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Burj Al-Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 1,053 ft, it is the fourth-tallest hotel in the world. It stands on an artificial island 920 ft out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge.
The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. The hotel's Royal Suite is the most luxurious and the most expensive.
Let's take a look at the Royal Suite.
Courtesy, Jumeirah.com
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The beachfront area where Burj Al Arab is located was previously called Chicago Beach. The hotel is located on an island of reclaimed land 280 metres offshore of the beach of the former Chicago Beach Hotel.
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The locale's name had its origins in the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company which at one time welded giant floating oil storage tankers on the site.
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The old name persisted after the old Hotel was demolished in 1997. Dubai Chicago Beach Hotel remained as the Public Project Name for the construction phase of Burj Al Arab Hotel until Dubai's ruler announced the new name.
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Burj Al-Arab was designed by architect Tom Wright of WS Atkins. The design and construction were managed by Canadian engineer Rick Gregory also of WS Atkins.
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Construction of the Island began in 1994. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.
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The architect Tom Wright said: "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, London with Big Ben, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower."
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Several features of the hotel required complex engineering feats to achieve. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 920 ft offshore.
To secure a foundation, the builders drove 130 ft long concrete piles into the sand.
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The hotel is managed by the Jumeirah Group. Despite its size, Burj Al-Arab holds only 28 double-storey floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites.
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The smallest suite occupies an area of 1,820 sq ft, the largest covers 8,400 sq ft. Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west.
White columns show great influence. Bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns.
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Prices of rooms vary from $1,000 to $27,000 per night for the Royal Suite.