Tourists pay hundreds of dollars to take luxe pictures at pool in Dubai

Entry to this pool in Dubai will cost you hundreds of dollars. The 24-karat gold topped caviar will cost you even more.

Sitting 96 metres high overlooking Dubai’s skyline and the famous Palm Jumeirah, is an infinity pool decked out in Dolce & Gabbana’s iconic white and blue majolica print.

It is the epitome of opulence that oozes from all corners of Atlantis, The Royal – a ultra-luxury hotel that Beyonce reportedly got paid $A35 million to perform at for its grand opening in 2023.

And it is why celebrities are spotted there and tourists from across the world pay hundreds of dollars to be seen there and snap their own luxury pool pics.

Access to swim at Cloud 22 for the day costs more than $A200 on weekdays and $A300 on weekends.

While previously exclusive for hotel guests, the venue has been open to anyone for just over a year.

British TV presenter Maya Jama shared pictures at Cloud 22 with her 3.2 million Instagram followers in November. Picture: Instagram/mayajama

German model and influencer Leonie Hanne captured her visit for her 4.8 million Instagram followers in March. Picture: Instagram/leoniehanne

When news.com.au visited in June, an excited tourist whose boyfriend was tasked with capturing all the right angles confessed she bought her Dolce & Gabbana swimsuit specially for the occasion.

She wasn’t the only guest wearing the same white and blue majolica print as the towels and other furnishings.

It was clear, a visit to Cloud 22 was a significant moment in these tourists’ travels.

Access to swim at Cloud 22 for the day costs more than $A200 on weekdays and $A300 on weekends. Picture Atlantis The Royal

The main infinity pool with a swim-up bar overlooks the tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah island with its lavish residences and glitzy resorts, and the other side of Cloud 22 looks out to the Arabian Gulf.

The venue has 60 sun loungers, 15 floating beds (those in the infinity pool start from about $A1500), and 11 private cabanas with plunge pools (prices start between $A1500-$A3700 depending on the type and location). There is one two-storey “VVIP” cabana with a private pool (starting from $A3500).

The airconditioned cabanas can be a huge relief to foreigners not used to the blistering Dubai heat.

Kanye and Australian wife Bianca Censori partied at Cloud 22 with Chris Brown in late 2023. Picture: Instagram/cloud22dubai

Kendall Jenner hosted an after-party for her 818 Tequila launch at Cloud 22 in January, 2023. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal

On the menu, we spotted a grilled Australian ribeye and truffled fries for about $A200. Meanwhile, locally smoked salmon and cream cheese flatbread with 30g of oscietra caviar and 24-karat gold would set you back $A260.

Dishes and drinks featuring edible gold can be found at many of the hotel’s fancy restaurants and bars. Even the combs, toothbrushes, nail clippers, razors and bath brushes in the rooms are covered in gold.

Beyonce reportedly got paid $A35 million to perform at Atlantis The Royal grand opening 2023. Picture: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal

Rebel Wilson performed the Sake Ceremony to inaugurate the grand opening of Nobu By The Beach at the hotel. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal

There are 693 standard rooms, 96 suites and seven signature penthouses – the most luxurious being the Royal Mansion, where Beyonce stayed.

The Royal Mansion is split-level on the 18th and 19th floor, has a private lift, four bedrooms, 12-seater dining room, outdoor kitchen and infinity pool, as well as a dedicated butler.

Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023 and is the sister property to Atlatis The Palm. Picture: Atlantis The Royal

Atlantis, The Royal is the sister property to Atlantis, The Palm, which opened in 2008.

That resort’s walls have too seen their fair share of celebrities.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez were spotted at Nobu there a few days after Christmas after the Globe Soccer Awards, and Lionel Richie performed at Atlantis, The Palm for New Year’s Eve.

If Atlantis, The Royal is about experiencing ultra-luxury and looking good while doing it, Atlantis, The Palm appears to be more focussed on adventure (Think: fancy grown-up Disneyland).

It is the gateway to Aquaventure World, the world’s largest water park, and is home to a massive open-air aquarium. There are more than 65,000 marine animals at the resort.

Guests can book an underwater hotel suite with windows that look out to sharks, fish and sting rays swimming by.

Adventurous tourists can book an Aquatrek Xtreme experience, where you wear a special helmet to breathe while walking 10 metres below the surface, through the aquarium.

Those looking for a drier way to experience the marine life can check out the 10-metre long viewing pane in the hotel or book a yoga class at the aquarium before it opens for the day.

This writer was a guest of Atlantis