the atlantis, dubai

After the disasterous outcome of the dolphin export to Atlantida, Mexico, the Solomon Islands banned the export of live dolphins to protect their multi-million dollar tuna industry.

However, in October 2007, the Solomon Islands overturned their 2003 ban on the trade of live dolphins to allow the export of 28 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins to the Atlantis resort in Dubai – a deal whereby government tax was estimated at over US$100,000.

The Dolphin Bay at the Atlantis resort offers interactions where guests have the opportunity experience "touching, hugging, holding hands, playing ball and feeding" dolphins at a ratio of up to 10 guests per dolphin.

The facility also has an Education Centre to educate visitors about dolphins. The capture of the dolphins from the wild and the concerns of captivity are not mentioned in the Centre's educational material.

The Atlantis resort is owned by Kezner International, an organisation that orginally bid for the development of Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore and it's Marine Life Park.