Why the Burj Al Arab hotel is special
The Burj Al Arab is a futuristic architectural marvel towering over the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.
Its design is stunning (see photo) - the Burj Al Arab is shaped like a billowing spinnaker sail. Its height is staggering - the building measures 332 meters (1053 feet), making it one of the world's highest buildings.
The Burj Al Arab (means "The Arabian Tower" in Arabic) is built on a tiny man-made sea island, a mere football kick from the Dubai mainland. A short causeway (see photo) links the hotel to the Dubai mainland.
The skyscraping Burj Al Arab is firmly rooted. Its foundation pillars reach 40 meters (120 feet) underneath the seabed.

The Burj Al Arab is bigger than it seems
The hotel building is significantly taller than it appears to the eye. The Burj Al Arab's streamlined shape and its double floor design help create the optical illusion. To grasp the Burj Al Arab's height, imagine the 102 floor Empire State Building standing next to the the Burj Al Arab, which is just 16% shorter.



Burj Al Arab's atrium

The Burj Al Arab's atrium is the world's tallest, measuring 180 meters (600 feet) high. The interior cavity rises from the lobby level to the building's upper floors.



The Burj Al Arab's changing facade
The Teflon-coated building is brilliant white during a sunny day, but takes on an entirely different look at night. Computer programmed spotlights create a changing tableau of colors on the white facade.




Burj Al Arab's Suites
The Burj Al Arab is an all-suite hotel. There are 202 double-floor suites. Each is sumptuously decorated and equipped with high-tech devices. The Burj Al Arab suite windows stretch floor to ceiling, offering grand sea and land views. Each suite has its own private butler.
Double occupancy rates start at about $1,000 per night for one bedroom suites. The two sprawling Royal Suites go for more than $5,000 a night.

Burj Al Arab's underwater restaurant
Guests take a short submarine ride from the Burj Al Arab hotel lobby to reach the hotel's undersea Al Manhara seafood restaurant. Seated diners view teeming Arabian Gulf ocean life in a hangar size aquarium tank through a long curving wall of sizable picture windows.

Burj Al Arab's helipad
A helipad dramatically juts out from one of the upper Burj Al Arab's floors.Helicopters ferry guests to and from Dubai's modern international airport. "Budget-minded" guests take the hotel's Silver Cloud Rolls Royce limousines.

Dubai
The Emirate of Dubai - the home of the Burj Al Arab hotel - is itself a Hillman Wonder. It ranks in the 101 to 200 class, thereby winning the Hillman Wonder Silver Medal According to the United Nations, Dubai - is now the world's fastest growing travel destination. Click these buttons for more information about Dubai:


What leading travel books say about the Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel
The Burj Al Arab is the world's most lavish hotel.
Dubai
Lonely Planet