First-look pictures unveiled of Jenga-style Dubai hotel Atlantis The Royal

First images and drone footage of the striking new Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai have been revealed ahead of the opening of stay bookings on Monday.

Located on the Palm Jumeirah archipelago of man-made islands, the resort has a striking design that stands out even among the blockbuster buildings of Dubai’s cityscape, with 795 rooms starting at $850 per night (£730), spread over six towers and arranged in blocks reminiscent of a game of Jenga.

The ‘jewel in Atlantis The Royal’s crown’ is an outdoor ‘entertainment experience’ that bridges the center of the resort on the 22nd floor and features a 90m infinity pool. Other highlights include Heston Blumenthal’s first-ever cocktail bar, with “the world’s largest jellyfish aquarium”, Nobu restaurant’s first-ever pool and beach club, two kilometers of private beach – and water fountains that “spit fire.”

The most prized rooms at the resort – a sister property to Atlantis The Palm hotel – are the 44 deluxe suites and ‘Signature Penthouses’, all of which have private infinity pools, ‘elite butler service’ and pillow menus embellished with mini versions of every kind, from buckwheat to memory foam. .

All rooms, the resort says, will deliver “ultra-luxury touches,” including “a bespoke selection of amenities from luxury brands, including Hermes, Frette and Graff.”

And they will also be high-tech, with guests being able to control their room’s thermostat, lighting, television and other amenities via their cell phone.

The food and beverage options will also be exciting, we’re told, with diners being offered dishes from ‘groundbreaking chefs’ and ‘show-stopping experiences’ in 17 restaurants and bars.

British superstar Blumenthal’s cocktail bar is set to become one of the most photographed of these, thanks to a 6.5-foot aquarium containing 4,000 moon jellies.

This new concept, titled Resonance by Heston Blumenthal, “provides unforgettable culinary experiences through thoughtful, carefully crafted and complex cocktails, food and purpose-driven theatre.”

The resort will also house an outpost of Blumenthal’s Dinner restaurant, the London original of which has two Michelin stars.

Other “culinary icons” launching restaurants at Atlantis The Royal include Gaston Acurio, Ariana Bundy, Costas Spiliadis and Jose Andres.

Revelers looking to party all night long will love the entertainment venue on the 22nd floor – Cloud 22, meanwhile.

The hotel says: ‘With VIP cabanas with private plunge pools, a swim-up bar and a glittering head-shaped DJ booth, this venue is the jewel in the crown of Atlantis The Royal. To become the iconic entertainment and nightlife destination in Dubai, revelers can dance day and night to the world’s best DJs while looking out over Dubai’s glittering skyline.”

There’s also a ‘late night party experience’ next door on the 22nd floor at the pan-Asian restaurant Ling Ling – plus ‘360 degree views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s glittering skyline’.

Guests will no doubt also be amazed by the water fountains, which were “designed by the world’s authority on water features, Wet Design.”

The resort says, ‘The resort is home to a wide variety of fountains and water installations. This includes the beautiful Skyblaze, a fountain that spews fire and is the first and only permanent fire and water fountain in the Middle East.”

The resort will open to guests in 2023, but before that, there will be a spectacular ‘grand reveal’ in January featuring a ‘star-studded lineup’ that echoes the ‘spectacular’ launch of Atlantis The Palm in 2008, where guests included Robert DeNiro, Gerard Butler and Kylie Minogue.

The resort added, “As these new images show, Atlantis The Royal is the epitome of luxury, offering guests an experience like no other, uniquely tailored to their every need.”

Tim Kelly, Managing Director of Atlantis Dubai, says: ‘This is it. Our moment has finally come to unveil Atlantis The Royal as the world’s most ultra-luxury entertainment resort. Resort openings like this only come once or twice in a decade, and we can’t wait to share it with the world. As these new images show, this is a resort like no other and the building itself will become an instantly recognizable icon of the Dubai skyline. We are excited to welcome guests next year and treat them to an experience they will never forget.”

To be one of the first to stay at Atlantis The Royal, book at www.atlantisttheroyal.com. Reservations will open from October 31, 2022, for stays from 2023.