Introduction to the Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab, standing 321 meters tall, is the world’s tallest and most luxurious hotel, located off the coast of Dubai. Construction began in 1994, led by Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a response to the country’s economic challenges due to its limited oil reserves. The project aimed to create a 21st-century icon and find alternative ways to sustain the life of Dubai’s people, transforming it from a dusty backwater to a thriving destination.

Background and Conceptualization

In the 1960s, prospectors discovered oil in Dubai, transforming the emirate with a sudden injection of billions of dollars, but geologists predicted the oil boom would end by 2016. To ensure economic survival, Sheikh Mohammed decided to turn Dubai into a luxury holiday destination, staking over a billion dollars on the Burj Al Arab, a 7-star hotel, to launch the country into high-end tourism. A British team led by chief architect Tom Wright, with an average age of 32, took on the massive project, drawing inspiration from a modern sailing yacht, which led to the concept of a sail billowing in the wind, instantly recognizable and deeply meaningful to the people of Dubai with their seafaring heritage.

Design and Construction Challenges

The creation of an iconic building like the Burj Al Arab is a rare achievement, with only about 10 buildings worldwide having reached this status. The project required the construction of an artificial island, despite the significant added risk and cost, with the hotel to be constructed 270 meters off the coast, weighing a quarter of a million tons, and needing to withstand earthquakes and storms. The construction team faced numerous challenges, including:

• Building on reclaimed land with no solid rock foundation, requiring innovative solutions to support the 300-meter high tower against earthquakes and strong winds.
• Withstanding harsh Gulf conditions, including powerful storms and extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Transporting huge and heavy components, such as a 165-ton steel exoskeleton, to the construction site.
• Installing delicate finishes like gold leaf and carved wood in a humid and hot environment.

Engineering Solutions

To address these challenges, the construction team implemented various engineering solutions, including:

• Using steel-reinforced concrete foundation piles drilled deep into the sand to support the hotel’s foundations.
• Designing a gigantic steel exoskeleton with diagonal trusses to provide stability against high winds and earthquakes.
• Installing tuned mass dampers to reduce vortex shedding and resulting vibrations.
• Implementing a harmonic filter system to reduce electronic distortion and mitigate the risk of fire.

Interior Design and Completion

The interior design of the hotel was led by Quan Chu, who worked tirelessly to meet the millennium deadline. The design features 24,000 square meters of marble, 8,000 square meters of 22-karat gold leaf, and crystal chandeliers to create a luxurious atmosphere. The hotel’s atrium was initially deemed too plain, but a redesigned light show, aqua gymnastics, and a rainbow palette of colors ultimately delighted Sheikh Mohammed. The Burj Al Arab hotel was completed in December 1999, a month before the millennium, and features a unique architecture with a cantilever restaurant and a 280 cubic metre tank with 700 exotic fish.

Legacy and Impact

The Burj Al Arab hotel is considered an engineering triumph and a lifetime achievement, with no other project likely to match its grandeur and exclusivity. Dubai’s creation of its first artificial island paved the way for a series of ambitious schemes, including the Palm Island and the World Islands, setting the foundation for a secure future when the oil runs out and establishing Dubai as an international symbol. The hotel offers luxurious amenities, including a helipad, and exclusive accommodations, with suites costing up to $28,000 a night.

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who explores an area in search of natural resources such as oil’?

A) Architect
B) Engineer
C) Prospector
D) Geologist

2. What does ‘seafaring’ refer to in the context of the Burj Al Arab’s design inspiration?

A) Traveling by land
B) Traveling by air
C) Having a heritage related to the sea and sailing
D) Living in the desert

3. What is ‘vortex shedding’ in the context of the Burj Al Arab’s engineering solutions?

A) A type of storm common in the Gulf
B) A phenomenon where wind creates spinning currents around a structure, causing vibrations
C) A type of earthquake
D) A type of foundation used in construction

4. What is the term for ‘a device used to reduce vibrations in a building’ as mentioned in the context of the Burj Al Arab’s construction?

A) Tuned mass damper
B) Harmonic filter system
C) Steel exoskeleton
D) Artificial island

5. What does ‘cantilever’ refer to in the context of the Burj Al Arab’s architecture?

A) A type of foundation used in construction
B) A type of material used in building design
C) A structural element that projects from a wall or other support without external bracing
D) A type of interior design feature

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

1. By the time the Burj Al Arab was completed, the construction team ____________________ on the project for over five years.

• a) has been working
• b) worked
• c) had worked
• d) was working

2. The architects ____________________ the hotel’s design for months before the project was approved.

• a) have designed
• b) had designed
• c) were designing
• d) have been designing

3. The city of Dubai ____________________ rapidly since the discovery of oil in the 1960s.

• a) has been growing
• b) grew
• c) was growing
• d) had grown

4. The hotel’s interior designer, Quan Chu, ____________________ to meet the millennium deadline.

• a) worked
• b) has worked
• c) was working
• d) had been working

5. The Burj Al Arab ____________________ as an engineering triumph and a symbol of Dubai’s growth and development.

• a) has been considered
• b) was considered
• c) is considered
• d) considered

Answer Key:

1. c) had worked

2. d) have been designing

3. a) has been growing

4. d) had been working

5. a) has been considered