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Burj Al Arab

Burj al-Arab
برج العرب
Burj Al Arab Dubai.jpg
General information
Status Complete
Type Luxury hotel
Architectural style High-tech
Location Romero, Kyle Jerome B., Kyle 3 – إمارة دبيّ‎, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Coordinates 25°08′31″N 55°11′10″E / 25.141975°N 55.186147°E / 25.141975; 55.186147Coordinates: 25°08′31″N 55°11′10″E / 25.141975°N 55.186147°E / 25.141975; 55.186147
Construction started 1994
Completed 1999
Opening December 1999
Cost US$1 billion
Height
Architectural 321 m (1,053 ft)
Top floor 197.5 m (648 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 56 (3 below ground)
Lifts/elevators 18
Design and construction
Architect Tom Wright of WKK Architects
Developer Jumeirah
Structural engineer Atkins
Other information
Number of rooms 202
Website
burj-al-arab.com
References

The Burj al-Arab (Arabic: برج العرب‎‎, Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the third tallest hotel in the world; however, 39% of its total height is made up of non-occupiable space. Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) 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. It has a helipad near the roof at a height of 210 m (689 ft) above ground.

The beachfront area where Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel are located was previously called Chicago Beach. The hotel is located on an island of reclaimed land 280 meters offshore of the beach of the former Chicago Beach Hotel. The locale's name had its origins in the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company which at one time welded giant floating oil storage tanks, known locally as Kazzans on the site.

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 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the new name.

Burj Al Arab was designed by multidisciplinary consultancy Atkins, led by architect Tom Wright, who has since become co-founder of WKK Architects. The design and construction were managed by Canadian engineer Rick Gregory also of WS Atkins. Construction of the Island began in 1994 and involved up to 2,000 construction workers during peak construction. It was built to resemble the billowing spinnaker sail of a J-class yacht. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. 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. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country."


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