BURJ AL ARAB


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BURJ AL ARAB
321 metres/1,053 feet
60 stories
Completed: 1999

Like Paris has its Eifel Tower, Sydney its Opera House,
San Francisco its Golden Gate Bridge, Dubai has its Burj Al Arab,
Dubai's Icon and the only seven-star hotel in the world.


Some Burj Al Arab facts & figures:

- the tower, shaped like a giant sail, is 321m/1,053f tall and has 60 stories.
- It's currently the 19th tallest building in the world.
- Construction started in April of 1996;
- The building was completed in November 1999.
- And designed by WS Atkins & Partners.
- The building lies some 15 kilometres from Dubai's city centre.
- It's the tallest all-hotel tower in the world.
- It also has the tallest atrium in the world (182m/596f).
- It is the tallest structure in the world with a membrane facade.
- 212 metres (695f) above the ground a helicopter pad is situated (see picture #196);
This pad is 24 metres wide (79 feet), and was used in the past,
for tennis and golf promotions and advertisements.
- The building is illuminated at night;
this light spectacle starts at 7pm and every 15 minutes the color scheme changes.
- The building is situated on an artificial island in the Gulf (300m offshore).
It's built on sand and supported on 250 columns, 45 metres (148f) under the sea.
- The mast on top is 104 metres tall (341f) in total;
and 60 metres (197f) from the point where it rises above the rest of the building.
- The hotel has 202 suites.
- The building is guarded like a little fortress;
access is only possible with a reservation or an invitation;
and there's a dress code as well; sneakers and shorts are out of the order.
In the past, non-visitors were able to buy admission to the lobby of the hotel,
but this isn't possible anymore.



All pictures copyright (c) 2001 & 2005 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
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