![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZHZYTGHOXZDVWGFKFVOFBNZM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=db26f99454ac757bc6c4ac2daa8009fd2356cd6501b2099fc4c2f7b2bffca5b8&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab in Dubai, a symbol of Dubai's enduring ambition. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TT5ZVSESJA4UYXL253RS7RKFPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad1e87afa0e151bf041fa9e022a2f30141f33d19400905f64422dd907f83883d&width=400&height=225)
Dubai's Chicago Beach Hotel taken at around 1979. Today the Wild Wadi water park sits on this spot. Photo: Omar Salam
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P34PO7D5RPKIMUMY6O3WAEJAVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=14e5036a063c558fb38e69840dfef4be4e40a07ba8cd0703c11f3693c3b86557&width=400&height=225)
By January 1996, the area had been transformed. The artificial island that Burj Al Arab would sit on was complete and construction on the hotel well advanced.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YUZU46ATCEVKPD5UWPQMPCMSSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1fb2835948cf063c0df7cd1aeadc420db0f1f8cc601673576d5d965efa37e729&width=400&height=225)
A sketch by British architect, Tom Wright, showing his concept for the Burj Al Arab design.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSCQE5TEJPIRUULUATEOTAGRTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7aeefd9b3b25f9ebe801d3afb53b1f836a5005a29fe3e4c0ed69a6ac9a9bbe41&width=400&height=225)
Architect Tom Wright with his original model of the Burj Al Arab. Stephen Lock for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMTIEWJDADJBOLBV6ADPFBCRIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2745b36bbc8725d542086a52a7e26e6459d57bf424ec523e0cb0ba244236737&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab in 1997, as it edges towards completion. James Davis / Eye Ubiquitous / Corbis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACGSQ7BYTM7LM2DFLB63ZH5YBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=167b60c92d53577a89421ab6a38c65016e01a61816e5ce1589e61b2ba4e683ec&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 and drew people from across the UAE to see the new building. Here Abu Dhabi residents Omeir Nasir, left, and Owais Nasir, right, visit the Burj Al Arab between 1999 and 2002. Photo: Sarwat Nasir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JXYBIO5KQXWZ6UI2LVANRVCYNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=037e1b7c31761b9ecb080f14d5406f5d80bae994efd85d9338be486098f2d32e&width=400&height=225)
Madiha Naz Nasir visits in 1999 or 2000. Photo: Sarwat Nasir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GL2W4QFWM2DBGCDR7E7FZNRJYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8bd9af39f44cbde7b6c903bb7685d7f2d118f94383a4d9ae626308c4ba9a8c15&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in 2009.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IO7INQOGK4DKXXGB6ENIGBWXCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=abd7c1f366e03685a94fc014ee75db5b5893b0f6b2aa077df54757f031c1145f&width=400&height=225)
The lobby of the Burj Al Arab hotel taken in 2011. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FP7E52P5WTX53O7ZW7XCSX3UI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bdb72123305f1b947f2698baba9831926e22df04b1ad3f22d7ad17b59bb186a1&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has one of the world's tallest atriums. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q4FNAQTYHQSNZICAFW2IITBHFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=269e1dd929339b5b171e8d5090c393723cdad91c1b119a0971b99551f19ee725&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has become synonymous with Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2JMHYHM5K2FJGNHMMUPUJ5QFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a6fa5dd316ae54922889cf1efeb878482aae512807b31e680ae7f770018a382&width=400&height=225)
Its helipad has also staged events, such as between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi in February 2005. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZHZYTGHOXZDVWGFKFVOFBNZM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=db26f99454ac757bc6c4ac2daa8009fd2356cd6501b2099fc4c2f7b2bffca5b8&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab in Dubai, a symbol of Dubai's enduring ambition. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TT5ZVSESJA4UYXL253RS7RKFPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad1e87afa0e151bf041fa9e022a2f30141f33d19400905f64422dd907f83883d&width=400&height=225)
Dubai's Chicago Beach Hotel taken at around 1979. Today the Wild Wadi water park sits on this spot. Photo: Omar Salam
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P34PO7D5RPKIMUMY6O3WAEJAVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=14e5036a063c558fb38e69840dfef4be4e40a07ba8cd0703c11f3693c3b86557&width=400&height=225)
By January 1996, the area had been transformed. The artificial island that Burj Al Arab would sit on was complete and construction on the hotel well advanced.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YUZU46ATCEVKPD5UWPQMPCMSSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1fb2835948cf063c0df7cd1aeadc420db0f1f8cc601673576d5d965efa37e729&width=400&height=225)
A sketch by British architect, Tom Wright, showing his concept for the Burj Al Arab design.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSCQE5TEJPIRUULUATEOTAGRTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7aeefd9b3b25f9ebe801d3afb53b1f836a5005a29fe3e4c0ed69a6ac9a9bbe41&width=400&height=225)
Architect Tom Wright with his original model of the Burj Al Arab. Stephen Lock for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMTIEWJDADJBOLBV6ADPFBCRIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2745b36bbc8725d542086a52a7e26e6459d57bf424ec523e0cb0ba244236737&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab in 1997, as it edges towards completion. James Davis / Eye Ubiquitous / Corbis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ACGSQ7BYTM7LM2DFLB63ZH5YBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=167b60c92d53577a89421ab6a38c65016e01a61816e5ce1589e61b2ba4e683ec&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 and drew people from across the UAE to see the new building. Here Abu Dhabi residents Omeir Nasir, left, and Owais Nasir, right, visit the Burj Al Arab between 1999 and 2002. Photo: Sarwat Nasir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JXYBIO5KQXWZ6UI2LVANRVCYNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=037e1b7c31761b9ecb080f14d5406f5d80bae994efd85d9338be486098f2d32e&width=400&height=225)
Madiha Naz Nasir visits in 1999 or 2000. Photo: Sarwat Nasir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GL2W4QFWM2DBGCDR7E7FZNRJYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8bd9af39f44cbde7b6c903bb7685d7f2d118f94383a4d9ae626308c4ba9a8c15&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in 2009.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IO7INQOGK4DKXXGB6ENIGBWXCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=abd7c1f366e03685a94fc014ee75db5b5893b0f6b2aa077df54757f031c1145f&width=400&height=225)
The lobby of the Burj Al Arab hotel taken in 2011. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FP7E52P5WTX53O7ZW7XCSX3UI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bdb72123305f1b947f2698baba9831926e22df04b1ad3f22d7ad17b59bb186a1&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has one of the world's tallest atriums. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q4FNAQTYHQSNZICAFW2IITBHFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=269e1dd929339b5b171e8d5090c393723cdad91c1b119a0971b99551f19ee725&width=400&height=225)
The hotel has become synonymous with Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2JMHYHM5K2FJGNHMMUPUJ5QFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a6fa5dd316ae54922889cf1efeb878482aae512807b31e680ae7f770018a382&width=400&height=225)
Its helipad has also staged events, such as between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi in February 2005. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZHZYTGHOXZDVWGFKFVOFBNZM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=db26f99454ac757bc6c4ac2daa8009fd2356cd6501b2099fc4c2f7b2bffca5b8&width=400&height=225)
The Burj Al Arab in Dubai, a symbol of Dubai's enduring ambition. AFP
Why Dubai's Burj Al Arab isn't really a seven-star hotel
From one to five stars, the hotel rating system depends on where you are
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
24 August, 2023
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