Burj al-Arab

About Burj al-Arab

Luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel shaped like the sail of a dhow, standing on an artificial island 280 metres off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai and linked to the shore by a private curving bridge. Managed by Jumeirah, it was opened by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on 1 December 1999 and became the first architectural icon of modern Dubai, a symbol of the city's transformation from a coastal trading port into one of the fastest-growing centres of tourism, commerce and finance in the world. It rises 321 metres and for years topped the list of the world's tallest hotels, although 39 per cent of its height is non-occupiable space; a helipad sits near the roof at 210 metres. Often described as the most luxurious hotel in the world and popularly called "seven-star", it is in fact a five-star deluxe hotel, and it hosts royalty, heads of state and celebrities visiting the Emirates. Entry is restricted to hotel guests, diners with restaurant reservations and guided-tour groups, so most travellers admire it from the public Jumeirah Beach or from Madinat Jumeirah, where the white sail over the water looks its best at sunset and when lit in changing colours at night.

Where:

Dubai, United Arab Emirates