Atlantis Resorts
Luxury integrated resort brand operating Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and three properties in Dubai and China under Kerzner International.
Company Type
private
Founded
1994
Headquarters
Paradise Island, Bahamas (Atlantis Paradise Island); Dubai, UAE (Kerzner International)
Revenue
~$2.0B (est., Kerzner International, FY2024)
Employees
~10,000
Primary Market
Global
sustainable tourism
About Atlantis Resorts
Who owns Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is owned by Brookfield Asset Management following a 2012 debt-for-equity restructuring with Kerzner International. The property is operated by Marriott International under a management agreement. Kerzner International no longer owns or operates the Bahamas property.
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is owned by Brookfield Asset Management following a 2012 debt-for-equity restructuring with Kerzner International. The property is operated by Marriott International under a management agreement. Kerzner International no longer owns or operates the Bahamas property.
Who owns the Atlantis resorts in Dubai?
Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai are owned and operated by Kerzner International, a private luxury hospitality company headquartered in Dubai. Kerzner International also owns Atlantis Sanya in China and the One&Only resort brand.
Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai are owned and operated by Kerzner International, a private luxury hospitality company headquartered in Dubai. Kerzner International also owns Atlantis Sanya in China and the One&Only resort brand.
Is Atlantis publicly traded?
No. Neither Brookfield's Atlantis Paradise Island operation nor Kerzner International is separately publicly traded as an Atlantis entity. Brookfield Asset Management itself is publicly traded on the NYSE and TSX under BAM, but the Atlantis property is one asset within its broader portfolio.
No. Neither Brookfield's Atlantis Paradise Island operation nor Kerzner International is separately publicly traded as an Atlantis entity. Brookfield Asset Management itself is publicly traded on the NYSE and TSX under BAM, but the Atlantis property is one asset within its broader portfolio.
When was Atlantis founded?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas opened in 1994 under Sol Kerzner's development. The resort expanded through the 1990s and 2000s. Atlantis The Palm in Dubai opened in 2008, and Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023.
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas opened in 1994 under Sol Kerzner's development. The resort expanded through the 1990s and 2000s. Atlantis The Palm in Dubai opened in 2008, and Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023.
How many Atlantis resorts are there?
There are four Atlantis-branded resorts: Atlantis Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas), Atlantis The Palm (Dubai), Atlantis The Royal (Dubai), and Atlantis Sanya (Hainan, China).
There are four Atlantis-branded resorts: Atlantis Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas), Atlantis The Palm (Dubai), Atlantis The Royal (Dubai), and Atlantis Sanya (Hainan, China).
What is Aquaventure?
Aquaventure is the water park brand operated at Atlantis properties, featuring water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and other water attractions. Aquaventure operates at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai.
Aquaventure is the water park brand operated at Atlantis properties, featuring water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and other water attractions. Aquaventure operates at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai.
History of Atlantis Resorts
Sol Kerzner, a South African hotelier, purchased the Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas in 1994 and developed it into Atlantis Paradise Island, a large-scale integrated resort with water attractions, marine habitats, and luxury accommodations. Merv Griffin, the American television personality and entrepreneur, was an early co-developer. The resort opened in phases through the 1990s and 2000s, with the Royal Towers opening in 1998 and The Cove in 2007.
Kerzner International expanded the Atlantis brand internationally with Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, which opened in 2008 on the Palm Jumeirah artificial island. The Dubai property brought the Atlantis integrated resort concept to the Middle East.
In 2012, Kerzner International underwent a debt restructuring that transferred ownership of Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas to Brookfield Asset Management. Kerzner retained the Atlantis brand for its international properties and continued developing new Atlantis resorts. Atlantis Sanya opened in China in 2018. Atlantis The Royal, a new ultra-luxury tower at the Palm Jumeirah site in Dubai, opened in 2023 and quickly gained recognition as one of the world's leading luxury hotels.
In 2026, Atlantis The Royal in Dubai ranked second in the Forbes Travel Guide integrated resort rankings, reflecting the property's position in the ultra-luxury hospitality market.
Atlantis Resorts Sustainability & Ethics
Atlantis Resorts has implemented comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, marine conservation, and ethical tourism practices across its luxury resort operations. The company has committed to reducing its environmental footprint while maintaining its position as a leader in luxury integrated resort experiences.
