A Beyoncé performance and Kendall Jenner's party – here's what we saw at the unveiling of Dubai's Atlantis The Royal

Everything glittered this weekend at the unveiling of long-anticipated resort Atlantis The Royal, from the golden toothbrushes in the room’s vanity kit to a mesmerising performance by Beyoncé. Over a thousand celebrities and special guests from around the world arrived in Dubai to attend the exclusive, invite-only grand reveal of the city’s newest ultra-luxury resort. Those not physically present likely couldn’t escape its rooftop parties and mind-blowing concerts across Instagram and TikTok during the three-day event, which was padded with luxe experiences like bites prepared by Michelin-starred chefs. The main event was Beyoncé’s first live performance since 2018, and a fireworks show to the beats of electronic house music supergroup Swedish House Mafia.

Below, my favourite highlights and observations from the Champagne-drenched weekend.

The latest icon of Dubai’s skyline

Atlantis The Royal is set on the crescent of Palm Jumeirah, the famous palm-tree shaped man-made island, overlooking the fronds of the island and the turquoise Arabian Sea. The architecture (designed by NYC's Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates) is breathtaking – it’s massive, but somehow delicate, curving in toward the sea, with blocks of suites stacked playfully atop each other amidst windows of blue sky, lending an airiness to the structure. It’s a very different aesthetic from its nearby sister property, Atlantis The Palm. Where The Palm is pink and regal, The Royal is more neutral and modern. Inside, you’ll find plenty of gold and marble, but in comparison with what one might expect from an ultra-luxury Dubai resort, it’s glamorously understated. Everything shines – the staff works meticulously to buff out every single fingerprint and smudge leaving all surfaces reflective (truly, I couldn’t escape myself). The rooms are also neutral and airy with plush white beds, dark wood sliding doors, and touches of gold throughout. Every room has a balcony, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing views of either the island and Dubai skyline in the distance, or directly facing the sea. And if you’re looking for something really opulent? You can check into the 11,000 square feet Royal Mansion (where Queen Bey herself stayed) for the small fortune of $100k a night (upwards of £80,000).

The global, A-list crowd 

Buzz about the event took over the entire city (and the Internet – to quote a viral post that made the rounds this weekend: “There are two types of people in the world. The people that are in Dubai right now. And us.”) On my ride from Dubai airport to The Royal, my driver asked, “Are you famous?” I laughed, and said, “Yeah, Beyoncé is actually opening for me.” The joke didn’t land and I quickly walked it back (“no, no, not at all.”). I found the question hilarious – but it’s one I heard echoed over and over throughout the weekend. For example, on the way up to Kendall Jenner’s party (more on that below), one woman asks a man across from her in the crowded elevator, “Are you somebody I would know?” 

These types of interactions are commonplace with this VIP crowd. As I sit by the pool, I see people eyeing each other between photo shoots, trying to place who they might be, and calculate why they might be important enough to make this guest list. Along with a plethora of reality TV personalities, the guest list included artists, designers, TikTok creators, and wellness influencers all blasting fomo-inducing content to their followings throughout the weekend. Other celebrities of note were Chloe and Halle Bailey, Letitia Wright, Ashley Park, Liam Payne, Ellen Pompeo, the aforementioned Kendall Jenner, and of course, Beyoncé along with her husband, Jay-Z and their entire family.

The greatest souvenirs on earth 

The Royal is a shopping destination in itself with multiple resort-chic boutiques, home decor stores like Tanagra, and a Valentino Boutique, to name a few. Almost every time I returned to my swanky room, another little gift had been left for me, artfully displayed, either Atlantis-branded, or from the restaurants and retail stores within: olive oils courtesy of José Andrés (his restaurant, Jaleo, will open at The Royal in February), assorted treats like figs and chocolates from Bateel, a vibrant red Valentino box (containing a golden threaded shawl), Moët & Chandon champagne (with a custom Atlantis The Royal label), lotions, soaps, energising oils – even a room mist, the same lavish scent that wafts throughout the resort. This is just a taste of the kind of thoughtfully decadent service and pampering guests will come to expect when the resort opens next month.

Parties around the clock

Friday night kicked off with a feast of dreams, in which we got to sample a taste from the eight brand-new celebrity chef restaurants that are opening on the property helmed by Nobu Matsuhisa, José Andrés, Costas Spiliadis, Ariana Bundy, Mich Turner, and Gastón Acurio. Some of my favourite bites of the weekend came from Acurio’s Peruvian restaurant La Mar, like a beautiful leche de tigre ceviche served in a seashell. Up on the 22nd floor rooftop at Cloud 22 (which features a swim up-bar and a sparkly, head-shaped DJ booth), Kendall Jenner hosted an afterparty for the launch of her tequila brand, 818, where guests snapped photos with Kendall herself, posed on floating beds in the sky pool with the Dubai skyline glittering in the background, and danced with cocktails in hand while a DJ played Latin hits and a selection of Beyoncé’s (an appetiser for the following evening). Saturday, guests were encouraged to take advantage of the multi-level Royal pool, where you can enjoy snap-of-a-finger service from the kindest staff (and actual Moët & Chandon vending machines). Then, before the official grand reveal event, guests walked a blue carpet, and were invited to different restaurants throughout the resort, from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal to Tao Group Hospitality’s newest restaurant, Ling Ling. I began my night at Blumenthal’s restaurant, whose menu delves into British gastronomy’s past (like the iconic meat fruit: a mandarin and chicken liver parfait), but found myself drifting back to the scene of Friday night’s dinner at Gastronomy, where I once again sampled tastes of everything the resort has on offer, from local oysters to Ling Ling’s steamed dumplings. 

Beyoncé's dazzling return to the stage 

Onto what you’re really here for: Beyoncé’s long-awaited return to the stage, cementing this reveal as, officially, the grandest of all time (hyperbole, perhaps but… it’s Beyoncé). There was a strict no-phone policy while she performed. I’m a devout rule follower (and was grateful to be free from the shackles of my phone – a rare luxury for those who work in social media), but many couldn’t resist the allure of capturing a few seconds to prove their attendance, only to be quickly approached by security personnel who appeared out of thin air at Queen Bey’s command. The no-phone rule allowed the crowd to be fully present while Beyoncé performed At Last by Etta James, Halo, Countdown, Crazy in Love, Ave Maria (a religious experience), and even brought out her daughter, Blue Ivy, for a duet of Brown Skin Girl (and no, she did not perform any songs from her latest album). She was accompanied by all-female orchestra Firdaus and the absolutely entrancing Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas on a three-tiered outdoor stage set against a vibrant renaissance-style backdrop (The Royal rising up elegantly behind), with waterfalls cascading down each level while a large fountain in the front put on a corresponding water show. Toward the beginning of the show, I heard some complaints buzzing around me that she was not performing enough “hits” — but those concerns seemed to fade away as the crowd got lost in the music, swaying together while the Champagne kept flowing. The show aptly closed with a powerful rendition of Drunk in Love where Beyoncé seemingly levitated amidst a dramatic field of water and fire.

The performance ended with a massive display of fireworks and drones lighting up every corner of the resort, transitioning us into the next outrageous stage of the night, when house music supergroup Swedish House Mafia took the stage to DJ an afterparty that lasted well into the night. After I’d dragged myself back to my room (which was fully turned down for my arrival: drapes closed, lights dimmed just so, chocolates left at my bedside) my Instagram feed revealed even more late-night events taking place throughout the resort – a truly never-ending party to christen Dubai’s newest icon. 

Atlantis The Royal will officially open to guests February 10.