VISIT - ATLANTIS THE ROYAL: THE SACRED-HOLY REALISATION OF LUXURY MADE IN DUBAI (United Arab Emirates)
Opened with great fanfare almost two years ago, the establishment, built at the top of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, offers tailor-made services and experiences, and immediately established itself as the benchmark in the firmament of the global luxury hotel industry. |
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VISIT - ATLANTIS THE ROYAL: THE SACRED-HOLY REALISATION OF LUXURY MADE IN DUBAI (United Arab Emirates)
Opened with great fanfare almost two years ago, the establishment, built at the top of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, offers tailor-made services and experiences, and immediately established itself as the benchmark in the firmament of the global luxury hotel industry. |
Category: Middle East - United Arab Emirates - Industry economy
- Tourism
Article written by Guillaume Chollier on 2025-03-20
 Atlantis The Royal was inaugurated in style in February 2023
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal More than 5,000 tonnes of steel were needed to build the hotel
Unmistakable for its bold architecture, which is based on a stack of a multitude of rectangular blocks, similar to a famous children's building set, the Atlantis The Royal was born from the imagination of the world-renowned architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the award-winning interior designers G. A Group, for the hotel, and the famous interior designer, Sybille de Margerie for the residences, as well as the creators of innovative water features WET Design. All are winners of a call for tenders organised by Kerzner International, owner of the resort, whose specifications were very simple: to create the most memorable building in the city. From this point of view, it is undeniable that the challenge has been met! And the result is striking. The 406,000 square metres of built area are connected by a 90-metre-long sky bridge. The building has instantly become an emblem of Dubai, in the same way as the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, the sail-shaped seven-star hotel Burj al Arab and its neighbour, Atlantis The Palm, which is also owned by the South African group.
The project, a titanic undertaking, is beyond the imagination of even the most rational minds: 45,000 tonnes of steel reinforcing bars, 5,500 tonnes of structural steel, 2,400 piles spread across the entire site, some of which reach a depth of 45 metres, 220,000 cubic metres of concrete, 150,000 square metres of marble and 90,000 square metres of glass, equivalent to 10 football pitches.
The visual identity of the Atlantis The Royal consists of two 43-storey terraced towers that descend towards each other and are joined by the sky bridge, swimming pools, lounges and other facilities that create a lush oasis descending to the tranquil lagoon of Palm Island. The views of the Persian Gulf and the Dubai skyline are spectacular. The result is, in any case, sublime, especially at nightfall, when the rooms light up (or not), creating a unique and clearly identifiable silhouette on the horizon.
A slap of luxury right from the lobby
From the moment they arrive, the Atlantis The Royal gives its visitors a grandiose welcome. An imposing revolving door is framed by huge glass walls, along which water flows harmoniously. At regular intervals, bursts of fire disturb this gentle harmony. The marble-clad lobby gives an incredible feeling of space. In the centre stands a monumental piece, 11.5 metres high and weighing 5.5 tonnes. Droplets – as it is called – represents the first drop of cool rain in an arid desert. This sculpture also provides a centralised visual representation of the water that can be heard throughout the hall through various pools and waterfalls that flow alongside the lifts. In addition to its huge bay windows looking out over the hotel's outdoor pool, a lounge area combining comfort and design, and the inside of the palm tree, the lobby also houses three aquariums. Although less impressive than those at Atlantis The Palm, they are nevertheless home to 7,200 marine animals and 32 species.
Extending from the lobby, on two levels, is an elegant shopping arcade, The Royal Boutique. Luxury brands and designer boutiques vie with each other to offer exclusive products worthy of the Avenue Montaigne in Paris or the Via Montenapoleone in Milan. Dolce & Gabbana X Ounass, Valentino, Graff, Tanagra, Level Shoes, Damas Missoni and Louis Vuitton are an integral part of the decor of the Atlantis The Royal. All in a style that always combines marble, gilding and water features. The famous luggage manufacturer also joined forces with the Dubai resort to celebrate its first anniversary by exhibiting six hand-crafted Vivienne Louis Vuitton statues, each with its own personality and inspired by a facet ofAtlantis The Royal. Jetsetter, photographer, lifeguard, traveller, skater or sailor, each Vivienne has charmed visitors and professionals alike. So much so that this ‘unprecedented experience’ was recently recognised at the Forbes Travel Guide Summit, which took place in Monaco last February.
A surface area of 1,128 m² for the Penthouse Mansion
The 795 rooms are in keeping with the luxury and opulence of this residence and offer visitors the ultimate in comfort. In this ultra-contemporary atmosphere, luminous materials, hand-sculpted textures, walls framed with geometric leather shapes and custom-made Hermès, Frette and Graff branded fittings form a harmonious cocoon that will delight even the most demanding traveller. Facing the Persian Gulf or offering a breathtaking view of The Palm and the Dubai skyline, the standard rooms, with a surface area of 55 m² and a balcony, offer a level of comfort that is unparalleled in this category. For more space, the Junior Sky View extends over 78 square metres, to which is added an 18 square metre terrace, while the Sky Terrace Suite offers a surface area of 109 square metres and is available in a two or three bedroom version to offer visitors the best options for their stay.
Beyond these ‘basic’ versions, the Atlantis The Royal offers a complete range of accommodation, each more luxurious than the last: the Villa Sky Pool and its private infinity pool on a terrace with a surface area ranging from 100 to 168 m², depending on the configuration, the 196 m² penthouse on two levels, with a private infinity pool and a jacuzzi, the 261 m² Penthouse Horizon with a 207 m² terrace, its private infinity pool opening onto The Palm and the Dubai skyline, or the 520 m² Penthouse Panoramic with an additional 209 m² terrace and infinity pool.
