Burj Al Arab 🇦🇪

The Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, commonly known as the Burj Al Arab, is a luxury hotel situated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Standing on an artificial island 280 meters from Jumeirah Beach, the property is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Designed to resemble the sail of a dhow, the 321-meter-tall structure is one of the tallest hotel buildings in the world, though non-occupiable space accounts for 39 percent of its total height. The beachfront locale was historically known as Chicago Beach, taking its name from an iron works company that once welded floating oil storage tanks on the site.

Island construction began in 1994, taking three years to reclaim the land from the sea, followed by under three years to build the hotel itself. Designed by the British firm Atkins under architect Tom Wright, the structure features a signature translucent fiberglass facade that reflects the desert sun during the day and serves as an illuminated screen at night. To secure the foundation in the sea sand, builders drove 230 concrete piles measuring 40 meters long and surrounded the base with a concrete honeycomb rock matrix to prevent erosion. The landmark officially opened on December 1, 1999.

Inside the hotel, a massive central atrium reaches a height of 180 meters, enclosed between two wings spreading in a V-shape. The property contains 199 exclusive suites, ranging from 169 square meters to 780 square meters, with each suite allocated eight dedicated staff members and 24-hour butler assistance. Guests can choose from six restaurants, including Al Muntaha, suspended 200 meters above the Persian Gulf on a cantilevered extension, and Al Mahara, an ocean-themed restaurant centered around a 990,000-liter seawater aquarium with acrylic glass walls.

Near the top of the building on the 28th floor, a helipad sits 210 meters above the ground. The pad has hosted high-profile sports demonstrations, including a tennis match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. Rated five stars by both the Forbes Travel Guide and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, the property gained informal fame as a "seven-star" hotel following early journalistic commentary. The hotel is currently undergoing an 18-month renovation designed to modernize its interior features while maintaining its original iconic design.

Burj Al Arab in pictures