[b]The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates managed by
the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of
WS Atkins PLC. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively
as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj
Al Arab's height will soon take away this title upon its completion in 2007.
The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach,
and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure,
designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.
Construction
Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. It was built to resemble
the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a
V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.
Architect Tom Wright said "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or
symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera
House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become
synonymous with the name of the country."[citations needed]
The architect and engineering consultant for the project was Atkins,
the UK's largest multidisciplinary consultancy. The hotel was built by
South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts. The hotel cost $650 million to build
the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of
WS Atkins PLC. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively
as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj
Al Arab's height will soon take away this title upon its completion in 2007.
The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach,
and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure,
designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.
Construction
Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. It was built to resemble
the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a
V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.
Architect Tom Wright said "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or
symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera
House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become
synonymous with the name of the country."[citations needed]
The architect and engineering consultant for the project was Atkins,
the UK's largest multidisciplinary consultancy. The hotel was built by
South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts. The hotel cost $650 million to build
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