31 Amazing Burj Al Arab Facts Revealed About The Tallest Hotel In The World!

Martha Martins
Oct 11, 2023 By Martha Martins
Originally Published on Jan 26, 2022
Explore Burj Al Arab facts and much more about this amazing structure!

Burj Al Arab, a world-renowned luxury hotel, is one of Dubai's most famous landmarks.

The structure is located near Jumeirah Beach on an artificial island. The Burj Al Arab is a masterpiece that overlooks Dubai City and was built to seem like a ship's sail.

It stands on a reclaimed island 918 ft (280 m) offshore from the former Chicago Beach hotel on what was once known as Miami Beach.

The building's location on an artificial island away from the coast made construction extremely difficult. We may even say that building a structure like this in the sea is not only an architectural but also a technical marvel.

The entire hotel is situated on a man-made island in the Arabian Gulf, with a dhow sail-inspired shape. There are four swimming pools, nine restaurants and bars, a helicopter, a private beach, and a lake on the inside, as well as a dizzying array of opulent materials such as 24K gold leaf and 30 different varieties of marble.

Where is Burj al Arab?

Listed below are facts about the building and its location. Read on to learn more about this magnificent hotel.

  • The Burj Al Arab is a grand hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  • It is the world's seventh-highest hotel, and it was built on an artificial island about 918 ft (280 m) from the nearest shore, Jumeirah Beach.
  • The manmade island of Burj Al Arab is connected to the mainland by a private bridge.
  • The Burj Al Arab is owned by Jumeriah Hotels and Resorts, a network of luxury hotels in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Jumeirah Beach is the nearest beach to the Burj Al Arab.
  • The Chicago Beach Hotel was located on this beach, which was originally known as Miami Beach. The Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, which used to transport large containers of oil in the area, gave it its name.
  • 1102.3 t (1000 mt) of white sand was imported to construct the beach.
  • The terrace wasn't even constructed on the property.
  • It was created by about 160 employees at the cruise ship and yacht fabrication facilities in Finland.

Features Of Burj Al Arab

This outstanding hotel has been classified as the world's only seven-star hotel due to its complexity and opulent style. Read on to know more about it!

  • The atrium lobby of the Burj Al Arab is the world's tallest, standing at 590 ft (180 m).
  • With a stunning central fountain where water arches dance in surprising spurts over 138 ft (42 m) into the air, the atrium is bathed in warm natural light and bordered by golden columns.
  • The Burj Al Arab's Cascade Waterfall creates a unique kaleidoscope effect by combining highly atomized water with fiber optics.
  • Water arches gracefully in a synchronized pattern as water and fog flow downward through the glass and stone-filled steps.
  • The Burj Al Arab hotel has three aquariums, two on each side of the main hotel lobby and a circular tank in Al Mahara restaurant, containing roughly 50 different species of fish.
  • Junsui Lounge's ceiling is covered with around 29,000 Swarovski crystals in the shape of the Milky Way.
  • The cantilevered platform near the roof, which hovers at a height of 689 ft (210 m) above ground and is used as a helipad, is one of Burj Al Arab's most iconic features.
  • Tiger Woods once played golf on the very same helipad.
  • The expanded structure features Al Muntaha,  a restaurant with outstanding aerial views of the Persian Gulf and Dubai city that may be reached through a panoramic elevator.
  • The Al Muntaha restaurant, which serves experimental modern French cuisine, has been taken up by Chef Francky Semblat.
  • Aside from the restaurant in the sky, there's also Al Mahara, a restaurant beneath the sea that can be reached via a simulated submarine expedition.
  • The large seawater aquarium at Al Mahara can hold up to 261530.3 gal (990,000 l) of seawater, making it one of the most costly hotels in the world.
  • The Terrace of Burj Al Arab was built in a Finnish cruise ship and yacht manufacturing plant and brought to Dubai in six parts.
  • Since then, 10 million gold and azure mosaic tiles have been installed in the two pools.

 

Why is Burj al Arab special?

The following are some noteworthy facts regarding the Burj Al Arab that you might like to know!

The Burj Al Arab was previously the tallest hotel in the world, however, it has now been overtaken by three additional hotel buildings in Dubai: Rose Tower, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, and Gevora hotel.

