Dubai: Hotel chain Atlantis, owned by Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund, opened its third property in February, located on Hainan Island in China, following the opening of resorts in Dubai and the Bahamas. The latter was sold to Marriott International in 2014.
The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) maintains a significant stake in Kerzner International, which owns the Dubai and China Atlantis properties.
Atlantis Sanya, as the resort is known, opened its doors in February, welcoming its first guests over Chinese New Year. Located on the Haitang Bay National Coast, Atlantis Sanya is the first Atlantis resort in China, and joins the flagship Atlantis on The Palm in Dubai.
The group also currently has hotels under development in Dubai and Hawaii.
Serge Zaalof, chief operating officer at Atlantis Resorts & Residences, said in a statement: “The Atlantis brand is known for unique, ocean-themed destinations offering a wide variety of entertainment experiences and Atlantis Sanya is no exception. The owner, Fosun International, is an incredible partner and together we have created a resort that offers unprecedented experiences to its guests.”
A team of 3,000 worked to design and build the property, according to Zaalof, which features 1,314 guestrooms, including 154 suites, five of which are submersed underwater.
The property also features an Aquaventure Waterpark, the same brand that appears at the Atlantis in Dubai.
“We know we are giving people unparalleled experiences new to Hainan Island and China, that only Atlantis can deliver,” added Heiko Schreiner, managing director of the Atlantis Sanya.
The hotel encompasses 540,000 square metres, featuring 21 restaurants, cafés, lounges, and bars, according to a statement from the company.
In a July 2017 interview with Gulf News, Zaalof said the three-year, $100 million renovation of the Atlantis hotel on The Palm was set to start immediately.
The timescale is intended to align the original Atlantis, which opened in 2008, with the new $1.4 billion Royal Atlantis Dubai, set to open in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The COO also stated that the company was considering opening smaller properties elsewhere in the GCC, and eyeing locations like Mexico and Bali for further expansion.
