Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Another hot and humid day in Dubai. We ventured to the Burj Al Arab after breakfast. For years we have wanted to see inside this building but only recently have tours commenced for the first time in 20 years. The Burj Al Arab is technically a 5 star hotel (which is the highest official ranking) but is often referred to as being a 7 star hotel. The hotel has 199 exclusive suites each allocated eight dedicated staff members and a 24-hour butler service. The Royal Suite is valued at about $40,000 US a night and is one of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world.
Its construction was complicated in that first an artificial island had to be made as it sits offshore before actual construction could begin. The design is meant to reflect a sail. It represents an iconic image of Dubai, and that is apparently what the King was seeking. Tim has watched many a documentary on the construction of this building.
We made our way to the check in location on the mainland and were taken by golf cart over the bridge to the hotel. We were warned not to take photos of the lobby - and it was incredible to see.
Some key facts:
– Approximately 2,000 people work on site at Burj Al Arab every day (while its owner Jumeirah Group employs masses more and also operates a cluster of luxury resorts around it - another one next door is nearing completion)
– 24,000 square metres of Statuario marble line the hotel’s walls and floors
– 21,000 Swarovski crystalls are embedded in the lobby ceiling of the ground-floor mezzanine
– Costing AED27,321 (which currently converts to £5,670), the world’s most expensive cocktail was on sale in its rooftop bar back in 2008. It was purchased nine times. It was so called because the bar in which it was served occupies the 27th floor of the 321-metre-tall building; its ingredients included 55-year-old Macallan single malt natural colour whisky, dried fruit bitters and homemade passion fruit sugar. It was served in an 18-carat gold glass.
After walking through the lobby, we were put in an elevator to the 25th floor (every suite in the hotel is actually 2 floors so the 25th floor is really the 50th?
We saw The Royal Suite itself (all 780 square metres of it) and it is simultaneously unbelievable and exactly what you hope it would be. Double doors are opened from within by a butler to reveal a grand staircase carpeted in leopard print; one bedroom include a bed that revolves at the touch of a button; a shower is lined top to toe in 24-carat gold; a bathroom is swathed in the last extractions of a luminous amber-coloured marble that was a favourite of Gianni Versace, and the opulence was just unbelievable. They are probably making more than the $40,000 US a night now with this tour so the suite can no longer be booked. The room has previously had guests like Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson etc. When the room was first built, the features were state of the art, including a gold 55inch TV (which of course is now not that big!).
We finished the tour with a glass of champagne before returning to our hotel. The Burj al Arab is an amazing hotel for sure!
We then had a pool afternoon at our hotel/resort.
The weather was soooo hot today and due to humidity felt like 45 degrees. We had lunch and a few beers by the pool (somehow they manage to keep to pool water refreshing in this heat) and then spent a couple of hours in our air conditioned room chilling. But, a lovely relaxing afternoon. At 6pm, we had a couple of drinks in the Club Lounge and headed to Downtown Dubai for dinner. The traffic in Dubai is intense but its always nice in town at night with the Burj Khalifa lit up and the Dancing Fountains.
The Burj Khalifa is the worlds tallest building (it’s amazing!) and we went to lunch there on our last visit in 2017 at At.mosphere - the worlds highest restaurant - a very memorable meal. The view from that height was just incredible. The building is 828 meters high. At night, the building twinkles continuously and on occasion bursts into an amazing colour display - as we approached, someone got a very special birthday wish too, that would have cost a bomb!
The Dubai Fountain is at the base of the Burj Khalifa is always amazing to see - again, everything here is bigger than anywhere else - and of course these fountains are bigger and more spectacular than the Las Vegas Bellagio ones. (Dubai Mall which we visited for lunch the other day are also at this location).
The Dubai Fountain is a choreographed fountain system located on the 30 acre artificial Burj KhalifaLake, at the center of the Downtown Dubai development in Dubai. It was designed by the same company responsible for the Bellagio fountain.
Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors, it is 275 m long and shoots water up to 152.4m into the air accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music. It was built at a cost of USD $218 million. It’s very cool.
We booked dinner at a new place located adjacent to the fountain overlooking the Burj Khalifa. By 8pm, the weather feels like 40 degrees and it is a bit more pleasant now without the heat from direct sunlight. This must be one of the best locations in Dubai to watch the lightshow from the Burj Khalifa and the fountain show. Just incredible. Whilst the restaurant was a gastro-pub, dinner was still $250 AUD for a snack size nachos, fish and chips and 2 beers each. Location , location, location! By the time we had eaten, we were covered in sweat and headed back to our hotel for our 3rd shower of the day!
Dubai is an incredible destination - would definitely recommend (honestly, you could spend a week here and not be bored) but unless you really like heat - the winter months might be better - although we did find the crowds a bit more manageable at this time of year (traffic still crazy). We have an early start in the morning to head to our next destination!
2025-02-16