Atlantis Dubai has launched the Atlantis Atlas Project, a comprehensive sustainability initiative focused on environmental conservation, community engagement, and responsible tourism practices. The project includes investments in renewable energy, waste reduction programs, and marine habitat protection. The company has committed significant resources to sustainability improvements, including a $500,000 investment in green initiatives to enhance environmental performance across the Dubai properties.
In marine conservation, Atlantis maintains the Dolphin Cay marine habitat at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, serving as both an educational attraction and a conservation facility for marine life. The company implements practices to protect local marine ecosystems and promote ocean conservation awareness among guests and staff.
Atlantis has implemented waste reduction programs across all properties, focusing on eliminating single-use plastics, enhancing recycling capabilities, and reducing food waste through better inventory management and donation programs. The company has invested in energy-efficient systems and water conservation technologies to reduce the environmental impact of its large-scale resort operations.
The company addresses ethical considerations through strong community engagement programs, local employment practices, and cultural preservation initiatives. Atlantis maintains comprehensive employee training programs and has implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives across its workforce. The company's luxury positioning includes commitments to responsible tourism practices and community benefit programs.
Awards & Recognition
Atlantis Resorts has received significant recognition for luxury hospitality excellence, particularly for its Dubai properties which have achieved remarkable rankings in prestigious industry awards.
- **Forbes Travel Guide 2026:** Atlantis Dubai rose to Number 2 in the global integrated resort rankings, achieving the most new Star Awards globally and moving up from Number 6 to Number 2 in star rankings, reflecting exceptional performance across luxury hospitality metrics
- **Forbes Five-Star Awards (2025-2026):** Atlantis The Royal earned Five-Star awards for the second consecutive year, recognizing ultra-luxury service excellence and premium guest experiences
- **Forbes Four-Star Awards (2025):** Atlantis, The Palm earned Four-Star recognition for the fourth consecutive year, maintaining consistent quality standards in the luxury resort segment
- **World Travel Awards:** Multiple category wins for luxury resort experiences, water park innovation, and marine habitat conservation programs
- **Luxury Travel Advisor Awards:** Recognition for excellence in luxury resort operations and guest satisfaction scores
- **Middle East Hospitality Awards:** Multiple awards for innovation in integrated resort concepts and sustainable tourism practices
- **TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards:** Consistent recognition among travelers for excellence in resort facilities, accommodations, and guest experiences
- **Hospitality Design Awards:** Recognition for architectural excellence and innovative resort design concepts
The company's performance has been noted by industry analysts for maintaining high luxury standards while implementing sustainability initiatives and expanding its global presence in the competitive luxury hospitality market.
Controversy, Regulation & Public Scrutiny
Atlantis Resorts faces regulatory scrutiny and public controversy related to environmental impacts, marine life practices, and development projects in sensitive locations, particularly concerning water consumption and coastal development.
The most significant controversy involves Kerzner International's partnership with the Robinson family to develop a resort at Pakala Beach on Kauai, Hawaii. In January 2025, Kauai County moved to revoke decades-old development permits for the 250-unit resort project, arguing that changing conditions and long-term inaction no longer justified the entitlements. The Robinson family, Kauai's largest private landowner, partnered with Kerzner International to revive the dormant project, sparking intense local opposition. Residents and environmental advocates argue that Pakala Beach represents one of Kauai's last undeveloped shorelines and should remain protected from commercial development.
Environmental controversies include questions about the massive water consumption required to operate Atlantis resorts, particularly in water-scarce regions like Dubai and the Bahamas. The resorts' extensive water parks, marine habitats, and golf courses require substantial water resources, raising concerns about sustainability and impact on local water supplies. Environmental groups have questioned the adequacy of water conservation measures and the environmental footprint of luxury resort operations in fragile ecosystems.
Marine life controversies involve criticism of Dolphin Cay and marine mammal interaction programs at Atlantis Paradise Island. While the resort promotes its marine conservation and rescue efforts, animal welfare organizations have raised concerns about keeping dolphins in captivity and offering commercial swim-with-dolphins programs. The debate centers on whether marine mammal entertainment programs align with modern conservation ethics and animal welfare standards.
Development controversies include scrutiny of luxury resort expansion in environmentally sensitive coastal areas. Atlantis properties in Dubai and the Bahamas have faced questions about coastal development practices, impact on marine ecosystems, and the balance between tourism development and environmental protection in island communities with limited natural resources.
