MICHELIN dining, fire fountains and the world’s largest jellyfish tank – here’s what to expect from the luxury hotel.
In the UAE, we are used to seeing structures rise from the sand and into the sky. Over the past few years, one of the more curious creations has been Dubai’s giant Tetris-like building – Atlantis The Royal. The new hotel is located on The Palm Jumeirah’s eastern crescent, and is home to one of the country’s most impressive hospitality megaprojects.
Atlantis The Royal is scheduled to open in late November, and is billing itself as the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world. Given that Kerzner International has spent upwards of AED 5.15 billion on the property and that its sister hotel is Atlantis, The Palm, we are expecting next-level luxury.
More is more, as the new hotel includes extravagant rooms and residences, celebrity chefs aplenty, a state-of-the-art spa and a private beach stretching two kilometres. Plus, in true UAE-style, it will be home to the world’s largest jellyfish tank (4,000, to be precise) and Skyblaze Fountain (a fire-meets-water show).
Rooms and residences
Atlantis The Royal includes 795 rooms, 102 suites and – if you have AED 7.65 million to spare – residences going up to five bedrooms. According to reports, the AED 163 million penthouse recently found a buyer for the 25,208 square foot space, which includes a sky garden as well as two private pools.
The suites ooze opulence, as they include private pools, expansive terraces and a dedicated butler service. For example, the sky view suite has lavish touches, from a walk-in wardrobe to an Italian marble bathroom. This hotel is thinking big – so if a suite doesn’t cut it for your family, it doesn’t just offer interconnecting rooms but also privatised floors.
Restaurants and bars
Atlantis The Royal promises to be a dining destination, as it will be home to 17 world-class restaurants and bars, which include eight celebrity chefs.
Chef Heston Blumenthal offers his unique take on British cuisine at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. The menu includes his signature dishes, from a spit roast pineapple dessert to a mandarin and chicken liver parfait (the famous meat fruit) – and we assume plenty of dry ice theatrics.
Chef José Andrés is the only chef in the world to have a two Michelin-star restaurant and four Bib Gourmands. At Jaleo by José Andrés, guests can experience his critically-acclaimed Spanish cuisine ranging from tapas to paellas. Plus, the Hakkasan offshoot Ling Ling will be home to drinking, dining and dancing.
Nobu by the Beach serves Japanese Peruvian cuisine poolside, La Mar by Gastón Acurio is the city’s first traditional cevicheria, and Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis creates an Athens-inspired dining experience. Plus, female chefs are represented, as Little Venice Cake Company by Mich Turner sells pretty pastries, and Ariana’s Persian Kitchen has been created by the TV chef, Ariana Bundy.
Spa, pool and facilities
Atlantis The Royal is located on what’s currently The Palm Jumeirah’s calmer crescent. The structure soars 43 storeys high and aims to make you feel like you are sitting in the clouds. Hence, the 22-storey high pool and club is fittingly called Cloud 22 Sky Pool, and it’s home to a rooftop infinity pool with Insta-worthy views. Guests can take uninterrupted snaps of the Arabian Gulf as well as Palm Jumeriah. If that doesn’t float your boat, there are a total of 90 swimming pools across the resort and 44 of the suites have private pools.
Awaken Spa is grand in scale, as the wellness haven includes a salon, hammam, sensorium, salt room, snow sauna and chromotherapy lounge. The space spans 3,000 square feet and 17 treatment rooms, plus it’s home to an indoor and outdoor gym.
Atlantis The Royal, we’re excited.
GO: Visit hwww.atlantis.com/atlantis-the-royal for bookings and more information.
