Alisha's Research Trip to Dubai

Opened in 2023, Atlantis The Royal is an imposing building, instantly identifiable and set in a prime location on the palm. With plenty of press and hype over the past two years, I was intrigued to see it firsthand. 

My first impression – it is certainly grand! The bustling lobby features a soaring sculpture and numerous water features, however as you leave the lobby behind it does become calmer. The rooms themselves were as luxurious as you might expect, with gold amenities and plush carpets, however, despite this, they managed to feel elegant rather than overly flashy. Most importantly – every room has incredible views. I hear the palmscape rooms are the most popular, but I’d personally opt for the seascape rooms, which offer endless views of the Arabian Sea.

The One & Only Royal Mirage has a long-standing, excellent reputation, since opening in the early 2000s. Set within 65 acres of manicured gardens and boasting over one kilometre of private beach, it has much more of a classic ‘beach resort’ feel compared to the other hotels I visited. 

The hotel has three distinct areas, each with a different style and its own restaurants and pools, yet guests have access to facilities across the resort. I toured rooms and suites in all three areas and they each have their own appeal. I appreciated that The Residence is adults-only, while the styling within The Arabian Courtyard was my personal favourite. I absolutely loved the setting - if I was looking to spend a week simply relaxing in the sunshine, this would be a very strong contender.

The last stop on my journey was to visit Amar Luxury Desert Lodge, a new concept from our local partners Magic Travels. It is set deep into the desert, surrounded by rolling sand dunes, and the camp seemingly popped out of nowhere. The camp has been created with sustainability in mind – it can be packed up to leave zero trace behind, it is run using solar power and structures are made from recycled materials.

Dinner at the camp is a delicious four-course affair, with Arabic influence. My highlights included an extensive Arabic mezze and a melting chocolate dessert. Those who don’t wish to stay at the camp can enjoy an evening sundowner experience at Amar, with dinner included. Having said that, I would highly recommend spending a night at the camp – it really is an unforgettable destination.