Dubai’s Boldest Stay: Atlantis The Royal

Opened in 2023 with enormous fanfare, where Beyoncé headlined a private 60-minute performance, it’s safe to say Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal does not do things by halves. One of the most talked about hotel openings in recent years, it is the younger, flashier sibling to Atlantis The Palm and, to start, is housed in a spectacle of a building – designed by KPF – formed of stacked blocks that rise and separate creating dramatic voids, sky bridges and terraces. In 2024, it was named the ninth best hotel in the world, two spots above the UK’s highest entry on the list, Claridge’s.

Inside, the experience aptly follows suit. The scale and size of the resort is deliberately overwhelming at times, with music, fountains and a flow of people that gives a tangible energy. It is not a property for those seeking understatement, but it works brilliantly for what it is. Everything has been engineered for entertainment and ease, meaning once you check in, there really is very little need to leave.

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Hotel Review: Atlantis The Royal, Dubai

STAY

There are a whopping 795 rooms and suites spread across Atlantis The Royal’s stepped structure, each designed to maximise views of the Palm, the Arabian Gulf or the city skyline. Interiors are contemporary and clean-lined with warm metallic accents, high-gloss finishes and generous bathrooms – complete with indulgent gold amenities – that set the tone for the resort’s take on luxury.

While entry level rooms are indulgent enough, you can elevate your experience even further by booking one of the suites. I’d recommend a Sky Pool Villa, which comes with a sizable terrace, a private pool and spectacular views across the property. A self-contained retreat, it’s a useful escape when the rest of the resort is in full flow.

DO

The scale of Atlantis The Royal is one of its defining characteristics. There are multiple pools across the resort, each with its own personality. Cloud 22 is the standout and one of the most photographed, thanks to its sweeping views and sexy collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana x Ounass that brings patterns, colour and a certain Riviera glamour to the 22nd floor. 

Other adults-only havens include Nobu by the Beach, while families gravitate towards the Aquaventure next door, a vast waterpark that includes everything from high-speed slides to calm rivers and play areas. 

The resort’s entertainment offering runs throughout the day and includes hourly fountain shows soundtracked by a rotating mix of music that becomes part of the backdrop – whether you intend it or not. The overall effect is high-energy and occasionally overwhelming, but it is also part of Atlantis The Royal’s appeal.

EAT

Food at Atlantis The Royal is vast and varied, counting 16 restaurants and bars, many of which come with big-name chef credentials. This includes Ariana’s Persian Kitchen by Ariana Bundy, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Jaleo by José Andrés, La Mar by Gastón Acurio, and Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis. Carbone is the newest arrival and brings its signature blend of New York Italian-American theatrics, tableside flourishes and a crowd that leans into the fun.

Beyond its headline restaurants, Atlantis The Royal draws on the wider culinary network of Atlantis The Palm, including the three Michelin star FZN by Björn Frantzé. An intimate 27-seat restaurant, it unfolds over two floors and blends modern European fine dining with Japanese influences, serving a fixed tasting menu that starts in a Scandi-inspired lounge for canapés and aperitifs, then descends into an open-kitchen dining room where each dish is prepared tableside.

Then there’s Gastronomy: a colossal dining hall that offers one of the most comprehensive buffets in Dubai, with 17 live cooking stations, global cuisine counters, fresh pastries, custom-crafted eggs benedicts and rotating international menus. Breakfast here finishes at midday and is an experience that can easily become the main event of the day.

THE FINAL WORD

Atlantis The Royal is not designed for subtlety. It is bold and busy, yet behind the spectacle is a property that operates with impressive precision. And for travellers who enjoy big-resort energy, world-class dining and a sense of theatrical escape, it delivers exactly what it promises.

BOOK IT

A standard room at Atlantis The Royal starts from AED 7,000 per night (approx. £1,420). atlantis.com