Sol Kerzner, creator of Dubai's Atlantis resort, dies aged 84

The founder stepped down from Kerzner International in 2014 after the Investment Corporation of Dubai took a majority stake

Sol Kerzner, the developer of Atlantis in Dubai, has died in Cape Town in his native South Africa at the age of 84. Image: The National

Sol Kerzner, founder of the hospitality company that built Dubai’s Atlantis and One & Only resorts, has died at the age of 84.

Kerzner, who retired as chairman of Kerzner International in 2014 after the Investment Corporation of Dubai took a majority stake, died at his home in Cape Town, according to reports in South Africa.

"Sol was a visionary pioneer, inventing the concept of entertainment destination resorts, first with Sun City in South Africa and then with the iconic Atlantis resorts around the world," Kerzner International said on its website.

“He not only built resorts, he built destinations, always finding the best location for his vision and celebrating each country in which we operate.”

Kerzner International is a hospitality development company started by Mr Kerzner in 1975. It has developed exclusive resorts across the world in Australia, the Bahamas, China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco and South Africa, among others.

In the UAE, it owns and operates the One & Only Palm and One & Only Royal Mirage resorts as well as the 1,500-room Atlantis hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. It is also developing the nearby 795-room Royal Atlantis resort.

In 2018, the Dubai's ICD increased its stake in Kerzner International Holding to 99.99 per cent.