Atlantis The Palm hotel review: a Dubai palace with entertainment for the whole family

Times

06-05-2025

With 1,544 rooms, the world's largest waterpark, an aquarium and 35 restaurants and bars, Atlantis The Palm is as extra as it gets: its own self-contained world on the crescent that surrounds Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. The hotel dazzles from every angle — from its soaring salmon-pink façade to the towering Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby, the carved nautiluses in the corridors and the intricate frescoes of Greek mythology, sea urchins and scallop shells that adorn the walls and ceilings. Since 2008, when it was the first resort to open on the Palm, the hotel has drawn families from around the world with its mix of action, adventure and fun. There are few hotels in the world that can keep so many age groups entertained on so many levels, but do bear in mind this is very much a place for families. If you're looking for a couple's escape, head to Atlantis The Royal next door.
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Score 8/10Considering the thousands of suitcases dragged through the corridors and the millions of flip-flops traipsing from beach to bedroom each year, the rooms — and the entire hotel, for that matter — are pristine. The gleaming marble is completely unscratched, and there's not a single grain of sand nor a drip from a wet swimsuit on a floor anywhere. The upkeep is a Herculean task managed diligently by a team of housekeepers who are constantly sweeping and tidying. Compared to how OTT the rest of the resort is, the guest rooms here are fairly subtle, filled with light and with far-reaching views of the Palm or the Gulf. The marine theme is embraced in sand and turquoise colour schemes, coral-shaped wall art and plush carpets. At 45 sq m, the smallest rooms can easily accommodate a family, and there are plenty of connecting rooms for larger families to spread out. All rooms have outdoor access, ranging from Juliet balconies to larger areas with space to sit. But the real wows are reserved for the suites, in particular the two underwater suites. They're built into the walls of the aquarium, so you can watch sharks and rays glide past your bed and bathtub. A word of caution on the in-room minibars — remove something for more than a minute and it'll be added to your bill automatically.Score 9/10 Atlantis The Palm's 35 dining options include family-friendly buffets; casual spots for noodles and shawarma, and fine-dining options for proper grown-up nights out (nanny services are available for those wanting a child-free dinner). Standouts include the predictable but inevitably delicious black cod miso at sky-high Nobu, located in the bridge above the hotel's central arch; and imaginative tasting menus featuring seafood at Michelin-star Ossiano, within the aquarium. Family favourite Wave House is a shorts and flip-flops kind of place where burgers and milkshakes are served alongside a surfing pool, bowling alley and arcade games. And you can tuck into truffle taramasalata, crispy eggplant mille-feuille and Alaskan king crab tacos at Mykonos-style beach club White, an adults-only venue with two waterside infinity pools. During holiday periods the hotel gets very busy, and the queue for breakfast at Saffron can be maddening. Persevere and you're rewarded with an almost overwhelming selection of Arabic, Sri Lankan, Chinese and Indian dishes cooked to order, eggs, towering displays of pastries and a bloody mary and mimosa station to take the edge off it all.
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Score 10/10Entry to the onsite Aquaventure waterpark, packed full of waterslides, rapids and wave pools, is free for hotel guests, as is the Lost Chambers aquarium, home to 65,000 marine creatures. The tethered Dubai Balloon rises 300m above the resort for 360-degree views, and the ultra-luxe Atlantis The Royal, with 17 high-end restaurants including a beach club by Nobu Matsuhisa, is a buggy ride away along the beach. Atlantis revolves around families, and there are family pools, playgrounds, a long beach (be careful of jellyfish here), and opportunities to send children off for a few hours to the kids' and teens' clubs, or on the educational marine biologist programme. There's a mini shopping mall in the Avenues where you can pick up a Rolex, Vilebrequin swimwear, beach essentials and kitsch souvenirs like genie lamps and sparkle-covered Burj Al Arab statues. And when it all gets a bit much, the Awaken Spa offers an escape with reiki, chakra balancing and hypno-healing sessions.
Score 8/10Many guests are perfectly happy never stepping outside the self-contained world of Atlantis, but if you've come to embark on some Dubai sightseeing, you need to make a little effort to get off the Palm — although nowhere is very far in this city. The Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future are around 20 minutes away by taxi. The huge Mall of the Emirates, home to an indoor ski slope, is less than 20 minutes away, and the more manageable Nakheel Mall, in the middle of the Palm's trunk, has a good selection of high street stores and supermarkets. Hop on the Palm Monorail from Atlantis Aquaventure and you'll be there in four minutes. Dubai International Airport is half an hour away by car.
Price B&B doubles from £290Restaurant mains from£18Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Nicola Chilton was a guest of Atlantis the Palm
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