When Atlantis The Royal opened on Palm Jumeirah in early 2023, it arrived with an eye-watering collection of superlatives: the most expensive hotel in Dubai, the most ambitious architectural statement in the city since the original Atlantis, and home to Cloud 22 — a rooftop infinity pool designed in collaboration with Dolce&Gabbana. It was once exclusively for hotel guests, but since December 2023 it's been open to day visitors — and it's one of the most spectacular poolside experiences you can have anywhere in the world.
We visited Cloud 22 for a full review in early 2026. Here's an honest assessment.
What Is Cloud 22?
Cloud 22 sits on the 22nd floor of Atlantis The Royal, 90 metres above Palm Jumeirah. The infinity pool is 25 metres long and stretches along the building's north face, with a direct sightline toward Palm Jumeirah's spine and the Arabian Gulf beyond. Around the pool, the design is boldly distinctive: royal blue Dolce&Gabbana majolica tile patterns line the pool basin and surrounding deck, with floating sun beds, DG-branded pool floats, and 11 private cabanas each fitted with their own personal plunge pool.
The centrepiece, if the infinity pool itself isn't centrepiece enough, is the two-storey VVIP cabana at the pool's end — its own floating infinity pool, a private bar, and butler service. It's the most extravagant single pool purchase in Dubai. But even the standard day pass experience here is exceptional by any reasonable benchmark.
Cloud 22 Atlantis Royal Dubai — infinity pool with Dolce&Gabbana blue majolica tiles — Replace with real photo from atlantis.com
Cloud 22 Atlantis Royal Dubai — cabana with private plunge pool — Replace with real photo
Cloud 22 Atlantis Royal Dubai — Palm Jumeirah views from pool — Replace with real photo
Scores at a Glance
Cloud 22 — BeachClubDXB Rating
One of the most visually spectacular pool experiences in Dubai — arguably in the world. The Dolce&Gabbana design is genuinely extraordinary, the views are stunning, and the 11 private-plunge-pool cabanas are unlike anything else in the city. The price premium is real but justified for a special occasion.
The Design & Aesthetics
Cloud 22's most discussed feature is its Dolce&Gabbana blue majolica tile design. The vivid cobalt and white pattern runs across the pool basin, surrounding deck, and cabana details — a design that polarises opinion but is undeniably extraordinary in person. Whether you love the maximalist Mediterranean palazzo aesthetic or find it kitsch, you cannot argue with the photographic result: Cloud 22 produces some of the most distinctive poolside photographs in Dubai, which in a city of jaw-dropping poolside settings is an achievement.
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The floating sun beds are another talking point — buoyant platforms that sit on the pool surface, allowing you to genuinely float in the middle of a rooftop infinity pool with the Palm Jumeirah skyline as your backdrop. On a calm morning, this is a surreal and genuinely blissful experience.
💡 Photography Tip:
The best photos from Cloud 22 are taken from the south end of the pool looking north — the Dolce&Gabbana tiles in the foreground, Palm Jumeirah visible in the mid-ground, and the Gulf stretching to the horizon. Come during golden hour (one hour before sunset) for the best light.
2026 Prices & Access
| Access Type | Weekday | Weekend | Includes |
|---|
| Pool Day Pass | AED 495 | AED 650+ | Pool access, sun lounger, F&B credit AED 200–300 |
| Premium Daybed | AED 800 | AED 1,100 | Premium positioning, more F&B credit |
| Floating Sun Bed | AED 650 | AED 900 | Pool floating platform, F&B credit |
| Cabana w/ Plunge Pool | AED 3,500 | AED 5,500 | Private cabana, personal plunge pool, butler |
| VVIP Sky Cabana | AED 8,000 | AED 10,000+ | Two-storey cabana, private infinity pool, full butler |
Cloud 22 is the most expensive standard day pass in Dubai. At AED 495 on a weekday, it's AED 200 more than AURA Skypool's afternoon session and significantly above other premium venues. The F&B credit (AED 200–300 included) offsets this substantially, making the effective pool-only cost closer to AED 200–295 — more comparable with the market.
The cabana prices are extraordinary, but it's worth noting that 11 private-plunge-pool cabanas exist nowhere else in Dubai. If you're celebrating a special occasion with a group of 4–6, splitting a cabana cost can be surprisingly reasonable per person relative to the experience.
Cabanas & VIP Options
The 11 standard cabanas each include a private plunge pool sized for 2–4 people, a dedicated sun deck, and a butler-level server assigned exclusively to your cabana. This is the defining luxury of Cloud 22 — you are, in effect, renting a private rooftop pool experience within a rooftop pool experience. The cabanas sell out weeks in advance for weekends, and months in advance for peak holiday periods.
