burj al arab tourist numbers

Dubai Online

Dubai Tourism Statistics

In just a few decades, Dubai has transformed itself from a desert backwater into one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world. And now, the city is aiming to become the most visited tourist destination on the planet, with a new tourism strategy that is targeting 25 million visitors by 2025.

To achieve this goal, the city is investing heavily in infrastructure, hotels, tourist attractions, and shopping malls.

The city has already taken steps to improve its infrastructure and visitor experience.

The extension to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro has made it possible for visitors to reach new areas of Dubai that were previously difficult to reach by public transport.

Dubai is constantly evolving, and there are always new attractions to see and experience.

One of the latest additions to the city is Ain Dubai , which is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. For those who want to get a bird’s-eye view of the city, this is a must-see attraction. The View at the Palm also offers stunning panoramic views.

The Museum of the Future is a one-of-a-kind institution that explores the latest technological innovations, while Madame Tussauds Dubai brings iconic celebrities to life with lifelike wax figures.

These new attractions are sure to wow visitors and continue to put Dubai on the map as a must-see destination.

The city is home to some of the most luxurious and opulent hotels in the world, and new properties are being built all the time. Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis the Royal, and W Dubai Mina Seyahi are just three of the hotels that opened in 2022.

These developments have made Dubai even more appealing to tourists from all over the world. There is no doubt that it is on track to becoming the most visited city on earth.

Number of International Visitors to Dubai – January to June 2022

According to the latest figures from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the number of international visitors to Dubai in the first six months of 2022 was 7.12 million. This represents an increase of over 182 per cent over the same period in 2021.

However, it is important to note that 2021 and 2020 were both affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so a more accurate comparison is with pre-pandemic figures.

In the first half of 2019, 8.36 million tourists visited the city. This means that while there has been an increase in tourism since the pandemic began, the number of tourists has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels.

Much of the difference between the 2022 and 2019 figures is due to the loss of Chinese tourists. In the first 6 months of 2019, 501,000 Chinese tourists visited Dubai. In 2022, China’s borders remained effectively sealed as the country continued to pursue a zero-tolerance approach to a virus that other parts of the world have accepted as endemic.

However, with vaccines now available and travel restrictions beginning to ease, it is expected that Dubai will soon return to the pre-pandemic growth levels.

Number of International Visitors to Dubai – 2021

After a difficult year in 2020, Dubai’s tourism industry saw a rebound in visitor numbers in 2021. With global travel ramping up and COVID-19 restrictions easing, the city welcomed back tourists from all over the world.

In total, 7.28 million visitors arrived in the city in 2021, compared to 5.51 million in 2020. This was a significant increase of over 32 per cent.

Origin of International Visitors to Dubai – January to June 2022

According to the statistics for the first half of 2022, the top five countries of origin for visitors are India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Russia.

These five countries account for over 40 per cent of all visitors to Dubai. However, it’s worth noting that there are a significant number of visitors from other countries as well.

Origin of International Visitors to Dubai – 2021

India has always been an important market for Dubai’s tourism sector, and that was no different in 2021. India remained the city’s top international visitor source market, accounting for 910,000 visitors. That’s a 5.2% increase from the previous year.

Many factors have contributed to India being the top source of visitors. One is the abundance of direct flights that make it convenient and affordable for Indian travellers to visit Dubai. Another is the wide range of hotel options, which appeals to a broad range of travellers.

Saudi Arabia had the second highest number of visitors in 2021 with 491,000 visitors. This was an increase of over 22 per cent from the previous year. This is a very impressive result, especially considering that Saudi Arabia closed its borders to all travel up to May 2021.

Russia was again one of the city’s largest tourism source markets, with 444,000 visitors in 2021, an increase of 50 per cent from the previous year.

Visitors from Oman, historically one of Dubai’s top five source markets, were significantly reduced in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Omani government reopened its borders with the UAE to vaccinated travellers in September 2021.

Visitors by Source Market – January to June 2022 and 2021

Western Europe and GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia) were the top source markets for the city in the first 6 months of 2022.

As noted above, Oman and Saudi Arabia have historically been amongst Dubai’s top international visitor source markets. Both of these GCC countries had strict travel restrictions in place for much of 2021.

Purpose of Visit

The data for 2021 and previous years shows that most people travel to Dubai for leisure reasons, whether it be to enjoy the city’s many attractions or to relax in its luxurious hotels and resorts. Business travellers accounted for 12 per cent of all visitors to the city in 2021, which was consistent with 2020. Many business visitors are attracted by events such as GITEX and the Arabian Travel Market.

The proportion of travellers visiting the city to see friends and relatives in 2021 rose to 16 per cent, up 3 per cent from 2020.

