The Burj Al Arab (Arabic for “Tower of the Arabs”) is a premium hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Even though 39 percent of its entire height is a non-occupiable area, it is one of the world’s highest hotels. It is managed by the Jumeirah hotel company.
Burj Al Arab is situated on an artificial island 280 meters (920 feet) off Jumeirah Beach, connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge.
The shape of the Burj Al Arab
The structure’s form is intended to imitate a ship’s sail. A 210-meter-high helipad is built near the roof (689 feet).
Architectural height
321 m (1,053 ft)
The highest floor has a height of 197.5 meters (648 ft)
Location
The original name for the coastline area where the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel are located was Chicago Beach. The hotel is located on a reclaimed island 280 meters (920 ft) offshore from the beach of the former Chicago Beach Hotel. The name of the location comes from the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, which used to weld massive floating oil storage tanks known as Kazzans on the site.
Structure Design and Construction
- Architect: WKK Architects’ Tom Wright
- Jumeirah Group is the developer.
- Atkins is the structural engineer.
- Murray & Roberts / Concor are the main contractors
The interdisciplinary company Atkins, directed by architect Tom Wright, created the Burj Al Arab. The design and construction were overseen by Rick Gregory, a Canadian engineer at WS Atkins. The island’s development began in 1994 and at its peak employed up to 2,000 construction workers. It was designed to look like a J-class yacht’s billowing spinnaker sail. Two “wings” extend out in a V to form a gigantic “mast,” with a big atrium enclosing the area between them.
Murray & Roberts, now Concor, and Al Habtoor Engineering, a South African construction company, built the hotel. The interior designs were led and produced by KCA International’s Khuan Chew and John Coralan, and the project was completed by the UAE-based Depa Group. On December 1, 1999, the building initially opened its doors.
Rebecca Gernon, an Irish architect, created the hotel’s helipad. The helipad, placed on the 59th floor of the building, has served as a vehicle race track, a boxing ring, a tennis match, and the starting point for a marathon for the world’s highest kite surfing leap.
Burj Al Arab Geographies
Several aspects of the hotel necessitated difficult engineering achievements. The hotel is built on a 280-meter-long (920-foot-long) artificial island. To construct a foundation, the workmen sank 230 40-meter-long (130-foot) concrete piles into the sand.
To prevent the foundation from erosion, engineers created a layer of massive stones on the ground surface that is surrounded by a concrete honeycomb pattern. The ground was reclaimed from the water after three years, yet the construction was completed in less than three years. The structure was built with around 70,000 m3 (92,000 cu yd) of concrete and 9,000 tonnes of steel.
The structure’s atrium is 180 meters (590 feet) tall. The 18-story atrium’s north-facing façade is surrounded by 12 individually tensioned two-layer membrane panels.
The Burj Al Arab is the world’s sixth tallest hotel, following the Gevora Hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur, and Rose and Rayhaan by Rotana. If mixed-use buildings were excluded, the Burj Al Arab would be the world’s third tallest hotel. The Rose Rayhaan, also in Dubai, is 333 meters (1,093 feet) tall, 12 meters (40 feet) taller than the Burj Al Arab, which is 321 meters (1,053 feet).
Accommodations and suites
The Jumeirah Group manages the hotel. Despite its massive size, the Burj Al Arab features just 28 double-story floors and 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite measures 169 square meters (1,820 square feet), while the largest measures 780 square meters (8,400 sq ft).
The suites’ design elements are a combination of east and west. White columns have a lot of power. Bathrooms are decorated with mosaic tile patterns.
The Royal Suite, which costs $24,000 a night, is ranked number 12 on CNN Go’s list of the world’s 15 most expensive hotel suites in 2012. The Chinese market is quite popular at the Burj Al Arab, accounting for 25% of all reservations in 2011 and 2012.
Facilities
The hotel boasts its beach as well as a shuttle service that includes Rolls-Royces and a helicopter.
Restaurants
The hotel features six restaurants, including:
- Al Muntaha (“The Ultimate”), is a viewpoint in Dubai that is 200 meters (660 feet) over the Persian Gulf. It is supported by a complete cantilever that stretches 27 meters (89 feet) from each side of the mast and may be reached through a panoramic elevator.
- Al Mahara (“Oyster”), a gigantic seawater aquarium with a capacity of 990,000 L (260,000 US gal), is accessible through a simulated submarine expedition. The tank’s wall is around 18 cm (7.1 in) thick, built of acrylic glass to resist the water pressure
- Al Iwan The Middle Eastern food provided at Al Iwan is the main attraction. Al Iwan charges AED1000 (about) for two people. Opening hours are 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Junsui Junsui specializes in Pan-Asian cuisine. Junsui charges AED 800 (about) for two people. The hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Sahn Eddar Sahn Eddar charges AED 700 (about) for two people. International cuisine is the main course at Sahn Eddar. The Sahn Eddar restaurant is open from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.
- Skyview Bar Finger Food is the main food served at Skyview Bar. Skyview Bar charges AED 1000 (about) for two people. The Skyview Bar restaurant is open from 7:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.
- Bab Al Yam Multicuisine is the main cuisine provided at Bab Al Yam. Bab Al Yam charges AED 800 (about) for two people. The hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- Juna Lounge Finger Food is the main food offered at Juna Lounge. Juna Lounge charges AED500 (about) for two people. The hours of operation are 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ranking
The Burj Al Arab is designated as a five-star hotel, the highest government classification. While the hotel is occasionally referred to as “the world’s only ‘seven-star’ hotel,” the hotel’s management insists that they have never done so. The name was coined by a British journalist who took a tour of the hotel before it was officially inaugurated.
