Burj Al Arab: 14 photos showing napkin sketch to 'seven star' hotel
Opened on December 1, 1999, the Burj Al Arab has since become one of Dubai's most iconic landmarks
With its eye-catching dhow sail design and its own man-made island, it continues to be one of the must-see attractions in the city, and pictures of it have filled up many a camera roll over the years.
For such a glamourous piece of architecture, its origins are far more humble with the initial sketches being doodled on a restaurant napkin by architect Tom Wright back in October 1993.
The design was a spontaneous one that the architect came up with when he spotted one of the emirate's distinctive dhow boats sailing nearby while at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.
The brief from the Dubai Ruler's office was to 'create an identifiable link for people around the world with the UAE' according to the designers WS Atkins.
The first sketch of the Burj Al Arab was made on a restaurant napkin in 1993 (Credit: Jumeirah)
The initial recognisable sketch of Burj Al Arab would have placed it on the beach, which would have meant that the shadow of the tower would have affected local people living nearby.
Instead, the royal family of Dubai ultimately decided to move the hotel to an island site.
Back in the early 1990s, the beach was known locally as the Chicago Beach and the project started life as a replacement for the existing Chicago Beach Hotel.
Eventually, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided on the name of Burj Al Arab.
A literal translation means 'the tower of Arabs' which reflects the original vision of the Dubai rulers for the hotel.
Construction began not long after the original design was doodled on a napkin with building underway in 1994.
A team of the best international designers and project managers from all over the world was assembled to manage the design and construction of the 321 metre tall luxury hotel.
The Burj Al Arab became a Jumeirah project when the group was established in 1997.
A man-made island was constructed in order to build the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah)
Burj Al Arab under construction in the 1990s (Credit: June G)
(Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah)
The iconic dhow sail arrives at the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah)
Construction of the Burj Al Arab was initially kept under wraps, with not a peep until the world's media were told of the project at the World Travel Market Expo in November 1995.
Somehow, no images were leaked at this time despite the scale of the project.
All told, it took five years to build the Burj Al Arab with the man-made island taking up two of them.
You might also like: Here's how to eat at 11 expensive Dubai restaurants for less
Upon completion, a visiting journalist was famously so overwhelmed by the design of the hotel that she declared it must be rated seven stars out of the maximum five.
Jumeirah, the owners of the hotel are quite content with its well-earned five stars and have never claimed it to be a seven-star hotel.
(Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah)
The interiors of the hotel are the epitome of Dubai luxury with more than 30 different types of Statuario marble – the same marble that was used by Michelangelo in his famous sculptures – used in the walls and flooring.
Approximately 1,790sqm of 24-carat gold leaf was used to embellish the interior and an estimated 86,500 individual hand-fixed pieces of Swarovski crystals have been etched into the frame of the mirror in the Junsui bar and the entrance.
Skyview Bar once served what was at the time the world's most expensive mixed drink: the 27.321 (inspired by the bar's location on the 27th floor, 321 metres high) which cost Dhs27,321.
(Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah)
Since opening in 1999, the hotel has played host to a number of iconic Dubai moments.
The helipad has been repurposed as a sports venue on multiple occasions with golf legend Tiger Woods teeing off it in 2004 before Roger Federer rallied against Andre Agassi in 2005 to promote the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Formula 1 driver David Coulthard also took to the helipad in a Red Bull car to perform doughnuts on the iconic building.
Burj Al Arab as we know it today (Credit: Jumeirah)
Thomas Meier, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah, said that welcoming travellers remains at the heart of what the hotel group does: 'As we celebrate 25 years since we opened the iconic Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, we reflect on our legacy of excellence in luxury hospitality, inspired by the warmth and generosity of Arabian culture.
'This tradition of welcoming travellers to stay and share in culture and conversation is at the heart of our vision: to create not just beautiful destinations but spaces to connect the world.'
Looking for things to do in Dubai?
