BURJ AL ARAB

Along with the Burj Khalifa, it's the symbol of Dubai, and a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Like the great white sail of a traditional boat inflated by the winds of the Gulf, the Burj Al Arab rises 321 m above the waves, on its artificial island planted 280 m from the coast. Purposely named the "Tower of the Arabs", the edifice aims to assert the emirate's power, symbolizing Dubai's ongoing spirit of conquest over the world. Nothing was left to chance in the construction of this giant tower, designed so that its shadow does not cover the beach. But why on an artificial island? Because the Burj's architect wanted the building to look as if it were rising out of the water... So it was decided to build an island 270 m off Jumeirah beach. Yes, in Dubai, even the wildest dreams can come true! The engineers had the difficult task of finding a solution to make the island resistant to erosion by the sea. The island was surrounded by concrete wave barriers, rising 7.50 m above the water. Engineers also built a steel rampart 20 m below the surface, and a layer of concrete insulation, to prevent the sand below the surface from threatening the foundations.

The tower-hotel, built by South Africans to designs by British architect Tom Wright, was inaugurated on December 31, 1999. Construction of this pharaonic building took a total of 6 years. It's one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, and some people have even joked that it's the only 7-star hotel on the planet, although this title has never been made official. The "Tower of the Arabs" lives up to its reputation as an iconic building, as inseparable from Dubai as the Burj Khalifa. With 24,000 m² of marble, 1,600 m² of 24-carat gold leaf, a 180 m-high interior atrium, eight restaurants, a giant aquarium, rooms of at least 170 m² - all duplexes - served by an average of 8 employees, a pillow menu with 17 choices, a sublime spa with colorful Roman baths, fiber-optic controlled fountains, 28,000 lamps for night lighting, a suspended circular helipad on which guests can also play tennis, two giant Rolexes suspended from the entrance, 18 elevators including 2 panoramic ones. Like a beehive for fanciful billionaires, this tower never ceases to fascinate visitors from all over the world. Don't miss out on a visit to the emirate for a true taste of Dubai's excess.