Hotels – Room Nights

In 2021, hotels in Dubai bounced back from the pandemic with some of their best results ever.

Thanks to a strong rise in the number of domestic guests, the city’s hotel industry had the second highest number of room nights sold on record. The remarkable figure of 31.47 million was only slightly down on the pre-pandemic peak of 32.11 million recorded in 2019.

Guests also stayed longer in 2021, averaging 4.6 nights compared to 4.2 nights the year before.

Hotels – Number and Occupancy

In 2021, Dubai offered more hotel choices to travellers, as the city’s hotel room inventory grew. At the end of the year, the city had a total of 755 hotels and hotel apartments with 137,950 rooms available. This is compared to 711 hotels and hotel apartments with 126,947 rooms at the end of 2020.

This increase in the number of hotel rooms provided travellers with more options to find lodging that met their needs and budget.

The average hotel occupancy rate in 2021 was 67 per cent, up from 54 per cent in 2020.

Hotels – Location

Hotels and hotel apartments are found in many areas of Dubai.

The areas with the greatest number of rooms are Deira , Al Barsha , Jumeirah , Downtown Dubai , and Dubai Marina .

The Palm Jumeirah has the highest proportion of 5-star rooms. 87 per cent of available rooms here are in 5-star hotels. Bur Dubai has the lowest proportion of 5-star rooms.

Jebel Ali and Deira are best for budget visitors. In both of these areas, the proportion of rooms in 1 to 3-star hotels is just under 40 per cent.

Top World Cities by Visitor Numbers

According to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index 2018 (published September 2019), Dubai was the fourth most visited city in the world. Only Bangkok, Paris, and London attracted more overnight visitors.

Dubai was the most visited city in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East.

Dubai topped the list for both total and average daily visitor spending. The average visitor to the city spent $533 (£464.17, €538.95, 1957.76 AED) per day in 2018, much higher than in any of the other cities.

Total visitor spending in Dubai for the year was $30.82 billion.

At the time of writing (September 2022), Mastercard has not published the report for any years after 2018.

Dubai International Airport Passenger Numbers

According to a report from Airports Council International (published in April 2022), Dubai International Airport (DXB) was the world’s busiest airport in 2021 in terms of international passenger traffic.

The busiest airport in terms of total passengers (international and domestic) was Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

The UAE is a small country. There are no domestic flights from Dubai International Airport or any other airport in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah).

Airports Council International (ACI) is the trade association of the world’s airports.

Top Tourist Attractions

According to Tripadvisor the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai (September 2022) are:

• Burj Khalifa
• Dubai Fountain
• Dubai Miracle Garden
• Global Village
• Dubai Frame
• Atlantis Aquaventure
• Burj Al Arab
• Dubai Creek
• Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
• Mall of the Emirates
• The Lost Chambers
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah
• Dubai Marina
• LEGOLAND Dubai

Tripadvisor is a travel website that helps users find hotels, restaurants, and activities for their upcoming trips. The website also includes user-generated reviews and ratings, as well as photos and videos. It is a great resource for travellers who want to get the most out of their trip.

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Dubai’s tourism triumphs in numbers

You’ve heard the hype, now see the figures supporting Dubai’s destination success story

14.2 million visitors, 4 th most visited city globally

Having welcomed 14.2 million overnight visitors in 2015, Dubai continued its rise up the global rankings of most visited cities, taking fourth spot with a strong 7.5% visitor increase over 2014 – double the United Nations World Travel Organisation’s (UNWTO) projected 3-4% global travel growth for the same period.

The emirate’s tourism sector is making steady progress towards its target of 20 million visitors per year by 2020.

Top 10 source markets by country

India - 11%

Pakistan – 4%

Germany – 3%

Kuwait – 3%

Regional source market top 3

W. Europe – 21%

S. Asia – 16%

Purpose of visit

Leisure visitors continued to make up the lion’s share in 2015 at 64.9%, up 10% over the previous year, further underscoring the city’s growing attractions, events and activity portfolio that continues to appeal to an ever-growing catchment of visitors.

Dubai continued its core focus of becoming the world’s leading family destination – more than half of all travellers visiting the city were families in 2015, while individual travellers represented 29% of the overall base.

Business traveller growth also remained steady at close to 20% of all visitors to the emirate in 2015. This confirms the city’s strategic importance as a global business and event hub as well as being an international gateway to high-yield regional markets.

Those visiting friends and families/or relatives (VFR) represented 13.9% of all visitors in 2015, underlining the importance of the residing population in being advocates for the city and goodwill ambassadors for Dubai through word-of-mouth endorsement.

