Making Waves
Is this the new look of Dubai? Daphne Chen-cordeiro heads to Palm Jumeirah for an exclusive first look at its newest property launch
ubai is not a place known for its subtlety. I had half a day to explore the city, and this was what I took in: gold souks with shop windows dripping in karats. The grandiose expansion of Dubai Mall, to be the biggest mall in the world, again. The World Islands, a man-made archipelago of islands, created to represent each continent. Heck, you could even call for a helicopter via Uber. These sensibilities take a turn as I step into the showroom of its most buzzed-about property, The Royal Atlantis Residences, set to complete by the third quarter of 2019. The interior design, helmed by Parisian interior designer Sybille de Margerie, is refined, contemporary and delicately pared-down. There are stitched leather walls with raised panels to create wave silhouettes by textile artist Céline Alexandre, and tiny lights embedded in the perfectly-imperfect bowls by ceramist Isabelle Poupinel, both bespoke wall installations that buyers can opt for—so your art isn’t just a painting that you hang but your entire wall becomes an original work of art. New owners can also pick a colour scheme for the entire apartment, be it chrome, gold or copper pink. Two-, three-, four- and five- bedroom homes, Sky Courts, Penthouses and Garden Suites total up to 231 units, of which there’s a mind-blowing number of 82 layout variations. With these multiple layers of personalisation possibilities, the concept of a bespoke apartment is explored in a completely diverse vein in the 43-storey property. But it’s the billion-dollar view that will take your breath away. Seated on Palm Jumeirah (an arm’s reach away from sister hotel Atlantis, The Palm), every single apartment at The Royal Atlantis Residences will face a private stretch of the sparkling lagoon that no boats have access to. You don’t even need curtains if you don’t want to, because the entire view is yours, and yours alone. Now, that’s ultimate privacy. • A fire-and-water fountain at the foyer that extends to the lobby and elevators created by water feature specialist, Wet. There will be water performances daily • A culinary destination featuring the restaurants of Michelin-starred chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Giorgio Locatelli and Nobu Matsuhisa at your doorstep • Multiple pools including an infinity pool 90m above ground • Access to all of the amenities at the connecting The Royal Atlantis Resort; the original Atlantis, The Palm; and Aquaventure Waterpark