1st look at 1 of the most exciting hotel openings in years: Atlantis The Royal Dubai

In Dubai, you should always expect more than more because there, less is certainly not more. In fact, the emirate is home to the world’s tallest building and a series of intricate manmade islands with glitzy resorts from some of the world’s top brands.

And soon, the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago of islands shaped like a palm tree, will be home to one of the most exciting hotels to open in years: Atlantis The Royal Dubai. And to prove just how (purposefully) over the top this new Atlantis will be when it opens its doors to guests next March, we are excited to share a series of the first released photos along with new details about the resort.

Read on to see just how far Dubai intends to push it.

Meet Atlantis The Royal Dubai

FRANCOIS NEL/GETTY IMAGES FOR ATLANTIS DUBAI

Self-dubbed as “the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world,” Dubai’s new take on Atlantis isn’t the sandcastle-like resort you’ve likely seen in the Bahamas. In fact, it’s not even similar in physical design to the classic Arabian-style Atlantis, The Palm, the new resort’s next-door neighbor on the far end of Palm Jumeirah.

This super-modern take on Atlantis is futuristic and elevated — quite literally, as it towers 43 floors above the Arabian Sea almost like a spaceship or something out of a movie about the future.

But in Dubai, the future is almost always now — at least when it comes to buildings — and Atlantis The Royal is no exception.

On the 22nd floor, Cloud 22 offers guests an infinity pool experience like no other, with 15 private cabanas with plunge pools to rent, views of The Palm and the sea, DJ sets, a swim-up bar and an atmosphere that’s sure to be one of the hottest places to see and be seen in Dubai.

Next to Cloud 22, Tao Group will introduce Ling Ling, a pan-Asian-style restaurant where “guests can expect a culturally rich, multi-sensory, dining and late-night party experience,” because, remember, more is more.

Lower to the ground, famed Japanese restaurant Nobu is set to open its first pool and beach club while an impressive lineup of celebrity chefs, including José Andrés, Ariana Bundy, Costas Spiliadis, Gastón Acurio and Heston Blumenthal, will helm restaurants and bars scattered through the nearly million-square-foot resort. In total, 17 restaurants and bars will operate at Atlantis The Royal.

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With 795 rooms, suites and penthouses, there are plenty of accommodation types to choose from.

Entry-level rooms face the sea or The Palm (with views of the Dubai skyline) and measure slightly less than 600 square feet with one king bed or two queen beds. Better yet, the rooms include a balcony that’s a little under 100 square feet. Upgrade to a Royal Club-level room and get access to daily breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and 24-hour butler service across two different Royal Club Lounges.

As for suites, visitors can select between a Sky Pool Villa, a Sky Terrace Suite and a Junior Sky View Suite.

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At over 1,200 feet, the Sky Pool Villa has a large living room and dining area, a pantry and two bathrooms, plus a giant soaking tub. But the star of this show is the decks, which range in size from roughly 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and are decked out with sun chairs and a private infinity pool, pictured above.

The Sky Terrace Suites skip the pool but still have plenty of space to recharge outside while the Junior Sky Suite offers incredible views of Dubai with a smaller outdoor space.

And for those with deep pockets or willing to splurge for a really special occasion (or maybe are just rich, famous or both), the resort’s assortment of signature penthouses is sure to wow even the wealthiest Real Housewife. From the two-level, four-bedroom Royal Mansion with its stunning private entrance flanked by 100-year-old olive trees to the two-bedroom Panoramic Penthouse, the highest point of the hotel, these extravagant offerings really, truly have it all — and (you guessed it) more.

Some perks that I love for guests in a suite or penthouse include “elite” butler services that take care of unpacking your luggage, pressing your clothes and taking you on a private tour of the resort, should you desire.

Guests can even request custom pillows from a miniature pillow menu (pictured below), with options from memory foam feet pillows to buckwheat pillows (a big trend in Japan) to help ensure a perfect night’s sleep.

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Each of the different room types also features modern digital services, like streaming TVs and smart technology (think: temperature, lighting and TV controlled by your phone), alongside luxury and bespoke amenities from exclusive brands like Graff, Frette and Hermes.

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Beyond all of the “wow” moments mentioned above, there’s still more, more and more. At Resonance by Heston Blumenthal, the British celebrity chef’s first cocktail bar, a 21-foot tall jellyfish aquarium housing 4,000 moon jellies is sure to be the center of attention.

Meanwhile, the nearly 40-foot-tall artist’s interpretation of the first drops of rain in the desert, called “Droplets,” (pictured below) will be every wannabe-influencer’s dream photo op.

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There’s also Skyblaze, a fountain that literally breathes fire and is “the first and only permanent fire and water performance fountain in the middle east” designed by Wet Design. The spa has treatment options to everyone’s liking plus a “re-imagined” hammam with four different experiences and treatments that use volcanic rock, crushed meteorite, lavender black soap and gold.

How to book

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Atlantis The Royal Dubai is currently taking reservations though the hotel isn’t scheduled to open until the beginning of March. Unlike the Atlantis properties in the Bahamas that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, this new resort is owned by a separate group and, like Atlantis, The Palm, it is expected to remain independent from any points programs.

Taking a scan at opening rates, expect to pay at least $900 a night for an entry-level room booked with the Advanced Purchase Offer and over $1,000 a night with the Best Available Rate. Royal Club-level rooms start around $1,200 a night while Sky Pool Villas are easily over $5,000 a night.