Western Asia is burning in the flames of war. The heat of that fire has also reached Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai's most iconic 'Seven Star' hotel, Burj Al Arab, has reportedly been struck by Iranian drones. In the aftermath of the Iran-Israel conflict, drones are flying continuously. According to Dubai media sources, a drone flying from Iran was intercepted in the air. However, a piece of its debris fell in front of Burj Al Arab. As a result, some damage occurred to the exterior of the hotel. But no major incident was reported.
Dubai's 'Seven Star' hotel
Dubai's 'Seven Star' hotel, Burj Al Arab, is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. This hotel has been constructed in such a way that ocean waves would not be able to cause any damage.
Why is the Burj Al Arab considered a 'Seven Star' hotel?
This hotel was inaugurated in December 1999. However, before that, a British journalist had come on a press tour. He was mesmerised by the hotel's grand decorations. Seeing the royal service, he described this hotel as 'Seven Star'. Since then, the hotel has carried the 'Seven Star' label.
What is a 'Seven Star' rating?
There is no such rating as 'Seven Star'. 'Five Star' is used to denote luxury hotels. But the respective British journalist wanted to convey that this hotel's grandeur was more than 'Five Star'. So Dubai's marketing team capitalised on this phrase.
Who conceived the idea of the hotel?
In the early nineties, the current Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, first conceived the idea of building this hotel.
Who designed the hotel?
Renowned British architect Tom Wright drew a sailboat on a paper napkin. The hotel's design was finalised based on that. Sailors in Dubai used to go for business and trade in sailboats through the sea route. So that tradition has been reflected.
What's inside the hotel?
The hotel features cuisine from across the world. 360 degree views of the ocean can be seen from the rooms. This hotel is located 210 meters (689 feet) above sea level. The hotel's 59th floor has a helipad. Celebrities can land their personal helicopters on the helipad.
The exterior is wrapped with strong steel. This hotel is located 280 kilometers away from the main city. Inside are duplex rooms. The rooms decorated with marble stone and gold plating are worth seeing.
How much does it cost for a stay?
The most luxurious 'Royal Suite' costs approximately 8,100 AED per night (about 2 lakh INR). The rooms are duplex. These include private lifts, rotating special beds, personal small cinema halls, and libraries. The hotel is rented for various events, including weddings.
What else does the hotel feature?
The hotel has a total of 9 restaurants and bars. There is a luxurious dining room located about 200 meters above sea level in the hotel. Another restaurant is decorated according to an underwater theme. It has a huge aquarium with approximately 990,000 litres of water.
Outside the hotel, there are separate pools for salt and fresh water. And inside all these pools are bars. There are spas and private beaches too. Nearby is the facility to visit Wild Wadi Waterpark. This hotel was built at a cost of approximately 1 billion dollars.
