BURJ AL ARAB

Description

Essentials about the Burj Al Arab in brief

A hotel as a place of interest? Yes, definitely! Because the Burj Al Arab (Engl. “Tower of the Arabs”) is not just any hotel, but perhaps the most extraordinary in the world. Due to its unique sail shape and exposed location off the coast of Dubai, the Burj Al Arab is not only visible from afar, but has also quickly become a Dubai landmark after its construction. It is also one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the world (more on this below).

The architecture of the Burj Al Arab

It was the express wish of the Emir of Dubai as the client to create an architectural icon with the Burj Al Arab. Architect Tom Wright has certainly succeeded in fulfilling this wish. The shape of the building is reminiscent of the sail of a dhow – a type of ship widespread in the Arab world – and is intended as a reminder of Dubai’s past and future as a maritime trading center.

The building of the Burj Al Arab

Construction of the complex began in 1994. Initially, around two years were needed to create the load-bearing artificial island on which the Burj Al Arab now stands. The building’s support piles extend up to 45 meters below the seabed to ensure a secure foundation. The original plan was to build the hotel directly on the coast rather than on an artificial island in front of it. However, this plan was rejected because the building would have cast too large a shadow on the beach. In 1999, construction of the Burj Al Arab was completed after only five years.

The building measures 321 meters to the top and is thus only three meters lower than the Eiffel Tower. For the Burj Al Arab, the gigantic quantities of 70,000 cubic meters of concrete, 43,000 square meters of glass, 9,000 tons of steel, 13,000 cubic meters of Carrara marble, 12,000 cubic meters of granite, 32,000 cubic meters of Italian mosaic and 8,000 square meters of gold leaf were used.

The facilities and rooms of the Burj Al Arab

But the result is really something to be proud of. The Burj Al Arab is often described in the press as a 7-star hotel. What constitutes the sixth and seventh star, every guest must find out for himself (there are certainly enough reasons), because officially the Burj Al Arab carries the maximum number of stars of “only” five. Here are a few reasons why the hotel categorization should be expanded to seven stars to do justice to a luxury hostel like the Burj Al Arab:

That this hotel deserves more than five stars is evident as soon as you enter the building. The escalators leading up to the lobby pass by two aquariums, each three meters high, containing coral reefs. The lobby itself is designed with soft tufted carpets, several fountains and cascades. And no less than 8,000 square meters of gold leaf were used to decorate the hotel’s interiors.

As befits a 7-star hotel, the property’s 202 rooms are all suites. People with a smaller travel budget can book one of the “small” suites at 169 square meters (unfortunately, you can’t get smaller at the Burj Al Arab). In the low season, prices start at around 1,000 euros per night. But for that you get accommodation on two floors, with a living room, bar and office corner on the lower floor and a bedroom with dressing room and bathroom with whirlpool on the upper floor. A small luxury detail on the side: check-in is not done at a reception desk as in an ordinary hotel, but by the personal butler in the suite itself. Those who can’t manage to fit their luggage into 169 square meters can also book suites with up to 780 square meters at the Burj Al Arab.

Speaking of luxury: This already begins with the arrival at the Burj Al Arab. A fleet of Rolls-Royces and BMWs is available for all guests for the transfer from the airport to the hotel. Those who find the journey in a car too ordinary can, of course, also book a helicopter transfer. There is a helipad on the roof of the building for such purposes.

The restaurants and bars at the Burj Al Arab

Another highlight of the Burj Al Arab are the eight hotel restaurants and bars, which are distinguished by their individual styles. Those who enjoy dining in an underwater environment should reserve a table at the Al Mahara. A three-minute submarine ride is simulated for guests in the elevator leading to the restaurant. The interior of Al Mahara is dominated by a huge marine aquarium, around which the tables are arranged. Those who prefer to enjoy views of the real sea and the massive man-made island of The Palm Jumeirah should dine at the Al Muntaha restaurant. It juts out of the building 200 meters above sea level on the seaward side and offers a magnificent view over the Persian Gulf.

The pool and spa area at the Burj Al Arab

For those who want to do some sports or need to relax due to this overdose of luxury, the pool and spa area is located on the 18th floor. All facilities such as the pool, spa, and gym are, of course, identical in equipment and size once for men and once for women, in accordance with the Arabian code of manners (the men’s area, however, may be shared by women). The indoor pool overlooks the undulating Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Wild Wadi Water Park, and The World man-made island world.

The hotel also has an outdoor pool on the sea side on the first floor. To ensure that hotel guests always enjoy comfortable water temperatures, the pool is cooled in summer and heated in winter. For hotel guests who prefer to go swimming in the sea, there is a shuttle service with golf carts from the outdoor pool to the hotel’s own beach, which is 200 meters away from the hotel. Guests can thus get to the beach directly from their room in swimwear without having to cross the lobby.

Visiting the Burj Al Arab

Last but not least, a tip for those who want to see the Burj Al Arab without staying at the hotel: To get through hotel security, you need a reservation at one of the restaurants. If you don’t want to have a multi-course dinner right away, you can also go for a cocktail or have the famous Afternoon Tea at the hotel. All info and details can be found on the hotel website.