Our Middle East Havens

The Atlantis The Royal of Dubai & The Shangri-La Al Husn of Muscat

From Conde Nast Traveler:

“If you want to do Dubai on a grand scale, this is the place. Atlantis The Royal isn’t an understated bolt-hole: It’s big, it’s bold, and brands itself “the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world.” This is a hotel with 795 rooms and suites, 17 restaurants and bars, 17 high-end boutiques, wellness space spanning 32,300 square feet, and multiple swimming pools, including Cloud 22, perched high on top of the skybridge. If bling is your thing, Atlantis The Royal is for you. Don’t let the fire and fountain shows distract you from the fact that the staff here are exceptional. In spite of its sheer scale, the resort delivers some of the best service you’ll experience anywhere in the city.

Atlantis The Royal is big. Huge, in fact. And so was the hype around its opening. Eight years in the making, this is a hotel that was clamoring for attention long before it started welcoming guests on February 10. In late January, it put on a “Grand Reveal,” inviting VIPs, celebrities, and influencers for a three-day extravaganza during which 4,200 bottles of Moët & Chandon were consumed. Beyoncé performed her first concert in five years for an undisclosed but much speculated-upon fee. Kendall Jenner launched a tequila brand. Jay-Z smoked cigars by the beach. Tiësto wrote a theme song. Like the hotel itself, this party was extra, on an extraordinary scale. Atlantis The Royal is not subtle, and that’s why you come here.

Compared to neighboring Atlantis The Palm, with which it shares a 1.2-mile beach, Atlantis The Royal feels more grown-up. The restaurants here are for proper dressed-up nights out, there are plenty of adults-only spaces to retreat to in the daytime like the poolside recliners at Nobu by the Beach and the sky-high daybeds at Cloud 22, and also to party in at night, like the scene-y Ling Ling. The eclectic mix of guests makes for intriguing people-watching, and one thing is very clear: They’re all here to have a great time and enjoy it to the full, seemingly undeterred by the price tag.”

Please visit their website to get a closer look! 

From British GQ:

“A short drive from the sights and sounds of Muscat, along a new road that scythes through dramatic rock formations, you reach a glamorous resort on a secluded cliffside spot. Shangri-La Al Husn occupies a prime position overlooking the crystal waters of the Gulf of Oman and has its own private beach. Although one of the hotel’s selling points is that it is adults-only, this exclusive destination is nevertheless about having fun – and doing so in style.

You may have already seen the majestic courtyard at the centre of this sizeable resort, such is its popularity with Instagrammers. The shot of choice is the traditional Arabian archway that leads through to a palm tree-lined infinity pool, which forms the heart of the resort. You could happily while away the hours reclining here, enjoying complimentary fruit or ice cream served direct to your lounger, or head down to the pristine private beach. Feeling adventurous? There’s kayaking and bike riding, too – or, if the sun has got too much, just book in for a massage at the L'Occitane spa.

This is a modern property, but the architecture riffs on classic Middle Eastern tropes. Simple, elegant archways frame the views from your room (each of the 189 spacious bedrooms has either a balcony or a terrace, and all look out onto the ocean). The interiors are bang-up-to-date with indulgent marble bathrooms but offer considered flashes of Arabia in their embroidered lampshades and carved wooden screens.

In the afternoon there is complimentary afternoon tea in the courtyard and, later, pre-dinner cocktails. The evening options include the more formal Shahrazad, which serves traditional Omani, Lebanese and Moroccan dishes in a contemporary dining room. Alternatively, if you are feeling especially indulgent, opt for the clifftop dining experience – a table for two on your own private rock. It captures perfectly the particular mix of fun and exclusivity that defines the whole enterprise.”

Please visit their website to get a closer look!