The hugely-anticipated Atlantis Hotel in Dubai has opened its doors to the public today, following the completion of a US$1.5bn construction project. The flagship resort on The Palm Jumeirah is the first resort to open on Dubai’s revolutionary island.There were fears that the grand launch would be delayed following a blaze in the lobby last month, which destroyed a 43-metre dome. However developers Nakeel and Kerzner International worked round the clock to meet the deadline.
The new 1,539-room resort is located atop the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah. Its theme is to transport guests into a dazzling, imaginative world. The resort will encompass a 46 hectare site with 17 hectares of water-themed amusement at AQUAVENTURE. It also contains a giant open-air tank with 65,000 fish, stingrays and other sea creatures and a dolphinarium with some 25 bottlenose dolphins flown in, amid controversy, from the Solomon Islands.

There’s also a beach, luxury boutiques, numerous dining choices including four celebrity chef restaurants, an exciting nightclub, a Spa and Fitness Club, and 5,600m? of meeting and function space.

“This is an exciting time for Dubai and for Kerzner International. With the introduction of a new world icon in The Palm Jumeirah and our position as the flagship resort of this icon, Atlantis, The Palm is situated as the new gateway to this incredible region. Out of a vision that married the wonders of marine life with stunning elegance and sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf alongside the most exciting water playground in this part of the world, we have developed an experience within Atlantis that is truly different than the existing pleasures of Dubai,” said Sol Kerzner, Executive Chairman, Kerzner International.
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