Architectural and Engineering Features of Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is an iconic structure whose shape resembles the sail of a ship. It is the fourth tallest hotel in the world rated as 5-star. Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994 and opened in December 1999. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. 

Atkins was the architect and engineering consultant for the project. Fletcher Construction from New Zealand was the lead joint venture partner in the initial stages of pre-construction and construction. The hotel was built by South African construction contractor Murray and Roberts.

Tom Wright, the architect of this project, built it 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.

Complex engineering application was required to establish Several features of the hotel. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 280 m (920 ft) offshore. To secure a foundation, the builders drove 230 forty-meter (130 ft) long concrete piles into the sand.

Engineers created a surface layer of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honeycomb pattern, which serves to protect the foundation from erosion. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, while it took fewer than three years to construct the building itself. The building contains over 70,000 m³ (92,000 cu yd) of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel. 

Inside the building, the atrium is 180 m (590 ft) tall. If buildings with mixed use is not considered Burj Al Arab is the world's second tallest hotel. The structure of the Rose Rayhaan, also in Dubai , is 11 m (36 ft) taller than the Burj Al Arab.