Mary Dover
Taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Burj Al Arab or Arabian Tower – the world’s first seven star hotel – has opened in Dubai.
The hotel is part of a three-part leisure paradise along the Jumeirah coastline, combining the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the recently opened Wadi Wadi waterpark, which boasts the highest slide outside of North America.
Situated on a man-made island 280m offshore, the Arabian Tower has 202 luxury suites and offers guests an exclusive view of Dubai’s shoreline.
Guests are transferred from Dubai International Airport by Rolls-Royce limousine or helicopter, to be greeted by the hotel staff in the reception area, which hosts the world’s tallest atrium. A waterfall, billows of dry ice and two glass-encased coral reefs illuminate an oasis of colours.
The hotel aims to provide guests with an unparalleled experience of 21st century Arabic hospitality. Each suite has a butler service and is equipped with all the latest mod cons.
There are four themed restaurants, each promising a unique dining experience, from panoramic views to a three-minute submarine voyage through a marine wonderland.
The pampering doesn’t end there. The Assawan Spa and Health Club has private health and fitness facilities, as well as beauty treatments for both men and women.
Construction of the hotel began in 1994 and it is being hailed as a major architectural and engineering feat. The dramatic, billowing sail-shaped structure soars 321m above the Arabian Gulf and has 28 floors. It took 3E500 designers, engineers and construction staff to build the hotel out of 360E000m3 of concrete and more than 9 000 tonnes of steel. The foundation is 250 piles driven 40m deep to secure it to the seabed. A causeway links Burj Al Arab to the shore and the city.
Of course, all this does not come cheap. A one bedroom suite will cost close to $1E000 per night, two bedrooms in the region of $2 000 and the Royal Suite (a whopping 780m2 in size) will set you back nearly $7E000.
For more information, contact the Government of Dubai’s local office on (011) 784-6708