"Any retreat that bills itself as “the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world” is not going for subtlety—but here, that’s very much the point. Sitting alongside its famous sister, Atlantis the Palm, on Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis the Royal’s eye-catching curves contain 795 rooms, suites, and penthouses, 17 restaurants and bars, a 1.2-mile beach, and 90 pools. Beyoncé performed a private concert during Grand Reveal weekend, and the music video for “10:35” by Tiësto featuring Tate McCrae was filmed on-site. Guests enter the lobby between walls of fire and water, conceived by WET Design. The spaces are vast, with light bouncing off enormous swathes of marble and massive fish tanks; stately internal boulevards lined with luxury boutiques crisscross the property. Up in the rooms, the mood is calmer, with soothing palettes and surprisingly minimalist decor accentuating views, from the Palm-facing balconies especially. The suites and penthouses elevate the experience even further with landscaped terraces and glass-walled pools. Rooms from $750. —Nicola Chilton" - CNT Editors
