When the ultra-luxury Atlantis The Royal debuted last year with a celebrity-studded party that included a performance by Beyoncé, the resort instantly became an iconic Dubai landmark. Located on the crescent of Palm Island—the manmade island shaped like a palm tree—Atlantis The Royal is next to Atlantis, The Palm, with the Aquaventure Waterpark between the two properties.

Both resorts and the waterpark are owned and managed by Kerzner International, parent company of One&Only Resorts (Kerzner is no longer affiliated with Atlantis in the Bahamas). Within eight months of opening, Atlantis The Royal was included in the inaugural ranking of The World’s 50 Best Hotels.