Atlantis, The Palm

Infobox Building
building_name=Atlantis, The Palm

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caption=Atlantis nearing completion in May 2008
building_type=Hotel Resort
location=Palm Jumeirah
completion_date=September 2008
developer=flagicon|United Arab Emirates Kerzner International Limited
Istithmar PSJC
architect=
contractor=

Atlantis, the Palm is a resort on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a joint venture between Kerzner International Limited and Istithmar PSJC and was completed in September 2008. The architectural design is based heavily on the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Development

The resort consists of two towers linked by a bridge, with a total of approximately two thousand rooms. There are two Palm Jumeirah Monorail stations connecting the resort to the main section of the Palm Jumeirah islands. The resort also includes a water theme park (160,000 square meters), a conference center, and convert|20000|sqft|m2 of retail space.

Dolphin Controversy

In October 2007, the hotel received a shipment of 28 bottlenose dolphins from the Solomon Islands, to be used as part of their aquarium exhibit, called Dolphin Bay. The move was decried by several environmental groups, particularly for the fact that the export of dolphins had earlier been banned by the Solomon Islands government (after a similar controversial shipment to Mexico). Hotel managers have said that though the dolphins are being trained to interact with visitors, they will not appear in any sort of show or circus-like performance. They have also stated that the health of the dolphins is paramount, and because the bottlenose is not an endangered species, their shipment did not pose a problem. The deal was done with the approval of the United Arab Emirates and Solomon Island governments, through the company Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre and Exporters Limited (who had successfully overturned the earlier ban in court). The amount of money paid for the dolphins has not been disclosed. [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/10/17/10160738.html 28 dolphins on way to Palm hotel] "Gulf News" (16 October 2007).] [ [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/10/27/10163022.html Wild dolphins adapt to indoor life] "Gulf News" (27 October 2007).]

Fire

On 2 September 2008 a fire broke out in the lobby of Atlantis. There were no casualties reported in the blaze, and approximately 270 people were evacuated from the hotel. [http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_03092008_10242153 Fire engulfs lobby of Atlantis Hotel] . Zawya.com]

References

External links

* [http://www.atlantisthepalm.com Atlantis, The Palm] Official Site
* [http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/atlantis_hotel.php TEN Atlantis The Palm]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/middle_east/article4396426.ece THE MADDEST HOTEL IN DUBAI] The Sunday Times
* [http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1740532.ece THE 8TH CHUNDER OF THE WORLD] The Sun