112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025
Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list
50 free things to do in Dubai
Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do
Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less
Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
6 days ago
- Times
Dear hotels, baths belong in bathrooms. The clue is in the name
Earlier this month I was in one of London's newest hotels, scratching my head over one particular item in the bedroom. It wasn't the king-sized bed, which was perfectly comfy and big enough for the five-year-old to practise his belly flops. Nor was it the light switches, so often a cause for confusion and rage in a hotel room; these ones were a perfectly straightforward on/off sort. No, it was that thing sitting primly next to the Crittall windows: a clawfoot bath. I like a bath as much as the next person, but who actually wants one in the bedroom? Who actually enjoys wallowing in the tub next to the bed, only to get out, wonder where the towels are and leave wet footprints all over the parquet flooring? Honestly, they have become my hotel nemesis. Even after almost a decade of marriage I do understand why couples might want to loll about staring into each other's eyes — but I'd rather do my ablutions in private, thank you very much. Enough with this tyranny! Baths belong in the bathroom. Hotels get a lot right in bedrooms: snazzy design, plugs where they need to be and, if you're lucky, a free minibar. But the humble bathroom is often either too wacky, small or just plain odd. I've lost count of the number of posh hotels I've stayed in where the bathroom is clearly an afterthought, tucked away in a cupboard-sized, windowless space (ahem, the Athenaeum in London), forcing my room-sharer and me to elbow each other while we're brushing our teeth. The new Jumeirah Marsa al Arab in Dubai was a marvel for many reasons, but mostly because the bathroom was almost as big as the room itself. Even when they are big enough, there are often weird things in them. What, for example, is the bidet doing there? Nobody has used these since the Eighties, except for perhaps washing sandy beach feet. My son is convinced they are children's lavatories. Bathrooms are a place where it's fine — no, preferable — to keep it simple. I don't want to faff about with complicated light or fan switches; nor do I want a double spa shower with more settings than my MacBook. While we're here, let's get rid of icky shower curtains; that twangy retractable clothes line that Americans are preternaturally fond of, but which will decapitate you if you forget to ping it back in; and toiletries welded to the wall. Do you think I want to steal your industrial-sized bottle of cheap two-in-one? Lots of proper bathroom hooks are non-negotiable. When I got out of the lovely (easy to turn on) steam shower in the Romeo hotel in Rome a few months ago, which played breathy Enya to twinkly lights, I had to grope around on the floor to find a towel. See also showers that don't have any sort of shelving, so you end up bending gracelessly to pick up your shampoo. Unless you're a Travelodge, there's no excuse for choosing savage spotlights over a more flattering option: I probably haven't had a coffee yet and am not ready to see what I actually look like. This is what my perfect hotel bathroom would look like. Give me a double sink and surfaces large enough to put my make-up bag on. I know they're dreadfully passé and un-eco, but I want those little toiletries in plastic bottles (I haven't bought shower gel since 2012 and don't want to start now). Proper light switches to control soft, lovely lighting. Fluffy bathmats. A chair or little stool to throw clothes onto, as at Le Meurice in Paris. I don't need a comb, a shoehorn or a sewing kit, but I would like proper vanity kits with cotton pads, and lots of flannels. Underfloor heating is the ultimate I'm-in-a-hotel luxury, but I would politely suggest we don't need heated marble to warm my bathrobe (just saying, Rosewood Hong Kong). What to do about the loo? Ideally, like the Goring Hotel in London, I want a tiny marble shelf to put my phone on. And I'd prefer for the lavatory not to be annexed in a different room, as they are in France, so I have to return to the bathroom to wash my hands. I also won't say no to a Japanese lavatory with heated seats, but I draw the line at a loo with a glass door, or worse, one with no door at all. Really, though, it's more straightforward than that. Call me a revolutionary, but what I really want to see in a hotel bathroom is … the bath. What annoys you about hotel bathrooms? Let us know in the comments below
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury land back at Manchester Airport following lavish Dubai getaway after confirming they've rekindled their romance
