Located on a man-made island off the coast of Dubai, the Burj Al Arab is considered to be the first 7 Star resort in the world. Operated by the Jumeirah hotel chain, this stunning hotel stands at 1,053 feet tall, which makes it the fourth tallest hotel in the world.
The iconic shaped hotel, which dominates the Dubai skyline and appears like a sail, cost over 1 billion dollars to erect. Built-in 1999, the Burj Al Arab has won numerous awards as the most luxurious hotel in the world. Tom Wright of WKK Architects designed this hotel. It has been compared to legendary structures like the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, or London’s Big Ben. Tom Wright used images of the Arabian sailboats, known as Dhows, as his inspiration.
This all-suite hotel is full of luxurious extravagances such as a Rolls-Royce chauffeur, the 14-piece set of Hermès toiletries in every bathroom, 13-selection pillow menus, several personal butlers for each suite, and 24 karat gold everything.
Each of the 202 suites contains two-floors with marble staircases and a mini office that has either a MacBook or a gold-plated iPad. There are TVs that rise from mahogany desks, and electronic remotes control the blinds, doors, music and allow you to message your butler at any time of the day. The Burj boasts a 6:1 staff to guest ratio. Notable celebrities that have frequented the Burj include Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Giorgio Armani, John Travolta, and the Kardashian’s.
The Burg Al Arab has nine restaurants and bars with three Michelin class chefs. This beachfront hotel also operates an exotic aquarium and a team of marine biologists. Their Al Mahara’s restaurant features the stunning floor to ceiling aquarium and creates a unique dining atmosphere.
This hotel has a glamorous spa as well as 4 swimming pools, 2 of which are indoor.
The opulence of this hotel begins at the driveway that leads to the private island. Getting into the Burj requires a hotel reservation or a dining reservation, and security is tight. Guests dining can only arrive 30 minutes prior to their reservation, and they must leave following their meal.
One of the highlights of this hotel is the high tea on the 27th floor at the Skyview Bar. Here you can see the entire Dubai coastline from the floor to ceiling windows.
