Set on the crescent of Palm Jumeirah next to its older sister, Atlantis The Royal is around 40 minutes from Dubai International Airport. It opened in 2023 and is hard to miss, a stack of offset glass blocks rising 43 storeys, linked by a sky bridge on the 22nd floor. The feel is upmarket and relaxed, which suits golfers who want a high-end base, good food and somewhere quiet to unwind between rounds.

Inside, it’s clean lines and calm colours rather than anything themed. Rooms are big and bright, with marble bathrooms, freestanding baths and balconies looking out to sea or back over the Palm, and over 40 suites and penthouses have a private pool on the terrace. The standout is Cloud 22, an adults-only infinity pool high above the Palm. There’s also more than a mile of private beach and the AWAKEN spa, while the dining line-up includes Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Estiatorio Milos, La Mar and Nobu by the Beach. Daily access to Aquaventure World and the Lost World Aquarium is included too.

Staff are attentive and personal, and the service is a step up from most big resorts in Dubai. It’s still a large hotel, but the pace is slower and the crowds thinner than next door. For golf, Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Hills are all an easy drive. Play early, beat the Palm traffic, and the afternoon is yours for the beach, the spa or a drink at Cloud 22.