Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, renowned for its distinctive sail-shaped silhouette that stands as one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

The hotel is situated on an artificial island constructed 280 meters (920 feet) offshore from Jumeirah Beach and connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Designed by British architect Tom Wright of the multidisciplinary consultancy Atkins, the structure was conceived to resemble the billowing sail of a traditional Arabian dhow boat.

Construction began in 1994, taking approximately two years to reclaim the island from the sea and another three years to build the hotel itself, which officially opened on December 1, 1999.

The hotel rises to a height of 321 meters (1,053 feet) and features 60 floors, making it one of the tallest hotels in the world. Its structural design includes two "wings" spreading in a V-shape to form a massive "mast," with the space between them enclosing an enormous atrium that reaches 180 meters (590 feet), one of the tallest atriums in the world.

The façade is clad in a double-layered Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric that offers protection from the desert sun while enabling illumination at night. The building's foundation relies on 230 concrete piles, each 40 meters long, drilled into the sand, supported by a massive concrete raft weighing over 70,000 tonnes. The hotel contains over 70,000 cubic meters of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.

Internally, Burj Al Arab offers 202 duplex suites, each luxuriously designed and arranged over two floors ranging from 1,830 square feet to 8,400 square feet in size. The lavish interior, created by British-Chinese designer Khuan Chew, features gold leaf, marble, and intricate mosaics inspired by Arab poetry, science, and astronomy, with themes reflecting the natural elements of desert life.

The hotel is also famous for its helipad located near the roof at 210 meters (689 feet) above ground, which has been used for high-profile events including tennis matches, golf driving ranges, boxing rings, and kite surfing jumps.

Recognized globally, Burj Al Arab symbolizes Dubai's economic ambitions and architectural innovation and remains a top luxury destination and a signature emblem of the city.