Atlantis The Royal Dubai Review: Bigger Is Indeed Better

Standing in the dramatic lobby of Atlantis The Royal, surrounded by flowing water features and aquatic elevator portals – and feeling surprisingly refreshed after 14 hours in Emirates Business Class – I couldn’t help but think: this is exactly what Dubai does best, turning the impossible into the inevitable.

Since opening in early 2023, this 43-storey monument to opulence has been ranked the 9th best hotel in the world and become the unofficial headquarters for Dubai’s most discerning visitors, from Beyoncé (who’s been spotted in the penthouse) to tech titans looking to make a statement. The property’s dramatic entrance – featuring the towering Droplets sculpture and those aquatic elevator portals – might seem like theatre for theatre’s sake, but it’s precisely this commitment to the extraordinary that sets Dubai apart.

Why is this the ultimate Dubai power move?

With 17 world-class restaurants under one roof and a spa that feels like a wellness sanctuary, Atlantis The Royal has transformed the traditional resort model into something altogether more ambitious. The property’s commitment to scale – from the 43-storey architecture to the lineup of 8 celebrity chef restaurants – reflects Dubai’s broader philosophy that impressive experiences require impressive infrastructure.

More than just a place to sleep, this is where Dubai’s cultural elite gather, where business deals are sealed over seafood (flown in daily from Greece, of course), and where the poolside crowd includes fashion designers, award-winning chefs, and the occasional A-lister seeking privacy behind Dolce & Gabbana cabanas.

Tell us about the rooms

The Seascape Room (starting at approximately A$1,050 per night) manages to be both theatrical and liveable – no small feat in a city where hotels often choose spectacle over substance. With sand, sky, and midnight blue interiors, these accommodations offer front-row seats to one of the world’s most photogenic coastlines without feeling like a theme park.

The bathroom’s signature feature – privacy glass that shifts from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button – represents the kind of thoughtful luxury that separates Dubai’s best properties from its merely expensive ones. Whether you’re watching jet-skiers dart across the Arabian Gulf or soaking in the standalone tub, the experience feels both futuristic and oddly intimate.

The suites (from A$2,000 per night) deliver the amount of space that would be generous anywhere, but feels particularly luxurious in land-scarce Dubai. The wraparound views and excess space justify the premium, especially during those golden-hour moments when the city’s skyline catches fire.

The spa deserves its own postcode

The hotel’s AWAKEN Spa operates on a different frequency than most hotel wellness facilities. The moment you step into its moody, marble-clad sanctuary – all khaki tones and oak herringbone floors – you understand why spa aficionados make pilgrimages here from across the region.

The Hydrotherapy Pool, heated to a perfect 36°C, serves as your introduction to what might be Dubai’s most comprehensive wellness journey. The Charcoal Sauna, designed to draw out toxins after a day of champagne and caviar, feels like a necessary reset for the Dubai experience, while the Halotherapy Salt Cave offers mineral-rich therapy that would be impossible to replicate at home.

The Alchemy Shower deserves particular mention – a sensory symphony combining varying water pressures, temperatures, and LED lighting with immersive soundscapes of rain, thunder, and forest ambience. It’s the kind of over-engineered luxury that Dubai executes better than anywhere else, turning a simple rinse into a transcendent experience.

What’s the dining situation like?

With 15 world-class restaurants (including 8 celebrity chef restaurants), Atlantis The Royal has essentially created a dining destination that happens to have rooms attached. The challenge lies in choosing between them all.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal – the property’s Michelin starred restaurant – continues to draw culinary pilgrims with its contemporary British cuisine and that famous Nitrogen ice cream. Signature dishes like the Meat Fruit, a playful mandarin and chicken creation, showcase exactly why Blumenthal’s reputation precedes him across the globe.

Estiatorio Milos flies its seafood fresh from Greece daily – because in Dubai, “local” is a relative concept, and when you can afford to fly in the Aegean’s finest catch, why wouldn’t you? The Mediterranean approach feels refreshingly straightforward in a city that often mistakes complexity for sophistication.

Nobu by the Beach deserves special mention as the world’s only Nobu Beach Club, where elevated sushi meets seaside sophistication. The adults-only pool setting makes it ideal for those seeking a more refined poolside experience, away from the Instagram frenzy that can dominate other areas.

Cloud 22 remains the property’s crown jewel for daytime dining, particularly if you can secure one of the Dolce & Gabbana-designed cabanas during cooler months. The poolside setting offers some of the best views of Palm Jumeirah, while the people-watching opportunities are unparalleled – this is where Dubai’s beautiful people come to see and be seen.

Any insider tips?

The Elements Terrace Lounge offers front-row seats to the nightly Skyblaze Fountain spectacle – the region’s first water-meets-fire show that’s become Dubai’s answer to the Bellagio fountains, but with significantly more pyrotechnics. Arrive 30 minutes early for the best seats.

For those visiting during summer (and the rates make it tempting), remember that indoor dining becomes a luxury in itself. The resort’s myriad restaurants and bars ensure you never need to brave the heat unless you’re pool-bound or beach-bound.

The spa’s post-treatment relaxation room serves fresh coconut water and hibiscus “spatinis” – a thoughtful touch that extends the wellness experience beyond the treatment itself.

The verdict?

Atlantis The Royal succeeds because it embraces Dubai’s fundamental truth: subtlety is overrated. This is a property for travellers who want their luxury served with a side of spectacle, their dining experiences Instagram-ready, and their spa treatments worthy of a documentary.

In a city where everything competes for attention, Atlantis The Royal has mastered the art of delivering substance alongside the show. Three days here will give you a taste of Dubai’s luxury landscape and spoil you for everywhere else.

Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah
Address: Crescent Road, The Palm, Dubai
Contact: +971 4 426 2000
Website: atlantis.com/atlantis-the-royal

The author stayed as a guest of Atlantis The Royal.