There are many beautiful and luxurious hotels in the world, but the Burj Al Arab Jumeriah in Dubai is my favorite hotel due to its unique architecture and setting. The hotel is located on its own island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, one of the fastest-growing and most beautiful cities in the world. This island was specially constructed for the hotel complex and is supported by 130 foot long concrete piles in the Arabian sand. The artificial island is linked to the city with a private, curved bridge that spans over one thousand feet.
The Burj Al Arab, or Tower of the Arabs, was designed by Tom Wright with the intention of creating an icon for Dubai. The exterior of the hotel resembles the sail of a ship; Wright was inspired to create the design on the back of a napkin after a trip to Dubai where he observed many billowing “dhow” sails on the water. Although the building is 1053 feet high, there are only 60 floors of usable space because of a triangular cutout at the top of the facade. The cutout highlights the sail-like quality of the building, creating a feeling of air within the otherwise dense structure. It almost looks as if the building is setting out to the sea, like a real boat. This interesting shape makes the Burj Al Arab, which is a five-star hotel, unofficially referred to as the only 7-star hotel in the world.
The interior of the Burj Al Arab consists of a 590 foot high atrium with a crystal ceiling and 24,000 square meters of Statuario marble on the floor and walls and gold embellishments at every turn. There is also a glass elevator, nine restaurants, and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel has 202 guest rooms, all of which are duplexes furnished with opulent pieces and amenities. The largest room is the Royal Suite, which has its own elevator, a private movie theater and a rotating bed.
Adjacent to the hotel, there is a private outdoor complex that stretches into the Arabian Sea with several pools, hot tubs and restaurants. Additionally, there is a platform at the top of the hotel that has been used as a helipad, race track, boxing ring and even as a tennis court (the highest tennis court in the world).
Overall, the iconic architecture and opulence of the Burj Al Arab makes it a symbol of Dubai and my personal favorite hotel. I hope to visit there one day!