Regulatory compliance includes oversight from environmental agencies regarding water usage permits, coastal development regulations, and marine life protection standards. Atlantis must navigate complex regulatory requirements while maintaining its luxury resort operations and expansion plans in multiple jurisdictions with different environmental standards.
Brands Owned by Atlantis Resorts
Atlantis Resorts owns 6 brands in our database.
Aquaventure Waterpark
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
141-acre water park at Atlantis Paradise Island featuring high-speed slides, river rides, swimming pools, and marine habitats.
water-parkresort-attractionentertainment
Dolphin Cay
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
14-acre marine habitat and conservation center at Atlantis Paradise Island offering dolphin encounters and marine education programs.
marine-habitatdolphin-encounterconservation
The Beach Tower
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
Former hotel tower at Atlantis Paradise Island that was closed in 2021 and acquired by Pharrell Williams for redevelopment into Somewhere Else hotel.
hotel-towerresort-accommodationbahamas
The Cove Atlantis
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
600-suite luxury adults-only tower at Atlantis Paradise Island offering elevated accommodations, private pools, and exclusive amenities.
luxury-hoteladults-onlyresort-accommodation
Harborside Resort at Atlantis
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
Villa-style accommodation complex at Atlantis Paradise Island featuring residential-style layouts, full kitchens, and family-friendly amenities across the marina.
villa-resortfamily-accommodationmarina-location
The Royal Towers
Owned by Atlantis Resorts
Iconic hotel towers at Atlantis Paradise Island featuring luxury accommodations, suites, and the Bridge Suite, the resort's most prestigious accommodation.
luxury-hotelresort-accommodationbahamas
Atlantis Resorts Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Atlantis The Royal in Dubai ranked second in Forbes Travel Guide 2026 integrated resort rankings
- +Atlantis Paradise Island is one of the largest resort employers in the Bahamas and a major driver of Bahamian tourism
- +Brookfield Asset Management's ownership of the Bahamas property provides access to significant capital resources
- +Kerzner International's private ownership allows long-term strategic investment without public market pressures
- +The integrated resort model creates multiple revenue streams and strong barriers to competition
Considerations
- -The Atlantis brand is split between two separate ownership entities, creating potential brand consistency challenges
- -Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is vulnerable to hurricanes and other weather events
- -High capital requirements for maintaining and upgrading large-scale integrated resort properties
- -Tourism demand is sensitive to economic conditions, travel costs, and geopolitical factors
- -Competition from newer integrated resort developments in Asia and the Middle East
Frequently Asked Questions About Atlantis Resorts
Who owns Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is owned by Brookfield Asset Management following a 2012 debt-for-equity restructuring with Kerzner International. The property is operated by Marriott International under a management agreement. Kerzner International no longer owns or operates the Bahamas property.
Who owns the Atlantis resorts in Dubai?
Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai are owned and operated by Kerzner International, a private luxury hospitality company headquartered in Dubai. Kerzner International also owns Atlantis Sanya in China and the One&Only resort brand.
Is Atlantis publicly traded?
No. Neither Brookfield's Atlantis Paradise Island operation nor Kerzner International is separately publicly traded as an Atlantis entity. Brookfield Asset Management itself is publicly traded on the NYSE and TSX under BAM, but the Atlantis property is one asset within its broader portfolio.
When was Atlantis founded?
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas opened in 1994 under Sol Kerzner's development. The resort expanded through the 1990s and 2000s. Atlantis The Palm in Dubai opened in 2008, and Atlantis The Royal opened in 2023.
How many Atlantis resorts are there?
There are four Atlantis-branded resorts: Atlantis Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas), Atlantis The Palm (Dubai), Atlantis The Royal (Dubai), and Atlantis Sanya (Hainan, China).
What is Aquaventure?
Aquaventure is the water park brand operated at Atlantis properties, featuring water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and other water attractions. Aquaventure operates at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai.
Sources & Further Reading
- Atlantis Dubai Official Website
- Atlantis Bahamas Official Website
- Forbes Travel Guide Awards
- Brookfield Asset Management
- Kerzner International
- Dubai Tourism Excellence Initiative
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
- Luxury Travel Advisor
- Hotelier Middle East
- World Travel & Tourism Council
- Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
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