Palm Jumeirah (Crescent)

Atlantis The Royal

★★★★★

Atlantis The Royal is the newer, grander sibling of Atlantis The Palm, and it is one of the most talked-about hotels in the world. It opened in 2023 on the crescent of Palm Jumeirah, a short walk from the original Atlantis, and its architecture is unmistakable: a tower made of stacked rectangular blocks, as if a giant had piled up glass bricks, with a sky bridge across the top and terraces and pools cantilevered in every direction. Where Atlantis The Palm is about families and fun, The Royal aims at ultra-luxury, and it delivers in scale and drama. Cloud 22, on the twenty-second floor, is an adults-only infinity pool for guests aged twenty-one and over, with views back to the Dubai skyline, open from mid-morning to early evening. The dining is a headline in itself, with seventeen restaurants and bars, many from celebrity chefs, among them Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Ariana's Persian Kitchen, Jaleo by José Andrés and Nobu by the Beach, which is for those twenty-one and over. Forty-four of the suites and penthouses have private pools, and the signature penthouses are among the most extravagant hotel rooms anywhere. The beach and pools are open daily from morning to sunset, and families are well looked after too, with the Atlantis Explorers Club for children, a teens lounge and daily access to Aquaventure World and the Lost World Aquarium included for each night of the stay. It is very expensive, very glamorous and occasionally a little overwhelming, but if you want the most spectacular hotel experience in Dubai, this is it.

Compared with its older sibling, The Royal is calmer, more design-led and more adult, while still offering the same headline perk of waterpark access. Its smaller room count and its separate pools and beach make it feel exclusive, and the service is tuned to the top end of the market. Rooms are contemporary and generously sized, with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies looking out to the sea or back across the Palm to the skyline; standard rooms are designed for couples or small families, though rollaway beds are not available in them, so larger families should book suites or connecting rooms.

Dining is where the hotel shines and where many guests spend a lot of their time. Several restaurants welcome children until early evening, after which many venues become adults-only, and all bars have age restrictions; dress codes vary by venue, with swimwear not allowed in most indoor restaurants. Book the restaurants you most want to try as soon as your stay is confirmed, since non-guests compete for the same tables. Cloud 22 is the place to be seen by day, and its age limit makes it a quiet haven from children.

The trade-offs: prices are at the very top of the Dubai market, the resort is a taxi ride of around half an hour from Downtown, and the sheer amount of choice can feel like a lot for a short stay. For a special occasion, a honeymoon or a luxury family break that wants both the waterpark and five-star calm, it is outstanding. Check-in is in the afternoon and check-out at midday, and early check-in depends on availability.