VISIT - ATLANTIS THE PALM, GATEWAY TO THE KINGDOM OF POSEIDON (United Arab Emirates)
An iconic Dubai landmark, located at the top of Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm is a stunning landmark that has contributed to the success of the Emirate's luxury hotel sector. Guided tour of this city within a city. |
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VISIT - ATLANTIS THE PALM, GATEWAY TO THE KINGDOM OF POSEIDON (United Arab Emirates)
An iconic Dubai landmark, located at the top of Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm is a stunning landmark that has contributed to the success of the Emirate's luxury hotel sector. Guided tour of this city within a city. |
Category: Middle East - United Arab Emirates - Exclusive experiences
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Article written by Guillaume Chollier on 2024-07-25
 The Atlantis The Palm resort opened its doors in 2008 in Dubai.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier
The imposing property, whose perforated heart symbolises the lock of this veritable doorway to the underwater world, is awash with superlatives, which do much to forge its legend, still intact even though the resort was inaugurated in 2008. Atlantis The Palm covers almost 210,000 m², 54,000 trees were planted, 2,250 tonnes of marble were used, 58,000 kilometres of iron bars were used, more than nine times the length of the Great Wall of China.
In this veritable city, everything has been designed to make visitors as comfortable as possible. So much so that the property's operational teams don't hesitate to claim that it is ‘not a hotel, but a destination’. A destination visited mainly by Russians, Britons, Middle Easterners, Americans, and French. Positions that change depending on the time of year, according to the hotel's communications department.
As soon as they enter the hotel complex owned by the South African group Kerzner International, visitors are drawn into the abyss. In the middle of the gigantic 19-metre-high lobby, a majestic glass sculpture towers above columns decorated with scales, mouldings and marine ornamentation. Standing 10 metres high and made up of more than 3,000 intensely coloured pieces, it took artist Dale Chihuly almost two years to create. Beneath the large picture windows that open onto the outside and the palm tree, large basins representing shells contribute to the soothing spectacle. On the ceiling, eight hand-painted murals by Albino González, one of the world's greatest interpreters of ancient mythology, pay homage to the Arab legend and the ancient city of Atlantis.
A few steps further on, in one of the wings of the property, you'll find the resort's finest attraction - free of charge - the Ambassador Lagoon. In a setting worthy of the most mythical underwater odyssey, combining sunken shipwrecks, Greco-Roman columns, white sand and turquoise water, more than 65,000 underwater animals move in perfect harmony, arousing the wonder of young and old alike. In this underwater setting worthy of a Hollywood film, rays, turtles, multicoloured fish and, above all, sharks cause admiration, tinged with fear, among those who stay in this magical, timeless place.The hotel is home to the world's largest water parkAs an extension of this extraordinary attraction, a vast shopping arcade awaits visitors at the entrance to Aquaventure World. Around thirty boutiques sell jewellery, fashion and beach items, toys and perfumes. This area is also home to The Lost Chambers. This immersive aquarium gives the impression of diving straight to the bottom of the ocean, into a labyrinth of pools where menacing moray eels frolic, turtles seem to levitate or colourful jellyfish in their elegant but poisonous lace dress. This veritable underwater zoo has been awarded the WAZA seal of approval, an association that promotes the welfare of animals in parks and aquariums.
The Lost Chambers also offers a unique experience for the more adventurous: diving, with flippers, mask and oxygen tanks, to swim among the rays and sharks. Guaranteed to thrill beginners and experienced divers alike.
Aquaventure World is the other major attraction at Atlantis The Palm, which it shares with its ‘cousin’, Atlantis The Royal, just a few yards away. The largest water park in the world, it welcomes up to 7,000 visitors a day to its refreshing pools and lagoons and its slides with dizzying drops, some of which pass through aquariums containing sharks. Adjacent to the park, Dolphin Bay offers a unique experience with dolphins, including observation of their behaviour, followed by swimming and interaction with the cetaceans.The Underwater Signature Suite: living in harmony with the underwater worldIt's easy to forget, but Atlantis The Palm is first and foremost a hotel. Its 1,544 rooms and suites also offer an immersion in the depths of the oceans. Whatever their orientation - towards the ocean, the Arabian Gulf or Palm Jumeirah - the rooms and suites, from 45 m², offer comfort and noble materials. The bathrooms feature marble floors, granite vanity tops and washbasins, a spacious walk-in shower with rainfall effect and a large jetted bathtub opening onto the night area. The latter features a thick blue carpet with coral motifs, plush bedding and a cosy desk next to the bay window giving access to a beautiful balcony drenched in sunlight.
