Burj al Arab Hotel - Dubai

Country UAE

Floors 60

Height(m) 321

Height(ft) 1053

Date Built 1999

Concept No

Complete Yes

Description

Vital Statistics :

The Burj al-Arab is a luxury hotel which is the tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. It stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the shape of the sail of an Arabian boat dhow. The hotel boasts 8,000 square meters of 22-carat gold leaf and 24,000 square meters of 30 different types of marble and it features the tallest atrium lobby in the world, at 180 meters (590 feet). One of its restaurants, Al Muntaha (Arabic meaning "Highest" or "Ultimate"), is located 200 meters above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai.Another restaurant, the Al Mahara (Arabic "The Oyster"), which is accessed via a simulated submarine voyage, features a large sea water aquarium, holding roughly 35,000 cubic feet (over one million liters) of water. The building contains over 70,000 cubic meters of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.

Special Design Features :It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. While the exterior of the Burj al Arab is expressed in terms of ultra-modern sculptural design, the interior guest space is a compilation of lavish and luxurious architectural styles from both the east and the west.