The Burj Al Arab is Dubai's most recognisable building — the sail-shaped tower that became a global symbol of the city's ambitions when it opened in 1999. Built on an artificial island 280 metres offshore and connected to the mainland by a private causeway, it is marketed as the world's only seven-star hotel (a designation its marketing team invented). At 321 metres, it was briefly the world's tallest hotel.
Non-guests cannot simply walk in: you need a dining or afternoon tea reservation to access the interior. This is worth doing at least once, even if only for the atrium — a 182-metre-high hollow column that is one of the most extraordinary interior spaces in the world, decorated in gold, marble, and every bold colour imaginable. The sky view bar on the 27th floor is the most accessible option. The views back to the mainland and across the Palm are excellent.
story: > The Burj Al Arab was designed by British architect Tom Wright, who was challenged to create a building that would become synonymous with Dubai the way the Sydney Opera House is with Australia. He was given three design concepts: a sailing boat, a fin, and an arched shape. The sail won. The fabric facade is actually a double-skin woven glass fibre membrane — the same technology used in high-performance sails.