It’s a symbol of modern Dubai...
This magnificent seven-star hotel took five years to construct, with it striking gigantic white sail standing
proud off the shore of Dubai it reflect the vision of the young team of designers who refused to compromise on any part of the hotel’s design to ensure that the project pushed the boundaries of design.
The Burj Al-Arab was envisaged by Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a means of diversifying the country’s economy away from oil into tourism. The Sheikh dreamt of a luxury hotel that would put Dubai on the world map, and surprised many by choosing a relatively inexperienced British firm to supply the design. The Sheikh employed the architect Tom Wright of Atkins and Canadian engineer Rick Gregory also of WS Atkins who were tasked to create an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; similar to that of Sydney with its Opera House, London with Big Ben, or Paris with the Eiffel
Tower. The building needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the Dubai.
Construction of the 321m (1,053 ft) building began in 1994 the design team wanted the structure to rise into the sky on an island, giving it the illusion of being at sea.Their refusal to compromise on this element of the design led to the construction of a low-rise, artificial island from concrete cubes on an island of reclaimed land known locally as Chicago Beach this was connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. The building’s layout is organized around two blocks forming a V shape enclosing a main courtyard. Two steel arches, separated from the main structure, give the Burj Al Arab its characteristic form. The facade is covered with two layers of canvas, separated 60 cm from each other, in order to isolate the excessive heat and sunlight.
With the construction coming together and the hotel scheduled to open before the Millennium Tom Wright’s extraordinary designs was to go one step further– crowning the hotel is an enormous “floating” restaurant The Al Muntaha (“The Highest”)which is suspended 200 meters above the sea, projecting itself 30 meters on each side of the central column. The idea of the design is to give diners the feeling that they are dining in the air, with an uninterrupted view of the surroundings.
While the exterior design is remarkable for its sculptural form and its elegant and iconic form, its interior design is opulent, palatial, eclectic and baroque. Its interior design was carried out by Chinese designer Khuan Chew, famous decorator of great hotels in the world. The concept was based on the four elements of the ancient world: water, fire, wind and earth. Water is present in aquariums and fountains at various points in the hotel. Earth is represented by 24,000 m2 of marble and precious stones used. The air is represented in the steam that rises from the fountains, and the fire in another fountain at the entrance of the hotel where water is about ignited. The golden colour throughout is not gold painting. “Here, all that glitters is gold”. Throughout the hotel 2,000 m2 of gold foil was used.
Yet for all the wonder this stunning architecture it’s the service within that really makes the Burj Al Arab so extraordinary. Repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel, this magnificent destination offers you the finest service and facilities throughout – right down to an optional chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce.
Burj Al Arab suite-only accommodation offers discreet check-in within your rooms, a private reception on every floor and a host of personal butlers, each a warm messenger of our unparalleled hospitality. The nine signature restaurants and bars, dining is about far more than food and specialise in bringing together every element to ensure your experience is exceptional from authentic Arabic cuisine to Far East Asian and Modern European dishes, we’ve sourced ingredients from around the globe to create a dining
experience fit for the world’s most luxurious hotel.