Finally, for the ultimate in luxury, the Penthouse Mansion is, today, unrivalled in the world. This jewel of 1,128 m² and 476 m² of terrace, which has hosted Beyoncé and Cristiano Ronaldo, has four bedrooms on two levels and connects the two towers of the Atlantis The Royal. With a private entrance, centuries-old olive trees and cathedral ceilings, it leaves visitors speechless. Decorated with exclusive Hermès equipment (ah, the French Touch!), and an infinity pool opening onto The Palm, it also has a team of dedicated butlers.
An extensive range of restaurants
When it comes to restaurants, the Atlantis The Royal has few equivalents in the Emirate. First of all, because its residents can also take advantage of the gastronomic offerings of its ‘cousin’ and neighbour, the Atlantis The Palm. But also because it houses within its walls a plethora of possibilities, each one more varied than the last. Among this selection, four establishments have been awarded Michelin stars. Among this wide range of options, La Mar, run by Gastón Acurio, stands out for the finesse of its menu. Ceviches, tender tiraditos, Peruvian potato dumplings and freshly grilled anticuchos skewers, washed down with Pisco Sour, feature prominently.
Facing the imposing pool, which regularly puts on a sound and light show featuring powerful water jets, Estiatorio Milos offers a gastronomic journey to Greece. Listed in the Michelin guide, it serves dishes such as tomato salad with mature feta, charcoal-grilled octopus and lobster served with Greek pasta.
Ling Ling is an Asian restaurant offering modern cuisine in a lively musical atmosphere. And when the meal is over, the DJs turn up the sound, the temperature rises a notch and the restaurant, like its terrace, is transformed into a vast dancefloor until the end of the Dubai night.
On the 22nd floor of the hotel, Cloud 22 welcomes the resort's residents from lunchtime until nightfall, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The result of an exclusive partnership with the fashion house Dolce & Gabbana and the luxury distributor Ounass, Cloud 22 redefines ‘la dolce vita’ in one of the most glamorous settings in Dubai. A hotspot steeped in extravagance, with alcoves equipped with individual swimming pools and an incredible infinity pool overlooking The Palm and the skyline.
As with its neighbour Atlantis The Palm, residents have the opportunity to make their stay even more exclusive by joining the Royal Club. This status opens the doors of the Royal Club Lounge, a private sanctuary that allows its members to enjoy a selection of drinks included in their package throughout the day: champagne, spirits, cocktails, etc. Like a VIP, the Royal Club member has a dedicated breakfast area at his or her disposal, far from the hustle and bustle of the other dining areas, including Gastronomy and its many international speciality stands. In addition, every day, the Royal Club Lounge is the setting for afternoon tea worthy of the finest British establishments. When the sun disappears over the horizon, a royal buffet of crab, lobster and other refined delicacies is the perfect accompaniment to the bubbles served as an aperitif.
A hi-tech spa and dedicated coaches
The treatments on offer at Atlantis The Royal are of a standard to match the hotel's high standards. In the Awaken Spa, a unique and holistic spa and wellness experience designed to purify the body, free the mind and stimulate the spirit, visitors are enchanted and able to let go and relax. A range of unique treatments, combined with modern technologies, allows you to rediscover your inner harmony in luxurious surroundings with exclusive treatment rooms, an outdoor pool, a meditation pavilion, the Sensorium hammam, individual hair salons, a beauty wellness clinic and an ultra-modern fitness centre.
All of Awaken's basic products and brands are 100% vegan and have been created for wellness enthusiasts. The therapists are certified in Reiki energy treatments and have undergone training in space medicine. Halotherapy, salt cave, vitality pool, snow fountain, alchemy shower, aromatherapy, charcoal steam sauna, tepidarium, meditation garden and plant-powered refreshment lounge are an invitation to refocus, restore balance and get back in touch with a better version of yourself.
A state-of-the-art fitness room, staffed by qualified coaches who help visitors achieve their goals, completes this fitness and vitality package.
With such services, the Atlantis The Royal is clearly redefining the concept of the luxury hotel and raising the standards that have been in force until now to new heights. All this in an extremely competitive environment in Dubai. Tim Kelly, the former president of Atlantis, used to say that ‘the Royal is the place where something incredible happens every moment’. Totally won over by the overall experience on offer, it would be dishonest to claim otherwise. Yes, like Beyoncé, the Journal des Palaces is ‘crazy in love’ with the Atlantis The Royal!
 Atlantis The Royal provides 795 rooms
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Spacious and comfortable, the 55 m2 standard rooms offer breathtaking views of The Palm
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Standard rooms in Atlantis The Royal include a large, fully-equipped bathroom
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Cathedral ceilings and meticulous decoration give the Royal Mansion an incomparable touch of luxury
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Set over two floors, the 1,128 m2 Royal Mansion has four bedrooms and bathrooms
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 With its vast terrace planted with century-old olive trees and private infinity pool, the Royal Mansion at Atlantis The Royal is an ode to luxury
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Gastronomy, the main restaurant, offers a top-quality international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 The La Mar restaurant has created a menu of refined dishes from South America, particularly Peru
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 Opposite the pool, which in the evening features water jet shows, Estiatorio Milos serves generous Hellenic cuisine in which fish and seafood are delicately prepared
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 “The spa at Atlantis The Royal, in particular its splendid hammam, is a haven of peace and a place to regenerate in expert hands”
Photo credit © Atlantis The Royal
 The Roller Vivienne, born of the award-winning collaboration between Atlantis The Royal and Louis Vuitton, welcomes travellers on their arrival in the hotel lobby
Photo credit © Guillaume Chollier / Journal des Palaces
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