel is one of Dubai’s newest openings and whilst it's still in soft-launch period and isn't set to be unveiled officially until the end of this year, Donatella has certainly put her own design stamp on it.

The hotel is homage to the Versace brand, combining old school glamour and elegance with the finest hospitality. Alongside their property on Australia’s Gold Coast, this is Versace’s first foray into the hotel industry and, as you would expect from one of the world's most renowned designers, every one of Donatella Versace's details is exquisite.

The hotel, which was first unveiled at the end of last year, is getting set to launch Versace’s very first spa, as well as a second Imperial Suite - a superb 1,200 sq m penthouse with 180° views of Dubai. 

With rooms starting from £430 a night, Palazzo Versace Dubai offers views of Dubai Creek (pictured) or the Culture Village development

The hotel is one of Dubai’s newest openings and whilst it's still in soft-launch period and isn't set to be unveiled officially until the end of this year, Donatella has certainly put her own design stamp on it

The Italian designer brand's second high-end hotel has eight restaurants and bars, including the luxurious Vanitas restaurant

The hotel is homage to the Versace brand, combining old school glamour and elegance with the finest hospitality, they say

Palazzo Versace’s interior is truly one of a kind, as every piece of furniture and fabric in its rooms and suites, and 169 private residences was designed and made by House of Versace exclusively for the hotel.

Seven categories of accommodation – from deluxe rooms starting from about £430 ($650) a night to the imperial suite – boast terraces and views of Dubai Creek or Culture Village, and ‘reflect the true essence of the Versace brand’, according to the hotel, a joint venture between the fashion house and real estate firm Enshaa Group.

With classic Italian designs, the rooms and suites are furnished with items from the Versace Home Collection in colours of turquoise, blue, beige, gold and salmon, and boast timber parquet flooring, and white and cream boiseries. The textiles are decorated with peacocks, falcons and horses.

The bathrooms have Carrara marble tiling and hand-crafted mosaic wall decor, rainfall showers. 

Touted as the ‘perfect illustration of grandeur and opulence’, the luxe imperial suite – a two-bedroom duplex on the top floor – measures nearly 13,000 square feet, with a private terrace, outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and skyline views.

Guests who stay in the hotel’s suites have access to its executive lounge and all its perks, including limo transfers to and from the airport, 24-hour butler service, afternoon tea and a two-hour happy hour.

As you would expect from one of the world's most renowned designers, every one of Donatella Versace's details is exquisite

Billed as the Middle East's most luxurious hotel, the Palazzo Versace Dubai is meant to look like an Italian palace (pictured: main lobby)

For dining and drinking, Palazzo Versace has eight restaurants and bars, including the luxurious Vanitas, an Italian seafood restaurant, the avant-garde restaurant Enigma, and the over-21 Q’s Bar, a lounge and supper club created by music producer Quincy Jones.

Other highlights include a full-service spa, three outdoor pools and reflection ponds.

Versace’s first hotel opened on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2000 and has become a magnet for celebrities, including Beyonce, Jay Z, Jennifer Lopez and Rod Stewart.

It plans to open a five-star, 20-storey hotel tower in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macau.

Musing on Versace's latest offering, Interior Designer, Victoria Gimson, said: 'This is everything you would expect from a glamorous design matriarch like Donatella.

'Versace’s signature style of dramatic prints and bold colours is engrained throughout the property, giving a nod to the highly acclaimed fashion brand. 

'The design beautifully showcases detailed Italian hand craftsmanship, successfully fusing it with Middle Eastern opulence and grandeur to successfully create perfect balance. 

'It’s also great to see that Donnatella has embraced current interiors trends, for instance in the Giardino Restaurant with her nod to the botanical movement that has proved so popular. 

'Versace’s designs translate so well into home interiors that I think it would be great to see a Versace Home range in the very near future.'

Palazzo Versace Dubai's 1,000 square foot executive suites have a spacious living and dining area, king size bed and walk-in wardrobe

The five-star hotel's grand suites have a super king size bed and a uniquely designed dressing area with a Hollywood-style vanity table

When it's time to relax, guests at Palazzo Versace Dubai can retreat to three outdoor pools, a full-service spa or reflection ponds

In addition to 215 hotel rooms and suites, Palazzo Versace Dubai has 169 private residences, ranging from one to six bedrooms