Dubai
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The Burj Al Arab is located on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) from Jumeirah beach on the Dubai shoreline
and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said
Khalil. Construction started in 1994 and completed in 1999. The design, by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC, is
designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a traditional Arab dhow. The hotel cost
$650 million to build. At 321 metres (1,053 ft) and 60 floors, it was the world's tallest building used exclusively as a
hotel until the completion of the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in 23 December 2009, also in Dubai.
The design features a steel exoskeleton wrapped around
a reinforced concrete tower. Two wings spread in a V
shape to form a vast mast, while the space between
them is enclosed in a massive atrium by a teflon-coated
fibreglass sail. During the day, the white fabric allows a
soft, milky light inside the hotel, whereas a clear, glass
front would produce blinding amounts of glare and a
constantly increasing temperature. At night, both inside
and outside, the fabric is lit by colour changing lights.
Near the top of the building is a suspended helipad
supported by a cantilever which has featured some of
the hotel's notable publicity events.
The hotel's interior was designed by Kunan Chew. It
features the world's tallest atrium lobby at 180 metres.
The atrium lobby is formed by the building's V-shaped
span, dominates the interior of the hotel, and takes up
Burj al Arab (Mina a'Salam in foreground)
over 1/3 of the interior space. Despite its size, t