Atlantis Hotel, Dubai Opens on The Palm Jumeirah
U.A.E’s Atlantis Resort Boasts an Aquarium & a $26,000-a-night Suite
Sep 24, 2008
Dubai has done it again, it seems there is no end to the United Arab Emirate’s superlative tourist attractions.
First it was the 7-star Burj Al Arab, then came the fantasy island, the Palm Jumeirah; a man-made island built off the shores of Dubai — now home to millionaire entrepreneurs, rock stars, politicians and sportsmen (David Beckham has a villa here). Then there's the world’s tallest building (and still growing), the towering Burj Dubai. Now it’s a sprawling $1.5 billion resort which boasts an underwater aquarium in its huge 42-acre aquawaterpark, and such lavish accommodation as a$26,000-a-night suite.
Dubbed the "Maddest Hotel in Dubai" by the Uk’s Times newspaper (Timesonline July 27, 2008), this latest example in Gulf excess is the Atlantis Hotel, which sits on the artificial palm-tree-shaped island, named the Palm Jumeirah. It is a 113-acre resort (the size of 14 Wembly football pitches) costing around $1.5 billion to build, according the Daily Mail’s September 23, 2008 feature entitled, “The £800 million Dubai hotel boasting a £13,000-a-night suite and dolphins flown in from the South Pacific.”
The Atlantis The Palm Opens in Dubai
September 24th, 2008 sees the soft opening of the 1,539 roomed Atlantis Hotel, which is modeled on a sister resort in the Bahamas. The Atlantis The Palm is based on the theme of the Lost City of its namesake.
The resort boasts an large aquarium featuring stingray and sharks, and dolphins which have been flown in from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. The key focus is an ocean-themed resort, whose aquarium features 65,000 fish in an open air tank and 24 bottle-nosed dolphins in a dolphinarium named Dolphin Bay.
For the rich and famous, another feature of the resort is its top floor Bridge Suite, a three-bedroom, three-bathroom suite, complete with 18-seat gold-leafed dining table and 4 staff, which costs 92,000 Dirhams (around $26,000 a night). According to Dubai's Gulf News, the first guests in the Bridge Suite are a family from Europe, scheduled to spend 3 nights.
Complimentary Stay With Emirates Airlines
In conjunction with the Atlantis Hotel, Emirates airlines has just announced their special offer of free accommodation for first and business class passengers traveling to or via Dubai. The offer runs until December, 24th, 2008. Terms and conditions apply.
Kylie Minogue to Attend Atlantis Hotel Opening Party
The hotel’s official opening party will be held on November 20, 2008. As part of the celebrations Kylie Minogue is being paid around $4 million for a one-hour long performance to selected guests at the Atlantis resort. The Daily Mail’s Richard Simpson in his 11th September 200 article “Kylie Minogue to be paid $2 Million for 60-minute set at Dubai hotel opening party,” says that the Atlantis Hotel’s opening party is set to be the most expensive private party on record. It includes the largest and most expensive firework display, and a dinner designed by 4 Michelin-stared chefs, at a total cost of approximately $32 million.
The Palm Jumeriah - Fantasy Island
Dubbed fantasy Island by Dubai's media, the Palm Jumeirah shares the resort with 1,500 opulent villas and a projected 30 beachfront hotels. Donald Trumph is opening a hotel on the island, and the world famous passenger liner, the QE2, is currently on its way to The Palm to be converted into a floating hotel and tourist attraction.
Dubai, UAE — The Middle East's Main Tourist Destination
The Middle East had the highest hotel occupancy rates in the world, for the first 6 months of 2008, with Dubai accounting for 85.2 percent, says professional services firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Dubai is renowned for its beautiful beaches, world-class golf courses and accommodation and its tax -free shopping. The U.A. E. emirate hosts the famous Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) every year, which attracts in 3 -4 million tourists from around the globe.
Hotel images courtesy of The Altantis The Palm
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