The Burj Al Arab has long been an iconic part of the Dubai skyline. The sail-shaped building is everywhere, from snow globes to fridge magnets, and the only other burj (aka tower) that rivals its fame is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
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Now the ultra-luxury hotel is set to close for the first time in more than a quarter of a century for an 18-month restoration project.
The 198-suite hotel, which is owned by the Dubai-based hotel chain Jumeirah, is known for its opulence, with 86,500 hand-fixed Swarovski crystals, over 30 types of Statuario marble, and around 1,790 square metres of 24-carat gold leaf used in its interiors.
Interior architect Tristan Auer has been tasked with the restoration works, which will “see its distinctive interior décor enhanced with the same attention to detail as preserving a work of art”.
Having previously worked with properties such as Hôtel de Crillon and Les Bains Douches in Paris, Auer has racked up numerous accolades and was even named Maison&Objet’s Designer of the Year in 2017.
The news comes after the hotel was hit by debris from the interception of an Iranian drone on 1 March. According to the Dubai Media Office, the incident “caused a limited fire on the exterior facade”.
“Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is far more than an architectural landmark; it is a symbol of ambition, craftsmanship and enduring excellence,” Jumeirah’s CEO Thomas B. Meier said.
“For the last 27 years, this exceptional property has served guests with the same passion and world-class standards that distinguish it from any other hotel in the world.
“This restoration programme marks a new chapter in the story of Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, one that will carefully preserve the heritage of what is currently the sole property in our Jumeirah limited-edition collection of iconic landmark addresses defined by design distinction and prestige.”
Why is the Burj Al Arab so famous?
While today the emirate is filled with architectural icons like the Museum of the Future, the Dubai Frame and Atlantis The Palm, the Burj Al Arab stood out from the crowd in the low-rise Dubai of 1999.
It caused a stir from the very beginning – one journalist, whose name and publication has been lost in the annals of time, was supposedly so impressed that they suggested the hotel should be rated seven stars rather than five.
While the building and its interiors are well known, the service inside is just as legendary. Each of the suites is assigned a butler who can accommodate your every need (or whim), and there’s a fleet of Rolls-Royces available for you to book by the hour.
Some of the city’s most impressive dining experiences can also be found here, such as the Michelin-starred Al Muntaha, or Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara, which wraps around a huge aquarium.
The Burj Al Arab has also been the setting for viral marketing stunts, like when Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played tennis on the hotel’s helipad some 210 metres above the ground in 2005, or when David Couthald did doughnuts in an F1 car in the same spot in 2013.
More recently, pilot Luke Czepiela landed a plane on the helipad, which has a diameter of just 27 metres, as part of a Red Bull stunt in 2023.