It has been four months since my Dubai trip, and it’s still hard to believe that I had the opportunity to tour the five-star hotel Burj Al Arab. Opened in 1999, this hotel is the end product of a billion-dollar project and its name means “Tower of Arabs” in Arabic. Designed by architect Tom Wright and interior designer Khuan Chew, all managed by His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the hotel is located on a handmade island. The Burj Al Arab is around 920 feet from Jumeirah Beach, and it’s linked to the mainland by a private bridge.

The Burj Al Arab has transformed into an iconic representation of Dubai-When I think of this city, the hotel and Burj Khalifa come to mind. The Burj Al Arab to Dubai is what Big Ben is to London or the Colosseum is to Rome. It’s self-proclaimed to be the world’s only seven-star hotel!

Touring this architectural marvel is an exceptional Dubai experience that’s not to be missed. The Inside Burj Al Arab Tour is an experience that you will treasure and remember forever. There are a variety of tour packages that you can choose from, including:

  • Tour + Golden Cappuccino
  • Tour + Golden Espresso Martini
  • Tour + Golden Colada
  • Tour + Golden Frappucino

We chose the tour + golden cappuccino option and WOW! The Inside Burj Al Arab Tour begins at the ticket lounge across the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (This is also a five star hotel and I would even recommend getting there early to walk around the hotel lobby and take photos….The grounds are breathtaking…so many flowers in the lobby! Such a cute photo opportunity!!) Once you check in, you get an Inside Burj Al Arab lanyard that is yours to keep forever. A driver will take you to the hotel-guests will have the opportunity to stop on the bridge for a photo opportunity.

The Burj Al Arab looks like the sail of a ship (Or an elephant’s trunk! The cool thing about architecture, and art in general, is that it’s open to the viewer’s interpretation). More specifically, the sails are meant to resemble those of a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean that can have up to two masts. The two wings on the Burj Al Arab make a V shape, and there’s an atrium in between them.

Tour guests enter the extravagant building through a side entrance. There are designated, separate entrances for tour guests and hotel guests-I did not enter the hotel through its main entrance. Hotel guests can arrange to arrive from the airport via helicopter and will land on the Burj’s helipad (Roger Federer has played tennis on this helipad and David Guetta has hosted a DJ set) or can arrive from the airport in a Rolls Royce Phantom.

The duration of the tour is roughly 90 minutes. When you enter the hotel, you will be given a refreshing glass of lemonade and a moist toilette. You’ll be taken to the lobby (No photos are allowed here in order to respect the privacy of hotel guests) and will take the elevator upstairs.

The Burj Al Arab has 56 floors and 202 luxury suites, with each suite having two levels. Some additional hotel figures: There are 18 elevators inside the hotel and this establishment employs over 1,600 people…That means there are eight people per suite ensuring that the suite experience is unparalleled! 3,500 people work on-site each day. Butlers are on-call 24/7 for guests, each floor has a reception desk and checking in/checking out can be done inside the suite. The least expensive suite at the Burj Al Arab begins at around $1,637 a night.

On your tour, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the clear Arabian Gulf waters and Madinat Jumeirah (The floor-to-ceiling windows are impeccable!). You’ll also see a section that explains how the vision of the Burj Al Arab came to life-You can read about the hotel’s beginnings, how it was constructed and the comprehensive planning it took to create such an impressive feat. I even saw the uniform that the greeting desk staff wore between 2018 to 2021! Here’s some more information I learned while touring this magnificent place:

  • There are 21,000 Swarovski crystals in the ground mezzanine lift lobby ceiling
  • 3,500 fish live in the Burj Al Arab, with 30 different types of tropical fish
  • The Al Mahara aquarium holds 300,000 litres of water
  • The fish and turtle hospital is located in the hotel basement

On the tour, you’ll be given coffee and delicious dates. I really enjoyed the section with museum-style text that delved further into the hotel creation process and its legacy. The Burj Al Arab also used to be this city’s tallest hotel before the JW Marquis took that title.

