Interview: Kelly Timmins on achieving...

Atlantis Dubai’s eco executive explains how the group's Atlas Project has benefitted the planet

Atlantis Dubai, encompassing Atlantis, The Palm, Atlantis The Royal and Aquaventure Waterpark, is committed to making a positive impact on the environment and local community. To achieve those goals, they launched the Atlantis Atlas Project to conduct business in a way that is good for both people and the planet.

This initiative continues the destination’s ongoing marine conservation efforts. Since 2019, 58 sharks and 10 rays have been released.

Following the latest release of three honeycomb stingrays and 20 sub-adult Arabian carpet sharks into the Arabian Gulf in January 2025, Connecting Travel spoke with Kelly Timmins, Executive Director of Sustainability and Marine Animal Operations, to find out how the wider travel trade can benefit from their award-winning approach.

Atlantis Atlas Project shark release

CONNECTING TRAVEL: Moving forward, what do you hope to achieve through the Atlantis Atlas Project?
KELLY TIMMINS: The Atlantis Atlas Project aims to drive positive environmental and social impact, through responsible operations, conservation and animal welfare, education and awareness, and people and culture. Our ultimate goal is to set benchmarks for sustainability in the hospitality industry and lead by example, not just in Dubai but globally. By focusing on innovation, collaboration and transparency, we believe we can make a tangible impact on the planet and our communities

CT: What are the main challenges to achieving those goals?
KT: There are naturally a few challenges along the way. One is hitting the right balance between delivering the experiences our guests expect and ensuring our practices are as sustainable as possible. This balance takes careful thought and creativity, but we see it as an exciting opportunity to innovate.

Sourcing local produce to reduce our carbon footprint can also be a challenge. As the region advances innovative agricultural techniques, we see this becoming less a challenge and more of an opportunity to support local farmers.

Marine conservation requires working closely with experts and committing to long-term solutions

CT: What can the travel trade do to help achieve the sustainability goals?KT: The travel trade plays a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future for our industry. By embracing environmentally and socially responsible practices, the travel trade can help create a ripple effect of positive change.

Travel agents and operators can prioritise partnerships with destinations, hotels and experiences that are committed to sustainability.

As an industry, we can educate and inspire travellers with insights into the importance of sustainability so they can make better choices.

The travel trade can set a powerful example by implementing sustainable practices within their own operations, such as reducing waste, adopting digital solutions and minimising energy use. Ultimately, sustainability is a shared responsibility. A well-informed traveller is more likely to support and advocate for sustainable tourism.

CT: How should the travel trade educate their clients?
KT: Thy should focus on making responsible choices, such as selecting eco-certified accommodations, supporting the local economy and respecting cultural norms of the places they visit.

By promoting small, impactful steps, the travel trade can empower clients to travel responsibly while enhancing their overall experience and benefiting the destination

CT: What are your biggest success stories so far?
KT: We became EarthCheck, a science-backed programme for travel and tourism brands, Bronze Certified in 2019 and by 2024 Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis Aquaventure achieved Gold. Following its first year of operation in 2023, Atlantis The Royal achieved Silver status.

Atlantis, The Palm was also awarded the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp in 2024. While awards and industry recognition are important, actions speak louder to our achievements.

We have raised more than US$250,000 through the Contribution initiative, supporting projects such as shark tagging, coral restoration and dolphin surveys.

Since 2019, we have released 58 sharks and 10 rays into the Arabian Gulf

Releasing stingrays and carpet sharks in 2025

Our solar power system produces clean, green energy, and moving away from single-use plastics has prevented 3 million tubes heading to landfills each year. By using AI across our buffet restaurants we have managed to reduce food waste by more than 54%.

We are proud to say we became a Certified Autism Centre in 2024, the first in the Eastern Hemisphere. This ensures accessibility and inclusivity for our guests and shows our commitment to people and the planet.

For more information, visit www.atlantis.com/atlasproject

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