The Burj Al Arab Hotel is one of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks. The original sail-shaped building was completed in the late 1990s and has since become rather dated. Consequently, the owners have decided to undertake a major refurbishment, which aims to redefine the concept of luxury and bring the hotel into the 21st century.
The Burj Al Arab Hotel – an icon on an artificial island
Since its opening in 1999, the Burj Al Arab (literally ‘Arab Tower’) has been an undeniable symbol of Dubai and one of the world’s most spectacular hotels. It was built on an artificial island approximately 280 metres from the shore, reaching an impressive height of 321 metres. The project, carried out between 1994 and 1999, cost around a billion dollars. A significant portion of this sum was spent on preparing the ground and creating the island, which is supported by hundreds of piles driven into the seabed. Even at the engineering stage, the Burj Al Arab project required a highly non-standard approach, as the building remains exposed to the constant effects of waves, wind and salty air.
The architecture of the spectacle in Dubai
The concept was devised by Tom Wright, who proposed a form inspired by the sail of a traditional dhow – a vessel very popular in the Dubai region. This is a deliberate reference to the maritime heritage of the Persian Gulf region and the era before the discovery of oil, when shipping and trade were the foundations of the local economy. This distinctive and beautiful design quickly translated into global recognition for the hotel. Its structure consists of two concrete ‘wings’, between which stretches a vast atrium, ranked among the tallest in the world. The fibreglass membrane façade filters daylight, whilst at night it becomes a screen for illumination.
The Burj Al Arab Hotel in a new guise
From the outset, the hotel has operated as a venue of fabulously high standards, offering exclusively two-level suites and extensive guest services. It was here that the term “seven-star hotel” was coined, a term still used in the media despite the actual lack of a formal classification. In recent years, however, the premium hotel market in Dubai has undergone a marked change. New properties offer a more balanced aesthetic and advanced technologies, whilst the Burj Al Arab stands out starkly from this image. To avoid falling further behind, a thorough modernisation of the Burj Al Arab has just begun, led by, among others, the French architect Tristan Auer. The work will take around eighteen months and will focus primarily on the suites, communal areas and technical facilities. The interiors will move away from the opulence of the late 1990s, dominated by gold, intense colours and ubiquitous, often kitsch decorations, in favour of more subdued materials, refined detail and user comfort.
Drone attacks on Dubai
The start of 2026 brought events that drew the world’s attention to Dubai and the Burj Al Arab hotel. On 1 March, fragments from a downed drone or missile struck the building, causing a fire in part of the façade. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished, the damage proved minor, and most importantly – there were no casualties. In light of this incident, the renovation will also extend to the hotel’s façade and its systems, particularly the building management and lighting systems, which contribute to the building’s night-time appearance. Once the modernisation is complete, the Burj Al Arab will retain its status as an architectural icon of the Arab world, whilst meeting the highest expectations of its guests. Today, luxury for them means privacy, elegance, personalisation and advanced technologies.
Source: jumeirah.com, dubai.ae
Read also:Architecture|Interesting facts|Skyscraper | Renovation|whiteMAD on Instagram