The grand finale is the tour of the Royal Suite. It’s show-stopping, lavish and jaw-dropping. We knew beforehand just how grandiose this suite will be and we all know how luxurious this overall hotel is, but nothing prepares you for seeing this opulence in real life. I walked around the entire suite with my jaw on the floor. Can I move into this suite permanently?

Starting at roughly $25,000 a night, the Royal Suite can sleep four guests. Soccer stars Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, along with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, have all stayed here. Minimalism is the complete opposite of this suite. What I remember most vividly is the explosion of colors: Gold, red, pink, purple and cheetah print. It’s so bright and there’s so much attention to detail-I personally loved it. Life is meant to be lived boldly and brightly-The gold and red just gave off such an optimistic and courageous vibe. I loved how the designers weren’t afraid to go for the bold colors-All those colors make you so happy.

A leopard-print grand staircase with gold banisters will greet you. There are two bedrooms, and the beds rotate! Naming this lodging the Royal Suite wasn’t an overdramatic decision-The royal families of Europe can definitely stay here. The living room is gorgeous and I love how the red complimented the orange, it was such an interesting color combination. The suite’s living room was bigger than a New York City apartment! There’s even a gorgeous library-I swear, the Royal Suite is massive! I feel like two families can vacation here. You’ll also see the elegant dining room during your visit.

Call me crazy, but the bathroom was the segment of the suite that left me at the greatest loss for words. I know, I know it’s weird-but I can’t believe how lavish the bathroom was. It looked like something out of a palace. There’s a gigantic, marble tub and two sinks with gold mirrors. The beauty products are all from the Hermès brand. HERMES!! This may sound silly, but I just had to take a photo of the golden shower. The shower really was made of gold. GOLD!! And the circular shower was JUST MASSIVE. The size isn’t that of a typical shower in a house or apartment. It’s so spacious.

Overall, the suite is massive. There are stunning views of the city and Gulf in nearly every corner of the suite. Imagine staying in the Royal Suite? I can’t even fathom what an unparalleled experience it is.

The tour ends in the gift shop (As often most experiences do when you’re traveling, haha). But the incredible Burj Al Arab experience doesn’t stop there if you purchased the tour and drinks package. There is a dreamy outdoor Uma Lounge that overlooks the Gulf. This is the place where I tried the cappuccino sprinkled with 24-carat gold. Oh boy, I was living life to the fullest.

There is a bar in the lounge and plenty of white sofas with blue pillows. A staff member brings your coffee to your table and oh my god, what a display. You’ll get a tray with a gold cappuccino, ice cold water (Not only is this super refreshing in the Dubai heat, it’s necessary! The gold stains your teeth and makes them yellow, so you need to gulp down water since it functions as a cleanser) and a sweet treat. Definitely take the time to savor this experience and enjoy the coffee under the palm trees.

I couldn’t get enough of the area surrounding the lounge-The views from this artificial island are amazing. Definitely take a walk near the lounge-The area is lined with palm trees, the waves are crashing onto the rocks and you’ll see views of the mainland. It’s such a peaceful place. I’m so glad we purchased a tour & drinks package: It was so nice to be able to enjoy a drink outside near the beautiful water and soak up the rays. I didn’t want it to end!

Once you’re finished and are ready to return to the mainland (But let’s be honest, is anyone completely mentally ready to head back to reality after touring the Burj Al Arab? We can stay on this island forever!), there’s a pick-up place near the Uma Lounge that will take passengers to the ticket office across the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. You will leave with unforgettable memories and stories to tell your best friends when you return home.

Altogether, the Burj Al Arab defies expectations and will leave visitors unable to formulate any words. It almost doesn’t feel real, it feels like you have left Earth once you’re on the artificial island and have stepped into this amazing dream.

I am so thrilled I was able to have this once in a lifetime opportunity and will treasure this forever. The Burj Al Arab has a special place in my heart. I just have never seen anything like it.

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If you’re ready for an experience unlike any other, here’s the link to purchase a tour: https://insideburjalarab.com/en

And for more information about this incredible city, check out my blog post about the attractions in the Palm Jumeirah neighborhood here!

Inside the Royal Suite

The bedroom of the Royal Suite

The view of the Burj from the Uma Lounge