Located on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower, Aura Skypool offers jaw-dropping vistas of the city’s skyline.

As international travel continues to pick up in the next few months, chances are that one record-breaking addition to Dubai’s tourism scene will begin popping up on our Instagram feeds. The newest attraction in the Palm Jumeirah, Aura Skypool is perched 200 meters above the ground — just nine meters higher than the renowned infinity pool atop Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. It’s billed as the highest 360-degree infinity pool anywhere in the world, and is situated in the same tower as The St. Regis Dubai and The View at The Palm, a recently opened observation deck. Guests here can soak up panoramic views of the Dubai skyline, with landmarks like Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa clearly visible, while taking a dip or lounging on custom-made sun beds.

The 750-square-meter pool deck is open daily from 10 a.m. until sunset, and visitors have the option of booking a morning or afternoon session, or buying a full-day pass. Although the pool wraps around the tower, it seems unlikely that guests will be able to swim a full circuit, as Aura is divided into three areas based on different prices: there are orange and green zones as well as a VIP “island.” Entry fees start from AED 170 (about US$46), inclusive of a sunbed and lounge access; a full-day pass to the VIP zone will set you back AED 600 (US$163).

The attached dining lounge at Aura Skypool offers bites from an international menu that leans pan-Asian: think Vietnamese-inspired lamb skewers, watermelon salad with Thai basil and feta, and king tiger prawns with pickled papaya relish. Its signature cocktails take a similar approach. “Day dreamer” combines pandan-infused rum with white cacao, pineapple, lime, and sweetened milk, while “kanpai” mixes Roku gin, yuzu, and lemongrass with St.-Germain and Pinot Grigio. The nods to tropical Southeast Asia are not wholly unexpected, given Aura’s overarching concept as an “island in the sky.”

auraskypool.com