Celebrating 25 Years of the Burj Al Arab

One of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks, the Burj Al Arab, is marking its 25th anniversary during the UAE National Day weekend on Sunday, December 1. Officially opened on December 1, 1999, this luxurious hotel has become a significant symbol of Dubai’s grandeur and innovation.

With its stunning design resembling a traditional dhow sail and its unique location on a man-made island, the Burj Al Arab continues to be a must-visit attraction in the city. Over the years, countless visitors have captured its beauty, filling their camera rolls with images of this architectural marvel.

Interestingly, the origins of such an iconic structure are quite humble. The initial sketches were famously doodled on a restaurant napkin by architect Tom Wright in October 1993. The design was born spontaneously when Wright spotted one of Dubai’s distinctive dhow boats sailing nearby while dining at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.

The Dubai Ruler’s office had a clear vision, tasking Wright and his team at WS Atkins to “create an identifiable link for people around the world with the UAE.” This vision led to the first sketch of the Burj Al Arab, which initially proposed placing it directly on the beach. However, concerns over the tower’s shadow impacting local residents led the royal family to relocate the hotel to an island site.

Originally, the beach area was referred to as Chicago Beach, and the project was conceived as a replacement for the existing Chicago Beach Hotel. Ultimately, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided on the name Burj Al Arab, which translates to “the Tower of Arabs,” reflecting the aspiration of Dubai’s rulers for the hotel.

Construction commenced shortly after the design was drafted, with groundbreaking taking place in 1994. A team of top international designers and project managers was assembled to oversee the construction of the 321-meter tall luxury hotel. The Burj Al Arab became part of Jumeirah Group when it was established in 1997.

A man-made island was created specifically for the Burj Al Arab, and construction of the hotel itself was shrouded in secrecy. In fact, the project remained under wraps until the world’s media was informed at the World Travel Market Expo in November 1995—remarkably, no images of the hotel were leaked during this period. The entire construction process spanned five years, with the island taking two years to complete.

Upon its completion, a visiting journalist famously described the hotel as deserving a seven-star rating, a notion that has since captured the imagination of many. However, Jumeirah, the hotel’s owner, has always maintained that it is a proud five-star establishment.

The interiors of the Burj Al Arab exemplify the epitome of luxury, featuring over 30 different types of Statuario marble, the same material used in some of Michelangelo’s masterpieces. An astonishing 1,790 square meters of 24-carat gold leaf adorn the walls and floors, while approximately 86,500 individual hand-fixed pieces of Swarovski crystals embellish the mirrors in the Junsui bar and the entrance.

The Skyview Bar, located on the 27th floor, once served what was then the world’s most expensive mixed drink, the 27.321, priced at Dhs27,321, a nod to the hotel’s impressive height of 321 meters.

Since its grand opening in 1999, the Burj Al Arab has been the backdrop for many iconic moments in Dubai’s history. The helipad has been utilized for various high-profile events, including golf champion Tiger Woods teeing off in 2004 and tennis legends Roger Federer and Andre Agassi rallying in 2005 to promote the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. In another thrilling display, Formula 1 driver David Coulthard performed doughnuts on the helipad in a Red Bull car.

As Thomas Meier, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah, stated, “As we celebrate 25 years since we opened the iconic Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, we reflect on our legacy of excellence in luxury hospitality, inspired by the warmth and generosity of Arabian culture. This tradition of welcoming travelers to stay and share in culture and conversation is at the heart of our vision: to create not just beautiful destinations but spaces to connect the world.”

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