Burj al Arab (0)

Burj al-Arab Hotel - The tourist magnet of Dubai

The Burj Al Arab : literally , Tower of the Arabs is a luxury hotel located in Dubai , United Arab Emirates.

Construction

Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. In 1999 the tower that resembles the sail of a dhow, became the world’s tallest hotel with the height of 321 m. The architect Tom Wright has said that 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 had to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country. The world's tallest hotel is also popularly described as the world's only 7-Star hotel - although its formal rating is 5 Star Deluxe, the highest the international rating system offers.

They say, this building was the dream of a sultan, (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan) which turned out to be a reality years later in Dubai.

The hotel has the most luxurious interior imaginable. The most expensive materials were used throughout the building. It is said that the hotel cost $650 million to build . As you can imagine , it is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. The cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per night ; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at $28,000 per night.
Rooms
There are 202 suites in the hotel, every suite has sumptuous living and dining area, and office facilities.
Rooms are a riot of velvet and satin and gilded edges. Grander suites like the Royal and Presidential have private cinemas and some two dozen telephones, full - size bars and their own elevators. All rooms have access to chauffeured Rolls -Royces or BMWs, along with helicopters for the short flight to the airport .
Highlights
The 27th-floor Skyview Bar is the best place to appreciate the heights of the world's tallest hotel while you can check out the hotel's supermodern design. One of its restaurants, Al Muntaha is located 200  metres above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai. The main chef there (Edah Semaj Leachim) was awarded Chef of the Year 2006 and also owns the restaurant . Another restaurant, the Al Mahara features a large seawater aquarium , holding roughly over one million litres of water. The restaurant was also voted among the top ten best restaurants of the world (by Condé Nast Traveler). There's a fully equipped spa, a club for kids and a private beach on site, along with every imaginable water sport a short stroll away at the Burj's sister, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Trick to get in for free:
There is an entry fee to the hotel if you just want to see it from the inside, which is about 50 euros. Although there is a trick that might help you get in without payment. Make a reservation on the phone for any restaurant in Burj al-Arab, you will get a reservation number which you have to show at the front gate. When you get inside to the hotel, just avoid the restaurant. The only thing is to make sure you don’t give your real phone number to them .
Few places in the world compare with Dubai. For people who have been in Dubai before , it is a treasure trove. For first time visitors, it is an endless surprise .
The Sinbad’s Kid’s Club is located on the 18the floor of Burj Al Arab and is staffed at all times by professional carers. It offers activities for children aged between 1-12 years old.
There is a spacious playroom, soft toys , board games , computer games, books and a large plasma screen featuring the Disney Channel. There is also a cozy quiet bedroom with a soft bed and a baby cot, in case one of the younger quests should feel tired. In addition , the club offers a wide choice of outdoor activities
While visiting Burj Al Arab, people often go sightseeing . A really popular place to visit is one of the world’s most impressive water parks Wild Wadi. This is the perfect location for leisure , as well as special events such as team building and business functions.
The story of Wild Wadi all began with a cool dude called Juha and his brave friend Sinbad. One day as they were returning from one of their adventures, they were suddenly caught up in the mother of all storms. Somehow Juha, his family, Sinbad, the entire crew and even Juha’s donkey managed to survive . They found themselves stranded on a beautiful lagoon, surrounded by mountains and all sorts of exotic plants and wild life. So the kids came up with new ideas to have fun. They asked the crew to redirect the streams and create waterfalls and water slides. Then they used palm leaves to build rafts, which they sat on and floated downstream. And when they tired of that, they simply threw themselves into the rushing water and had a great time. Pretty soon others were drawn to this magical place and among them was and old guy who came from an unheard of place. Even he thought that Wild Wadi was really cool and predicted that in the future many people would actually queue up to get a piece of the action .
Burj Al Arab has attracted many celebrities over the years. Claudia Schiffer was quoted saying that her “favorite hotel is Burj Al Arab in Dubai.” And in 2006, Naomi Campbell ’s boyfriend threw a huge bash in Burj Al Arab, renting out all the rooms.