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury landed back at Manchester airport on Wednesday following their romantic getaway to Dubai. The boxer, 26, and the influencer, 25, have reunited after their shock split in August, with a source telling The Sun that they are in the 'honeymoon period again'. Molly looked stylish in a comfy beige T-shirt and trouser co-ord, and showed off her glowing tan after a relaxing week in the sun. Meanwhile Tommy opted for a white T-shirt and black joggers as he pushed two suitcases through the terminal. It was revealed last week that the couple had jetted off for a sun-soaked holiday to Dubai as Molly shared a picture of her kicking back in business class. After landing in the Middle East, Tommy followed suit by giving fans an insight into the setting for their holiday with snaps of the lavish hotel room he and Molly are staying in. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He initially posted a photo of himself relaxing in business class before revealing the couple's romantic room with a snap showing their bed lined with roses and the message: 'Welcome back' Tommy too shared a photo of his accommodation's plush living space featuring marble flooring, candles and a bouquet of pink and white flowers on arrival. After sunset, the Love Island star revealed he and Molly are staying a short distance from the luxury Burj Al Arab on the coast, with a photo captioned: 'Like we never left..' Having rekindled their romance, Tommy and Molly have 'a lot to celebrate' following the success of her new Amazon Prime docuseries and his victorious return to the boxing ring on Saturday against Kenan Hanjalic. The trip marks Molly's sixth holiday of the year having jetted off to Switzerland, Paris and St. Moritz already in 2025. She too flew to Dubai with Tommy in March with their daughter Bambi, two, and sent fans into a frenzy when the family were pictured together at Manchester Airport. Molly later confirmed they had enjoyed a lavish holiday as a family and even referred to it as 'the best holiday of her life.' Taking to YouTube to address the trip she told her fans: 'I don't want you guys to think I'm not being honest about who went on the holiday to Dubai. The trip marks Molly's sixth holiday of the year having jetted off to Switzerland, Paris and St. Moritz already in 2025 'I did do a big talking section that we were going with Tommy but I didn't want to put it in the last vlog because I didn't want anxiety. 'The only reason I've not spoken about it is I'm not ready to. I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it, I was a bit nervous and I didn't need to explain that I was going with Tommy.' The couple went Instagram official on the weekend with a loved-up family snap shared to social media. But their split was branded a 'publicity stunt' by supporters in January after Molly and Tommy were videoed sharing a kiss at Manchester United footballer Luke Shaw's NYE party. In the final installment of her Behind It All docuseries, however, Molly revealed exactly what happened on that night. After receiving a call from her manager Fran Britton to inform her of the video, Molly was left shaking as she exclaimed 'No, oh my God,' after watching the footage. The influencer explained: 'Basically, what's happened is I've attended a New Year's Eve party and a familiar someone showed up 10 minutes before the countdown and that was Tommy. 'Basically we shared a kiss at midnight and it would appear that someone has taken a video and sold it to the press.' She continued: 'It was just a moment that we shared and I can't really explain it, it kind of just happened. 'You think you're having a private, intimate moment and nothing is private even in a room of people you think you trust and you know, people like to make a quick buck.' Molly added: 'I'd love to know how much they did make, hope it was worth it. But karma always comes back around don't you think?' Watching the clip she exclaimed: 'Sh**e. Ahhh no. No my God what? I'm literally shaking.' As Fran asked her to explain what happened, Molly swore that the boxer wasn't supposed to at the party and showed up unexpectedly. She said: 'He turned up at 10 to 12. I swear he wasn't meant to be there.' 'He messaged me saying "I am outside and I want to see in the New Year with you, I kid you not Fran he was there for eight minutes. He was literally not there. He wasn't there all night.' Since the kiss, Tommy has been seen leaving her Cheshire home and after sharing a family holiday in Dubai, Molly confirmed on her YouTube channel that the pair are 'figuring things out'. The influencer has now given more details on their reconciliation during her show, Molly Mae: Behind it All. The trailer for the second part sees Molly-Mae confirm she and Tommy are back together, while admitting she lives in fear of their romance being 'destroyed'. The former Love Island stars, split in August last year, amid Tommy's struggles with alcohol, which the boxer said led to him getting 'black-out drunk' most nights and neglecting his responsibilities as a father and partner. However, while co-parenting their daughter Bambi, the pair gradually started dating again and even spent Valentine's Day together at luxury country house Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire.