The VVIP two-storey cabana is in a category of its own: a private bar, a private infinity pool cantilevered off the pool deck at 90 metres altitude, full dedicated staff, and custom F&B service. At AED 8,000–10,000, it's the most expensive single pool booking in Dubai — and also the most extraordinary.
Food & Cocktails
Cloud 22's F&B is excellent — better than expected for a venue where the experience is clearly the star. The menu is Mediterranean-inspired with a contemporary Dubai flourish: grilled octopus, truffle-elevated flatbreads, sashimi-grade fish crudo, and a cocktail list that leans into the DG Dolce Vita aesthetic with Aperol, Campari, and Italian aperitivo influences.
Service quality is Atlantis-level: attentive, knowledgeable, and never rushed. Your sun bed server genuinely remembers your order preferences after one drink. The non-alcoholic selection is thoughtful with house-pressed juices and creative mocktails.
Book Cloud 22 at Atlantis The Royal
Check day pass and cabana availability — sells out fast on weekends.
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Pros & Cons
✅ What We Loved
- Dolce&Gabbana design is genuinely extraordinary — the most distinctive poolside aesthetic in Dubai
- 11 private-plunge-pool cabanas — unique in the entire city
- Floating sun beds create a blissful mid-pool experience
- Service quality is the best of any pool venue we've reviewed
- Views of Palm Jumeirah at 90m are spectacular
- F&B quality is well above beach club average
- Within Atlantis The Royal complex — access to venue's restaurant selection
❌ Room for Improvement
- The most expensive standard day pass in Dubai
- Cabanas sell out months in advance — planning essential
- The DG design is bold — divisive aesthetics won't suit everyone
- No beach access — pool-only venue
- The scale can feel overwhelming compared to more intimate venues
- Access through Atlantis The Royal lobby adds journey time
Cloud 22 vs AURA Skypool: Which Is Better?
This is the question everyone asks. Both are exceptional rooftop infinity pools in Dubai, but they're genuinely different experiences:
- For the most extraordinary views: AURA Skypool wins — 210m vs 90m, with transparent glass walls and a uniquely vertiginous experience.
- For design and Instagram impact: Cloud 22 wins — the Dolce&Gabbana tiles and floating sun beds are visually unmatched.
- For facilities and luxury day out: Cloud 22 wins — more dining options, private plunge pool cabanas, and the full Atlantis complex around you.
- For value: AURA Skypool wins — AED 295 vs AED 495 for the standard day pass, with comparable F&B credit.
- For a group celebration: Cloud 22 wins — the private cabana option is exceptional for birthdays and special occasions.
Final Verdict
BeachClubDXB Verdict: 9.0 / 10 — Outstanding
Cloud 22 is one of the most spectacular pool experiences in the world. The Dolce&Gabbana-designed setting is genuinely extraordinary, the private-plunge-pool cabanas are unique to Dubai, and the service quality is the best of any venue we've reviewed. The premium pricing is the only genuine barrier — but for a special occasion, celebrating at Cloud 22 is a genuinely unforgettable experience. It earns every one of its 9 out of 10.
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FAQ
How much does Cloud 22 at Atlantis The Royal cost in 2026? +
Day passes start at AED 495 on weekdays and AED 650+ on weekends. Cabanas with private plunge pools start from AED 3,500. The VVIP two-storey cabana starts from AED 8,000. All include F&B credits.
Is Cloud 22 open to non-hotel guests? +
Yes — open to the public since December 2023. Advance booking is essential; walk-ins are not available. Book via atlantis.com/dubai/dining/cloud22 or SevenRooms.
What makes Cloud 22 different from other Dubai rooftop pools? +
The Dolce&Gabbana blue majolica tile design, 11 private-plunge-pool cabanas (unique in Dubai), floating sun beds, and a VVIP two-storey sky cabana with its own private infinity pool. Nothing else in Dubai matches its design and facility combination.
How does Cloud 22 compare to AURA Skypool? +
AURA is higher (210m vs 90m) with unique transparent glass walls and better value. Cloud 22 is more opulent, has private-plunge-pool cabanas, and the D&G design is more visually distinctive. Both are exceptional — best for different reasons.
What is the dress code for Cloud 22 Atlantis? +
Smart resort casual. Swimwear in pool areas; cover-ups for bar and lounge spaces. The venue enforces an upscale standard consistent with Atlantis The Royal's positioning.