Following its grand reveal last year, which generated an incredible buzz around the world, Atlantis the Royal has quickly become the place to see and be seen
Words: Selma Day
Itâs a year and a half since Atlantis the Royal opened in Dubai with a lavish three-day party to unveil the ultra luxury resort, with a performance by BeyoncĂŠ that sent Instagram and Tik Tok into a frenzy. In its first year, it was ranked No.44 in the Worldâs 50 Best Hotels 2023 â and the only hotel in the Middle East to feature in the list.
In a city that is constantly evolving, Atlantis the Royal â situated on the Palm, next to sister hotel Atlantis the Palm â has set a new benchmark in terms of luxury, fast becoming a modern icon and attracting a host of celebrities and dignitaries â even the ruler of Dubai himself.
You are hit with the wow factor as as soon as you set sight on what is an architectural masterpiece, 43 storeys high, comprising two terraced towers connected by a bridge, punctuated with pools, lounges and other amenities that create a lush oasis down to the stunning Palm Island lagoon. There are views towards the Arabian Gulf to the north and southwards over the the Palm, beaches and the Dubai skyline. Â
Accommodation wise, there are 795 rooms, suites and signature penthouses. Central to the design are the resortâs Sky Pool villas featuring vast elevated terraces, each with its own private outdoor pool and landscaped gardens.
Room amenities are top of the range, with brands such as Graff, Hermès and Frette as well as specially-designed gold toothbrushes, combs and brushes (this is Dubai after all).
In a city of superlatives, Atlantis the Royal is off the scale. It boasts the largest privately-owned stretch of continuous beachfront in Dubai at over 2km; the first and only permanent fire and water feature in the Middle East; the only elevator of its kind in the Middle East to be surrounded by cascading water; the largest jellyfish aquarium in the world; and the only fish aquariums in the world to use LED screen technology.
Curated bespoke artwork is dotted across the resort, with highlights including the lobby sculpture âDropletsâ â an original artwork at 11.5 metres tall, consisting of 5.5 tonnes of stainless steel, representing the first cool drop of rain in a dry desert.
Once youâre in, you may not want to leave â a resort in itself, it has something for everyone, adults and children alike. Unwind in the state-of-the-art wellness haven AWAKEN which features a six-room hammam area and luxurious treatment rooms where the focus is on holistic therapies fused with modern technology and exclusive experiences.
For those wanting an adrenalin rush, enjoy the complimentary access to Atlantis Aquaventure, the largest waterpark in the world and Guinness Book of the World Record title holder for most slides, or explore the passageways and tunnels of The Lost Chambers Aquarium, home to 65,000 marine animals with 21 exhibits. For little ones, thereâs a family pool and kidsâ club offering afternoon and evening sessions for ages 4-12.
If youâre looking for a little retail therapy, you wonât be disappointed as several designer brands are here â from Louis Vuitton to Valentino.
In terms of dining, Atlantis the Royal is a culinary destination in itself and houses more celebrity chefs under one roof than anywhere else in the world. Its 17 restaurants and bars include Dinner by Heston Blumenthal; Jaleo by JosĂŠ AndrĂŠs; Arianaâs Persian Kitchen; La Mar by GastĂłn Acurio; and Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis. Not to mention all the bars, lounges, cafĂŠs and beach clubs such as Nobu by the Beach where you can enjoy sushi by the pool, while listening to live DJs, or alternatively, have lunch or sip on a cocktail while floating in Cloud 22âs infinity pool up on the 22nd floor.
Guests with access to the Royal Club can take advantage of all-day champagne service, daily afternoon tea, canapĂŠs and breakfast, although breakfast at Gastronomy restaurant is a not-to-be-missed experience, taking the concept of a buffet breakfast to a whole new level. Youâll find several live cooking stations that cater to all different tastes with cuisines from every corner of the globe.
All the hype around the opening meant that expectations for Atlantis the Royal were always going to be high and the resort was always going to come under close scrutiny â but we honestly could not find fault. The hotel is all about indulgence and unique experiences and if youâre looking for a few days of unadulterated luxury where the service is top notch, then this definitely hits the spot.
Tom Roelens was the man behind the grand opening of Atlantis the Royal, highlighted by a private concert by BeyoncĂŠ. Since then, he has been promoted to Managing Director. Selma Day caught up with him
How did it feel to open something like Atlantis the Royal?
Most of my career has been along the lines of reimagining properties or destinations â or building from the ground up. But a project like Atlantis the Royal comes along very rarely. It really is a one of a kind â from an architectural point of view, from an entertainment point of view, from a dining point of view and wellness point of view. All of those elements have created a destination within the destination. So weâre really excited about where we are and what we have achieved â and continue to achieve with the team.
What differentiates you from other luxury hotels in Dubai?
In terms of differentiation, it really starts with this very unique architecture and very unique offering that we have. We have more celebrity restaurants here than than anywhere else on the planet. So, I think the dining component is certainly a very important one.
I think from from a hotel guestâs point of view, it's really about challenging the boundaries of imagination, whether it's our Sky Pool villas that are truly out of this world. But it's also the partnerships we bring and creating experiences that maybe even the audience didn't realise would be created.
I think ultimately, weâve defined the idea of an ultra luxury property with new experiences. And what we what are consistently hearing is that many guests are coming to Dubai because they have heard about Atlantis the Royal and returning guests who are now adopting us the place to stay. And for us, it's very important to cater to the needs of these international travellers â they come in from over 180 countries, so it's about us constantly adapting and evolving.
How important is the health and wellness aspect
Wellness is certainly a very important component and we have an extraordinary facility at the spa. But I think what's important for us is that the architecture behind the resort is all about the elements of nature. So it's about fire, water, air and weâve extended that concept into the spa so weâve got salt rooms, beautiful meditation gardens in line with with these elements of nature, hydrotherapy pools, the charcoal sauna.
And art and culture?
Yes, and lately, we've partnered with the Opera Gallery on an exhibition which was very well received. Itâs about creating indoor-outdoor spaces and experiences that are related to cultural elements in and around the building.
What is your main market?
The UK is certainly one of our best-performing markets, along with places like Austria, Germany and the US. The UAE has also adopted us as the new place to go in town â either as a place to come on staycations or to come and dine â and they are becoming our best ambassadors. But what's been quite remarkable is that we have created a brand new customer â we have very few guests from [sister property] Atlantis the Palm.
What's the best thing about your job about looking after a place like Atlantis The Royal
I would say, no day is the same. There is an incredible energy at a place like Atlantis The Royal because it's a very unique environment unlike anywhere else in the world. And I think the reason why I entered the industry was being able to work with people, for people and creating memories. Thatâs what drives us every day. And what I like a lot is the diversity of the team, working with colleagues from over 100 countries around the world â just that alone generates an enormous kind of learning and is a really great experience. But I think in Dubai in general thereâs a can-do attitude â and Dubai keeps challenging Dubai in many ways in a very positive way