A symbol of the Resort's iconic character, the Underwater Signature Suites boast a 90% occupancy rate that would make any self-respecting hotelier green with envy. The two Underwater Signature Suites are naturally the most popular. With a surface area of 165 m², these two duplex rooms, priced at between 3,000 and 4,000 euros per night, offer, on the first level, a beautiful lounge area with a cathedral ceiling and huge picture windows flush with the surface of the Ambassador Lagoon. But it's on the lower level that the magic happens. The bedroom and en suite bathroom have a huge glass wall offering an uninterrupted view of this giant 11-million-litre aquarium and its 65,000 marine animals.
In the deafening silence that imposes itself, our eyes can't tear themselves away from this blue immensity that contains a sunken galleon and the Greek columns that lend such realism to this space. Mesmerised, visitors can't take their eyes off the incredible spectacle unfolding before them, watching the harmonious ballet of stingrays, the frenetic dance of multicoloured fish or the slow, worrying passages of sharks, intrigued by the commotion on the other side of the thick glass panel.The Impérial Club, the little extra that makes all the differenceTo add an extra touch of luxury to your stay, the Imperial Club option is a must. In addition to a 45 to 47 m² room with a balcony overlooking the palm tree and the Dubai skyline, this status offers access to the Imperial Club Lounge to enjoy special moments: breakfast in a restricted area offering greater peace and quiet, a buffet snack and a glass of champagne from 4pm.
The range of restaurants is as extensive as the properties themselves! Nearly 40 options, including cafés and snacks, are available to visitors. Among the many options, we chose the Saffron's gargantuan breakfast buffet, where a dozen counters offer specialities from around the world: Chinese, Japanese, Indian, cold meats, cheeses, fruit, pastries, sweet treats and even a fountain offering several types of melted chocolate, particularly popular with the younger guests, but also with their parents. For older children, there's a special counter where you can start the day with a glass of champagne or… a Bloody Mary!Nobu, or the excellence of Japanese gastronomyOn the list of iconic restaurants at Atlantis The Palm, Nobu is undoubtedly in pole position. Rated by the Michelin guide as one of the best restaurants in Dubai, its chefs prepare dishes of rare finesse. The sushi is exquisite, the fish reveals all its flavour and the meat, perfectly seared, melts in the mouth. As for the desserts on offer, there are simply no words… Supplied directly from Japan three times a week, Nobu successfully relies on the freshness of noble products and taste.
On the beach, sheltered by palm trees, White Beach offers seafood specialities in a house-lounge atmosphere reminiscent of trendy beaches in Saint-Tropez, with the ultra-luxury villas of Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai skyline as a backdrop.
For fans of American dining, a visit to Wavehouse is a must. Located in the resort's shopping mall, just a stone's throw from Swedish Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén ‘s future store, due to open between October and February, Gordon Ramsay's restaurant Bread Stick,
The Lost Chambers aquarium and the entrance to the Aquaventure World waterpark, Wavehouse immerses visitors in a typically American industrial and sporting atmosphere. The many flat screens hanging on the walls broadcast the major sports championships, the beer flows abundantly and accompanies dishes that seem to come straight from a Yankee barbecue: cobb salad, rib eye steak or BBQ ribs are served in XXL size.In a unique environment, treatments that reconnect you with yourselfThe Resort also places a strong emphasis on care, with exclusive therapies and treatments combined with modern technologies and industry-leading products. Reiki, a Japanese healing method based on “energetic” treatments using the laying on of hands, is used. Combined with chakra balancing and traditional massages, it helps to improve well-being and boost energy levels. All in a soothing setting, in a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the properties.
For those searching for the self, underwater yoga sessions are held in The Lost Chambers aquarium. Set against the backdrop of the incredible world of the abyss, this plunge into a unique world offers an incredible feeling of renewal and harmony with the elements.
The entertainment and escapism on offer at Atlantis The Palm seems endless, as does the depth of the Ambassador Lagoon and the diversity of the fauna it contains. In this respect, the resort certainly stands out as a modern version of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, of Captain Nemo and his Nautilus. It is undoubtedly the most vibrant tribute we can pay to Jules Verne and his work, which has never seemed so modern and so realistic…
 At the top of Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm is one of the symbols of Dubai
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 Right from the lobby, visitors are immersed in the underwater world.
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 The Ambassador Lagoon is admired by visitors of all ages
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 Deluxe rooms are spacious and some offer superb views of the palm tree and the Dubai skyline.
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 The Underwater Signature Suite offers an exceptional panoramic view of the Ambassador Aquarium, synonymous with a unique experience for its occupants.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier
 The Nobu restaurant has established itself as one of the best in Dubai
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 In a house-lounge atmosphere, White Beach offers a menu of seafood specialities.
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier
 Every morning, Saffron offers an exceptional breakfast buffet.
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 At the Wavehouse restaurant, the dishes on offer are reminiscent of American barbecues.
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 The Atlantis The Palm's superb spa offers top-quality treatments
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 Certain areas of the Atlantis The Palm spa can be made private for couples
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
 Atlantis The Palm is home to the world's largest water park, Aquaventure World.
Photo credit © Atlantis The Palm Dubai
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