  • It is now the fifth tallest hotel in Dubai. It is listed in the top 10 list of the world's tallest hotels (excluding mixed-use structures) at 1,053 ft (321 m).
  • On a reclaimed artificial island, the Burj Al Arab stands.
  • The Burj Al Arab is the world's only skyscraper built on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf, located 918 ft (280 m) off Jumeirah Beach and connected to the mainland by a private curved bridge.
  • It is one of the world's most luxurious hotels to stay at.
  • Suites start at $1000 per night and go up to almost $15,000 per night, with the Royal Suite being the most expensive at $24,000 per night. This is intriguing because it is one of the most expensive hotel suites ever.
  • The Royal Suite is so opulent that it is solely reserved for the most important people.
  • For the second year in a row, the Talise Spa at the grand hotel has won the 'Best Luxury Hotel Spa' title in the 'World Luxury Spa Awards Global Winners' category.
  • Burj Al Arab in Dubai was designed by Atkins, a multidisciplinary consultancy led by architect Tom Wright, and is shaped like a ship's sail.
  • Tom Wright is a British architect; The hotel was conceived in October 1993 and completed on-site in 1999.
  • Its unique shape has inspired the design of many other skyscrapers and tall structures around the world, including the Vasco da Gama Tower in Lisbon and the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel in Panama City.
  • The Dubai hotel has set a staggering number of records.
  • In 2008, the Burj Al Arab broke the Guinness World Record for the most expensive drink, valued at 27,321 AED, as well as being the tallest all-suite hotel in the world.
  • It also produced the world's largest tin of caviar in 2016, which contained 38 lb (17 kg) of Empress caviar, the world's only fully-certified organic caviar from native-raised sturgeon.
  • The Burj Al Arab has a smart casual or smart elegant dress code that is largely enforced when visiting the bar or restaurants.
  • Men should dress conservatively by wearing a collared shirt, full-length pants, and closed shoes, while women should dress modestly by wearing a suit, dress, or long skirt.
  • The lunch buffet in the Al Iwan restaurant costs about $125. While children between 4-11 pay $63.

Construction Of Burj Al Arab

It's interesting to know about the development and construction of Burj Al Arab!

  • The exquisite hotel's development began in 1994, with over 2000 people collaborating to ensure the project's success.
  • The hotel was designed to mimic a J-class yacht's billowing spinnaker sail.
  • It took two years to recover the island off the shore of the Arabian Gulf, and another three years to build the magnificent Burj Al Arab.
  • It was opened five years later and has since become one of Dubai's most prestigious addresses.
  • The tower required an enormous 247,2026.7 cu ft (70,000 cu m) of concrete and almost 9920.8 t (9000 mt) of steel to construct.
  • 230 131 ft (40 m) long concrete piles were driven into the sand to build the artificial island.
  • They then built a surface out of rocks that were reinforced with concrete to prevent erosion.
  • The interiors of the Burj Al Arab were finished with the finest and most rare materials available.
  • Custom-made carpets and rugs from South Africa and India, marble from Brazil and Italy, oak doors from Dubai, and chandeliers from the United Kingdom were among the beautiful goods brought in to create the magical interiors.
  • The inside was decorated with approximately 19,267.4 sq ft (1790 sq m) of 24-carat gold leaf.
  • Despite its size, the Burj Al Arab only has 28 double-story floors with 202 bedroom suites.
  • The smallest suite is 1819.1 sq ft (169 sq m), while the largest is 8396 sq ft (780 sq m).
  • There are 142 one-bedroom deluxe suites, 28 two-bedroom deluxe suites, 18 panoramic suites, four club suites, six diplomatic suites, two presidential suites, and two royal suites.
  • With an exquisite majlis style parlor, library, and cinema room, as well as two master bathrooms, each with full-size Jacuzzis and separate five-head rain showers, the enormous 8396 sq ft (780 sq m) Royal Suite is fit for royalty!

 

Did You Know...

CNN Go conducted a survey in 2012 to determine where the world's most expensive hotel rooms may be found. The Royal Suite of the Burj Al Arab was ranked 12th among the top 15 hotels in the world.

  • The floral arrangements in the foyer are created by a team of up to six florists in roughly eight hours, using flowers delivered from Holland, Kenya, South Africa, and Thailand.
  • The flower staff makes every effort to include a guest's favorite flowers in their suite's floral displays, making unique arrangements in advance of their arrival.
  • The Burj Al Arab has enlisted the help of two of the world's most celebrated chefs to create the onsite menus.
  • The Al Muntaha restaurant, which serves experimental modern French cuisine, has been taken up by Chef Francky Semblat.
  • At the 27th-floor Sky View Bar & Restaurant, Chef Kim Joinie-Maurin is in charge of tapas and international specialties.
  • There is a turtle hospital in the hotel.
  • The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is based at the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah, and it treats sick and injured sea turtles in collaboration with Dubai's Wildlife Protection Office, Dubai Falcon Clinic, and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.
  • Since its inception in 2004, the initiative has safely released over 1600 rescued sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf.

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Written by Martha Martins

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha Martins picture

Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.

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