Time Out Dubai
16-05-2025
- Time Out Dubai
Burj Al Arab: 14 photos showing napkin sketch to 'seven star' hotel
Opened on December 1, 1999, the Burj Al Arab has since become one of Dubai's most iconic landmarks With its eye-catching dhow sail design and its own man-made island, it continues to be one of the must-see attractions in the city, and pictures of it have filled up many a camera roll over the years. For such a glamourous piece of architecture, its origins are far more humble with the initial sketches being doodled on a restaurant napkin by architect Tom Wright back in October 1993. The design was a spontaneous one that the architect came up with when he spotted one of the emirate's distinctive dhow boats sailing nearby while at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. The brief from the Dubai Ruler's office was to 'create an identifiable link for people around the world with the UAE' according to the designers WS Atkins. The first sketch of the Burj Al Arab was made on a restaurant napkin in 1993 (Credit: Jumeirah) The initial recognisable sketch of Burj Al Arab would have placed it on the beach, which would have meant that the shadow of the tower would have affected local people living nearby. Instead, the royal family of Dubai ultimately decided to move the hotel to an island site. Back in the early 1990s, the beach was known locally as the Chicago Beach and the project started life as a replacement for the existing Chicago Beach Hotel. Eventually, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided on the name of Burj Al Arab. A literal translation means 'the tower of Arabs' which reflects the original vision of the Dubai rulers for the hotel. Construction began not long after the original design was doodled on a napkin with building underway in 1994. A team of the best international designers and project managers from all over the world was assembled to manage the design and construction of the 321 metre tall luxury hotel. The Burj Al Arab became a Jumeirah project when the group was established in 1997. A man-made island was constructed in order to build the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah) Burj Al Arab under construction in the 1990s (Credit: June G) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) The iconic dhow sail arrives at the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah) Construction of the Burj Al Arab was initially kept under wraps, with not a peep until the world's media were told of the project at the World Travel Market Expo in November 1995. Somehow, no images were leaked at this time despite the scale of the project. All told, it took five years to build the Burj Al Arab with the man-made island taking up two of them. You might also like: Here's how to eat at 11 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Upon completion, a visiting journalist was famously so overwhelmed by the design of the hotel that she declared it must be rated seven stars out of the maximum five. Jumeirah, the owners of the hotel are quite content with its well-earned five stars and have never claimed it to be a seven-star hotel. (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) The interiors of the hotel are the epitome of Dubai luxury with more than 30 different types of Statuario marble – the same marble that was used by Michelangelo in his famous sculptures – used in the walls and flooring. Approximately 1,790sqm of 24-carat gold leaf was used to embellish the interior and an estimated 86,500 individual hand-fixed pieces of Swarovski crystals have been etched into the frame of the mirror in the Junsui bar and the entrance. Skyview Bar once served what was at the time the world's most expensive mixed drink: the 27.321 (inspired by the bar's location on the 27th floor, 321 metres high) which cost Dhs27,321. (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) Since opening in 1999, the hotel has played host to a number of iconic Dubai moments. The helipad has been repurposed as a sports venue on multiple occasions with golf legend Tiger Woods teeing off it in 2004 before Roger Federer rallied against Andre Agassi in 2005 to promote the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Formula 1 driver David Coulthard also took to the helipad in a Red Bull car to perform doughnuts on the iconic building. Burj Al Arab as we know it today (Credit: Jumeirah) Thomas Meier, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah, said that welcoming travellers remains at the heart of what the hotel group does: 'As we celebrate 25 years since we opened the iconic Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, we reflect on our legacy of excellence in luxury hospitality, inspired by the warmth and generosity of Arabian culture. 'This tradition of welcoming travellers to stay and share in culture and conversation is at the heart of our vision: to create not just beautiful destinations but spaces to connect the world.' Looking for things to do in Dubai? 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list 50 free things to do in Dubai Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
