By Michael Hinckley
The Burj al Arab hotel is one of the premier, if not the most premier, hotels in the world. Knowing a little bit about this amazing structure is both fun and educational and can enhance your appreciation of the hotel if you are ever lucky enough to visit it.
Location
The Burj al Arab hotel is located in Dubai, a city within the United Arab Emirates, on the Persian Gulf.
Shape
The Burj al Arab is shaped like a sail, a reference to the fishing and shipping culture that has dominated Dubai's history for centuries.
Amenities
The hotel boasts a chauffeured, all-Rolls Royce fleet for the exclusive use of its guests. Additionally, each suite in the all-suite hotel comes complete with a private butler.
Promotion
When the Burj al Arab opened, as part of the promotion of the hotel, Tiger Woods was invited to drive golf balls from the hotel's heliport into the Persian Gulf while a helicopter filmed his drives.
Price
The suites of the Burj al Arab begin at around $2000 a night for the low-end (one bedroom) suites. There are seven, increasingly expensive categories of suites: the one-bedroom, two-bedroom, panoramic, club, diplomatic, presidential, and royal suites.
Arrival
Guests can opt to arrive at the hotel by a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce or by helicopter, both provided by the hotel as a courtesy for their guests. Check-in and check-out is handled on the same floor as the guests' suites.
Height and Sight
The Burj al Arab is 321 meters (1,053 feet) tall. At night, the lights upon the hotel flicker and waver to represent both water and fire: two elements that dominate the Arabian peninsula (the ocean and the desert, respectively).
Resources
About the Author:
Michael Hinckley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in US history from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Arts degree in Middle East history from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Hinckley is conversant in Arabic, and is a part-time lecturer at two Midwestern universities.
