One of the most incredible structures on Earth, the Burj Al Arab, was built in the shape of an Arabian dhow, or yacht's sail.
The planners wanted a monolithic structure, but neither did they want to cast a shadow over downtown Dubai, so they built it 919 feet (280 meters) out to sea.
The entrance hall is lined with rare Statutario marble (the same kind used by Michelangelo in his sculptures). In total, precious marble covers 24,000 square meters in the hotel.
But you can't have marble without gold, so 19,267 square feet (1,790 square meters) of 24-carat gold leaf was also used to embellish the interior.
7-star hotel in Dubai
Burj Al Arab, at the time of its inauguration in 1999, was an incredible achievement raising the bar for hotels all around the world.
The designers didn't try to squeeze in as many rooms as possible in the 1,053 feet (321 meters) tall tower.
Instead, only 202 suites are spread over 28 double-story floors, with the smallest occupying 1,820 square feet (169 square meters) of meticulously designed and decorated space.
The hotel is officially rated Five-Star Deluxe. So, where does this seven-star come from?
According to the hotel management, they have never used the term in advertising nor encouraged people to use it.
However, during the hotel's opening, a British journalist was so impressed by what he saw that he thought the only way to emphasize the difference was by crediting Burj Al Arab an additional two stars.
According to a Jumeirah Group (the owners of Burj Al Arab) official, they cannot do anything against people referring to the hotel as seven stars.
And why would they? It was one of the most effective marketing strategies ever to happen in the hospitality industry, putting Burj Al Arab on the map.
Burj Al Arab is connected to the mainland by a bridge and can only be accessed by a fleet of Rolls Royces.
Twenty thousand liters of water were used to create the geyser-style fountain that combines the finest design with a fiber-optic light display.
The world's tallest atrium
Al Falak Restaurant
Junsui Restaurant
Al Mahara Restaurant
Three aquariums - one that circles a restaurant - contain around 50 species of fish, sharks, and rays, all illuminated by some of the hotel's 28,000 light fixtures.
Al Muntaha Restaurant
Bab Al Yam Restaurant
Skyview Bar
Club Suite
Panoramic Suite
Royal Suite
Diplomatic Suite
The largest suite at Burj Al Arab covers an 8,400 square feet (780 square meters) area, but strangely enough, that was not enough for it to be included in the top 16 most expensive rooms in the world.
Club Suite
Burj Al Arab Spa
Of course, you will want to arrive by helicopter – just make sure Andre Agassi and Roger Federer aren't playing a tennis match on the helipad first - or there isn't a wedding high up in the air.
Jumeira 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
