Rising from the Arabian Gulf on an island 919 ft from the shores of Jumeirah beach and the opulent city of Dubai, stands the iconic Burj Al Arab, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture and what claims to be the most luxurious hotel in the world. Designed to resemble the graceful sails of an Arabian vessel, Burj Al Arab is known as the symbolize of Dubai’s urban transformation. Architect Tom Wright said “The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country.” The hotel cost $650 million to build. It has 202 bedroom suites that range in size from 1,819 sq ft to 8,396 sq ft. It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world costing between $1,000 to $28,000 per night. The Burj Al Arab is dressed in vibrant colours and lavish materials. Chairs and sofas are upholstered in flame-reds and yellows while white Tuscan columns, spiral staircase covered in marble and wrought-iron gold leaf railing give the hotel a lavish feel. I love how Sam Wollaston of The Guardian described the Burj, as “…fabulous, hideous, and the very pinnacle of tackiness – like Vegas after a serious, no-expense-spared, sheik-over.” A place we just have to see to believe.
Photos courtesy of yohanes budiyanto and EfromG on Flickr