We thought the emirate had delivered on all its extravagances. Wrong. Atlantis is rising to the challenge with a new address that takes its flamboyance up a notch. The Royal hotel is a resounding success, and it&#39;s always full.

Of art and brilliance. The Atlantis The Royal unfolds its stunning silhouette at the very tip of the famous palm tree, the creation that gave <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/five-palm-jumeirah-dubai-5-reasons-to-enjoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dubai</a> its bold credentials. With embankments, sand, and concrete, the king of oases plasters its silhouette on the waters of the Persian Gulf and unfurls its branches in elegant curves, dotted with opulent residences. But in the kingdom of black gold, the imagination knows no bounds, and art even less so. So, the architects (Khon Pedersen Fox) suggested surprising, dazzling even more. Upon arrival, a wide eye is guaranteed in front of the stack of 46 parallelepipeds that look like containers. At 500 meters long and 185 meters high (43 floors), their arrangement is clearly not the stuff of port academies but of an aesthetic of balance that brilliantly embodies the summit of the palm tree. All this, under the glow of eternal summer. Hats off to you, Maestro!

Of water and fire. Inside, the gigantism (795 rooms and suites) is impressive. The glass walls hold back blue cascades that play with an impatient flame. In the center of the atrium, Splash!, the giant sculpture depicts a cluster of water drops splashing the marble floor. Five tons of chrome-plated steel, 11.50 meters high&hellip; Further on, like an avenue of a thousand and one follies, luxury boutiques and art galleries line up their treasures, led by Louis Vuitton . The trunk maker co-signs this avant-garde hotel dedication by installing several giant dolls harnessed with the house's leather goods. Outside, the show continues. Between the building and the beach (2 kilometers long), a scallop-shaped pool provides the spectacle, once an hour. The music of Chariots of Fire (Vangelis) punctuates jets of water, spirals, and whirlwinds between the gushing flames. At night, the stage design is adorned with colors: purple, blue, red, gold... Yes, wow!

Gold and marble. The show can be admired from the terrace of the rooms, with a big screen view as a bonus. The view extends far, very far, to the bouquet of skyscrapers that make up one of Dubai &#39;s skylines, after flying over the palm leaves and their millionaire&#39;s palaces. A table and two armchairs ensure the pleasure of this dressing room suspended on the colors of the day, blue in the morning, white when the sun is strong, gold and mystery when the night cradles the city. Unsurprisingly, the home vibrates in unison: celestial carpet, marble and chic furniture, XXL bed, desk and bathroom fit for stars (rain shower and bathtub). A playful nod to the local swagger, the toiletries provided, razor, comb, toothbrush, are gold in color... A find, everyone talks about it, not a single guest who doesn&#39;t steal them. Good news, it&#39;s a gift.

Bling and blogging . From the outset, Atlantis The Royal saw big. The construction lasted six years and cost around $1.5 billion, a record for 795 rooms. Inaugurated with a Beyonc&eacute; concert (Queen B reportedly pocketed $24 million...), the hotel now stands at the crossroads of Western bling and very chic Arabian traditions. Those who make easy money love the understanding of the emirate's bankers, and the Dubaiites admit to being fans of these extraversions that have fallen from the sky. They all mingle in a joyful cacophony of genres: a SoHo designer's logo cap versus a Herm&egrave;s scarf, a tattoo here, henna there, a fishnet dress over a thong on one side, a black abaya on the other, a live blog for her, a prayer break for him... Diversity is accepted, glances are exchanged, complicity is assumed.

Gurus and agora. Meet on the 22nd floor , Cloud 22, an outdoor space reserved for adults. Two pools, a bar for shaking cocktails from around the world, French champagne, and Italian salads. Choose between mattresses and casitas, then dance to music from Ibiza and enjoy the magnificent view of the city. Not for too long, though. Everyone has to keep an eye on their smartphone and film, just to reassure themselves: I&#39;m the most muscular, the most beautiful, the most tattooed, the most undressed. All thirty-somethings, these new gurus hold the agora of their influence here by cultivating the envy of their followers. Millions of thumbs-up and little hearts respond. The Royal is home to their global triumph.

Two thousand and seventeen. Around two thousand mercenaries parachuted in from Russia, Bali, India, Uganda, Italy, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Moldova… smilingly ensure the comfort of the 1,500 guests, to which are added the local visitors, abaya and jellaba, toddlers already equipped with the latest smartphone. They also ensure the good running of seventeen restaurants and bars, strongholds of Mediterranean cuisine (the excellent Nobu by the Beach configured like the terrace of a Greek taverna), Indian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Iranian, Mexican… And what about the twelve buffets housed in Gastronomy , the giant breakfast room? Choose your table and let it be. A cohort of assistants cajoles the early morning grumps. As for the awake, they wander between the egg bar, the fruit and juice table, the bakery stall, the Japanese buffet, the Indian buffet, the cheese and charcuterie section, the salad section, etc. The day begins brilliantly. The spa, the gym, the tennis courts, jogging along the seafront, volleyball on the beach—we&#39;ll see later.

Look and leave. Time to leave. The limousine takes care of the transfer to the airport. A glance at the house&#39;s parking lot, which today houses a row of Rolls and Bentley convertibles. Between them slips an apple-green Lamborghini, a mauve Urus, a marvelous yellow SF90 XX, highlighted in blue (1,030 hp), as well as an imposing all-black Tesla Cybertruck (electric, 600 hp). We knew the emirate was fond of extremes. At the Atlantis The Royal , they touch the sky. You&#39;d swear it was golden.

Show meal at FZN Those curious about an extraordinary gastronomic experience reserve their table at FZN, at the neighboring Atlantis hotel. The now globalized Swedish chef Björn Frantzen (3 macarons in Singapore) plays his part every evening for around twenty guests (reservations required), seated around the kitchen. The set menu costs 500 euros for seven courses, including dessert, with wines extra. The first act takes place in a cozy lounge. A glass of champagne is a welcome, followed by petits fours and a presentation of the ingredients to be cooked. Then, like the path leading to the philosopher&#39;s gold, the guests climb into an elevator that opens into a dark corridor. At the very end, a door opens onto a pitch-black room. Let the palace party begin while the brigade dances around the fires! The plates pass by. Burgundy cabbage on a shellfish taco, celery and orange; scallop carpaccio, fermented apricot cream, Japanese turnip; langoustine, smoked beef and shellfish; turbot covered in caviar; roasted guinea fowl with wild garlic; grilled blue mussels, Japanese onions, sliced ham; cranberries glazed as marshmallows… Small portions, divine emotions. <a href="https://www.restaurantfzn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restaurantfzn.com &nbsp;</a>

A stay at the Atlantis The Royal. Expect to pay around &euro;800 for a double room, including breakfast. <a href="http://www.atlantis.com/fr/atlantis-the-royal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">atlantis.com</a>

Ultimate Dubai at Atlantis The Royal

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