Dubai – The iconic Burj Al Arab hotel is a symbol of Dubai. Those who travel to the emirate always try to go near the sail-shaped hotel to take photos from a distance, whether from the beach or the bridge that connects the building to the mainland. But until now, only those who stayed for at least one night at the hotel would get to know the interior of the Tower of the Arabs. But that will change from Friday, October 15, when the Inside Burj Al Arab tour is launched, allowing tourists to satisfy their curiosity about the hotel considered the most luxurious in the world.
ANBA made the tour and brought a little about this must-see visit, which starts outside the Burj. Next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, visitors are warmly welcomed with lemon and mint juice at the Inside Burj Al Arab lounge. Then, groups of up to twelve people take the exclusive golf cart for the tour, which will take them to the hotel, stopping to take pictures at a strategic point with a full-rounded view of the building.
Inside the hotel, the group is welcomed by a friendly hostess who offers hand sanitizer and cold washcloths. Theatrically and joyfully, she initiates the 90-minute experience by telling a little about the hotel’s history and what will be seen next.
The tour starts at the majestic lobby. There begins the feast for the eyes that is the interior of the Burj Al Arab. The attention to every detail of the decoration signed by interior designer Khuan Chew brings together vibrant colors in carpets, natural lighting, golden columns and an aquarium as you climb the escalators that lead to a fountain, a spectacle in its own right that forms 42-meter water arcs in the air. The lobby’s ceiling is 180 meters tall and overlooks the 25 floors, with curved shapes and gradient colors.
The panoramic elevator has a unique view of the serene beaches of the Arabian Gulf and takes visitors directly – and very quickly – to the 25th floor (which would be the 50th floor in an ordinary building, as all suites have two stories), 200 meters up from the ground floor.
Royal Suite
On the 25th floor, we reach the door of the royal suite, which was deactivated about a year ago to become part of the tour inside the hotel – a one-night stay in the room used to cost USD 25,000. A young butler welcomes visitors and tells stories of this spacious and opulent two-story apartment that hosted various celebrities like Nelson Mandela to Selena Gomez.
Lots of gold, inshallah! The round bathtub in the suite’s bathroom is carved in Italian marble, and if you prefer to take a shower, the box is covered with 22 to 24K -old tiles, and even the showerhead is golden. The bedroom ladybug wallpaper is unique and hand-stitched with gold thread.
Visitors are amazed by the luxury and the highest quality of materials used in the suite and the description of the services offered.
The suite has a private dining room that can seat up to twelve people. The oversized chairs are upholstered in colorful fabric and jaguar print, and the ceiling above the table is painted with clouds to look like the sky. A Murano glass chandelier represents the sun. The room has hosted royalty, musicians, and movie stars.
Another suite room is the majlis, a typical Arab meeting room, and the Burj could not fail to have this colorful and vibrant space. The room is decorated in shades of pink and orange. The first version was rejected as not being “pink enough.” In the master suite, the bed turns like a carousel at the touch of a button.
At the end of the visit around the royal suite, say “Cheese” for the photo on the staircase with a colorful rug and jaguar print reminiscing the Versace style.
Experience Suite
The tour continues in front of the royal suite. Another presidential suite was deactivated and turned into the Experience Suite, a Burj Al Arab museum with tales and high-tech interactive experiences.
In the architect’s studio, visitors can learn more about the hotel’s architecture and interior design, with blueprints, sketches, fabrics, and many tales of the conception of the projects by Tom Wright and Khuan Chew.
Every design detail inside Burj Al Arab reflects the vision of Dubai emir Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who envisaged an aesthetics inspired by Arab styles from across the Middle East with a unique contemporary interpretation. Chew was tasked with bringing this vision to life, with a bold choice of colors, fabrics, materials and finishes inspired by the four elements – fire, water, earth and air – as well as the United Arab Emirates desert and Arab and international motifs.
Dining experience
Burj Al Arab has nine restaurants offering unique dining experiences inspired by high-standard world cuisine. Visitors can experience a little of the atmosphere of one of the Burj al Arab restaurants in the Experience Suite at a table for up to six people, and a virtual menu with some of the dishes offered.
The aquarium
The Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Group lead research initiatives in biology, marine conservation, and ethical fishing practices to protect the Arabian Gulf environment and wildlife. In this virtual aquarium, visitors can learn more about the fish conservation project and the sea turtle sanctuary.
Iconic moments
One room in the Experience Suite is dedicated to iconic moments the Burj Al Arab hosted throughout its history. Some of the sporting events that took place at the hotel’s helipad are highlighted, such as the presence of golfer Tiger Woods and a tennis friendly game between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. David Coulthard’s Formula 1 car and overalls are on display. Coulthard took laps on the Burj Al Arab’s helipad.
End of the tour
There are also interactive rooms with true tale of the hotel and virtual reality screens, where visitors can take more pictures and only discover the background of the images at the end of the tour. Wrapping up the experience, Arab coffee and dates are served.
Visitors then go down via an indoor elevator and complete the tour, which features a gift shop with unique items from local designers such as clothing, jewelry, incense, and decorative objects. At the end, you can have a drink at the UMA bar, which was created exclusively for visitors.
Interesting facts
The Burj Al Arab is 14 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris and 60 meters shorter than the Empire State Building in New York. The first artificial island off the coast of Dubai was built for the hotel. The first sketch of the Burj Al Arab was done on a napkin. In the rooms, a menu offers 17 types of pillows.
Information
Visitors can take the tour at any time between 9:30 am and 8:30 pm (GST), with groups of up to 12 people departing every 11 minutes from the lounge. Visitors must schedule the tour on the hotel’s website, with tickets starting at AED 399 (about USD 108 at the current rate).
You can add to the tour’s experiences by having lunch at one of the hotel’s restaurants, enjoying the famous cappuccino with a gold leaf of having drinks at the UMA bar.
Daily rates at Burj Al Arab ranges from USD 1,720-11,820, at the current rate, according to the hotel’s website.
Architecture
On the outside, the architecture signed by UK’s Tom Wright has a structure made of metal, glass and white canvas resembling a sail on a boat. Construction began in 1994, and the hotel opened in December 1999. Managed by the Jumeirah hotel group, this is one of the tallest hotels in the world, standing at 210 meters high and with 25 floors – each suite has two stories. The Burj is on an artificial island 280 meters away from Jumeirah Beach and is connected to the mainland by a private bridge.
The Burj Al Arab transformed Dubai’s skyline and became a global icon. The construction was a catalyst for the city’s development, with innovations and cutting-edge architecture and engineering that are used in other buildings in the emirate. Today, the Burj al Arab is a symbolic link between Dubai’s maritime past and the cosmopolitan city the emirate has become.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