The journalist referred to the Burj al Arab as a seven-star hotel because it was “greater beyond anything she had ever seen.” “There’s not much we can do to stop it,” a Jumeirah Group spokeswoman said. We don’t think it’s a good idea to use the word. It has never appeared in any of our marketing materials.
Burj Al Arab Entrance Ticket Details
- AED 190 for a tea tour.
- To see the Burj Al Arab from the inside, you must make a reservation at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
- A better option is to take a “tea tour,” which costs 190 AED per person and allows you to easily see the building.
- If you don’t want to spend money on it, keep in mind that it is a skyscraper that is impossible to miss if you travel anyplace near it, particularly Jumeirah Beach; it is also rather pricey.
The most convenient method to gain access to the Burj al Arab is to arrange an afternoon tea.
Before you even get to the meal, the restaurants of the Burj al Arab are, as you might expect, masterpieces.
On the 27th floor, you’ll find the Muntaha Restaurant and the Skyview Bar and Restaurant. They are both 200 meters high and provide guests with incredible panoramic views over Dubai’s beaches, the Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah, and the skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai in the distance.
At the Burj al Arab, there are two-afternoon tea restaurants with a variety of options:
In the Skyview lounge, Sky Tea is provided
This is one of Dubai’s most lavish Afternoon Tea experiences, located on the 27th level of this landmark structure. Before going on to a wonderful range of desserts, try date juice and unusual savories.
Every day, there are two seats: one at 1:00 p.m. and another at 4:00 p.m. Adult afternoon tea costs 500 AED, while children aged 8 and above pay 315 AED.
Sahn Eddar’s Afternoon Tea
On the 1st level of the Sahn Eddar restaurant, there is a second exquisite 7-course afternoon tea. The exquisite hotel lobby’s gorgeous mosaics, marble floor, fountains, and candles create an alluringly attractive Middle Eastern ambiance. Pastries, cakes, and the best teas and coffees are all available.
The afternoon tea is available from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and costs 550 AED.
Then, at 7:00 p.m., Sahn Eddar hosts a three-course High Tea.
Throughout the day, “Sweet Indulgences” packages are available, which include a seasonal cake with mocktail or trademark gold cappuccino for 280 AED per person.
The Burj Al Arab Facts
This exquisite hotel has been classified as the World’s only 7-star hotel due to its intricacy and affluent lifestyle. Here are some interesting facts about the Burj Al Arab that you should know.
- More than 60,000 cubic meters of concrete and 900 tonnes of steel were used to create the skyscraper, and the hotel’s interior is composed of the best materials. For example, custom-made carpets and rugs from South Africa and India, marble from Brazil and Italy, and one-of-a-kind doors from Dubai.
- The interior of the building was decorated with 24-carat gold leaf. The gold leaf is estimated to be 1,790 meters in length.
- Despite its size, the Burj Arab only has 28 double-story floors, each with more than 200 bedroom suites. The suites range in size from the lowest (169 square meters) to the biggest (300 square meters) (780 square meters). The Royal Suite with the largest space is reserved for a Maharaja. A movie room, two master baths, full-size Jacuzzis with five-head rain showers, and a library with an elegant majlis-style area are among the amenities.
- 142 one-bedroom deluxe rooms, 18 panoramic suites, 28 two-bedroom elegant suites, 4 Club suites, two presidential suites, and two royal suites are also available at the hotel.
- The Atrium, which is bordered by golden columns and gives a pleasant, natural light, is located inside the hotel. A fountain in the Centre shoots water 42 meters into the air, creating a stunning sight that will leave your mouth open.
- The Burj Al Arab has a one-of-a-kind waterfall that uses fiber optics and highly atomized water to create a kaleidoscopic effect. The Cascade Cascade is a beautifully designed waterfall with a well-choreographed movement that is both distinctive and entertaining to the inquiring mind.
- On either side of the main hotel lobby, there are three aquariums. The aquarium is believed to have 50 different fish species in its tanks. These gorgeous creatures are really entertaining, so visitors may enjoy glancing at them.
- The Junsui lounge’s ceiling is covered with 29,000 Swarovski crystals arranged in the shape of a Milky Way galaxy.
- The Al Muntaha Restaurant, which is located 200 meters above the Persian Gulf, will leave you speechless. The restaurant has a fantastic view over Dubai. It also features a panoramic elevator, which is really nice.
- The Al Mahara Restaurant is located within the same hotel. The restaurant is extraordinarily opulent, including a 990,000-litre marine tank. Inside the aquarium is a female shark that has given birth for four years in a row (this has never been documented on sharks before).
- The Talise Spa combines the highest level of perfection with the allure of a high-end lifestyle. The hotel has received the title of best luxury hotel spa every year since 2014.
- The Burj Al Arab is a symbol of Dubai’s wonderful culture, having appeared in several films such as Mission: Impossible -Ghost. It is an incredibly beautiful hotel in both Dubai and the rest of the world.
Finally, did you know that the Burj Al Arab’s terrace was carried from Finland to Dubai? This edifice was built on a cruise ship and then brought to Dubai in six sections, only to be put together in Dubai.
I hope this article was useful in helping you learn more about the Burj Al Arab. If you have any queries, please leave them in the comments section below!
Have a pleasant stay at Burj Al Arab.