Average length of stay:  The average length of stay was 7.2 days , primarily led by families travelling on leisure visits, which continues to inform the long-term hotel accommodation offering. Those staying in hotels and hotel apartments comprised nearly three-quarters of all accommodation choices for visitors in 2015, meaning Dubai needs to ensure its supply pipeline continues to deliver quality, capacity, diversity and value to appeal to an expanding visitor demographic whilst maintaining its premium destination offering across budgets.

A place to stay:  Dubai saw an overall growth in its hotel and hotel apartment inventory of 6% to finish the year with 98,333 rooms across all categories. The total number of establishment grew 3% to total 677 properties. In August 2016, the number of hotel rooms surpassed the 100,000 mark with the opening of the 1,004-room Westin Dubai Al Habtoor.

A total of 26.4 million room nights were recorded in 2015, up from 24.97 million the previous year. Average length of stay remained nearly at 3.6 nights. Average occupancy in 2015 was 77%.

The number of five-star properties rose to 91, representing just over 31,500 rooms and nearly a third of all inventory. Four-star and below establishments made up a further 42% of all hotel accommodation in 2015, with hotel apartments representing 26% of the remaining stock, providing an ever increasing choice to suit different visitor needs.

Attraction wonderland:  Downtown Dubai remained the city’s most iconic destination in 2015, with the world’s largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall, at the forefront. With its rich shopping offering, year round family activities, including the captivating Dubai Aquarium, it remained the most visited attraction with 86% of all international travellers going in 2015. The adjacent Dubai Fountain came in second place at 67% and one of the world’s most ‘selfied’ attractions and largest tower, Burj Khalifa, saw more than 30% visitation.

The city’s expanding cultural and heritage offerings also remained a major draw for visitors, with 49% engaging in the rich sites of the souks and old Dubai, which is set to further increase with the launch of key rejuvenation projects.

The city’s famous beaches and marinas continue to be a major draw for international travellers with nearly half taking in the white sands, sparkling waters and vibrant promenade and waterfront hotspots. The city’s long-standing icons, The Palm Jumeirah and The Burj Al Arab hotel – again voted the Best Hotel in the World and Best Hotel in the Middle East at the Daily Telegraph ’s annual Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards (ULTRAs) – remain hugely popular with international tourists.

% of travellers visiting key Dubai attractions

86% Dubai Mall

67% Dubai Fountain

49% Beach & Marine

49% Heritage & Culture districts

33% Palm Jumeirah

31% Burj Khalifa

19% Burj Al Arab

19% Desert Safari

11% Waterparks

6% Ski Dubai

Dubai International (DXB):  Boosted by the growth of some 100 airlines that connect Dubai International Airport to more than 240 destinations around the world, most notably Emirates Airline and flydubai, annual passenger traffic at DXB surged 10.7% to reach a record more than 78 million passengers in 2015 compared to 70.47 million recorded during 2014. During the year DXB welcomed new airlines including Air Canada from Toronto, Eurowings from Cologne and China Southern from Wuhan, among others. A total of 12 new passenger destinations were also added. Spurred by Emirates’ network expansion and ongoing growth on routes to the region, North America topped the regional markets in terms of percentage growth in 2015 (+25%), followed by the GCC (+15%), and Asia (+12%).

A retail haven:  Retail is a key pillar of Dubai’s destination offering and in 2015, the emirate’s retail market was estimated to be worth $35.4 billion . This figure is expected to expand 7.7% in 2016, and continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% until 2020, when Dubai’s retail sales turnover is expected to surpass $52 billion.

Around 200,000 square metres of additional retail space was completed in Dubai in 2015, including a 36,000-square-metre extension at Mall of the Emirates. According to real estate consultancy JLL MENA, around 393,500 square metres of additional retail space is scheduled to be completed in 2016 across Dubai.

* Source: Dubai Tourism, April 2015

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Dubai’s thriving tourism industry

Dubai is the destination of choice for those seeking luxury and glamour, but the emirate is showing it can also offer great value to business and leisure tourists alike

The halo of smoke that settled over Dubai on January 1 2014 – after a world-record breaking fireworks display of over 450,000 pyrotechnics – marked the end of a remarkable 2013 for the emirate. The growth-filled year most notably saw the adoption of the Tourism Vision 2020 strategy , a bold and ambitious plan to increase visitor numbers and double tourism revenue in seven short years, as well as Dubai’s victorious bid to host World Expo in 2020 – the world’s largest and most prestigious exhibition.

Long known internationally for its compelling lifestyle offer, iconic landmarks, and penchant for record-breaking initiatives, Dubai is often seen as an exciting, if not pricey, holiday destination. The city’s pristine beaches, skyscraper-lined streets and glitzy social scene are known to people the world over. As a destination, headline attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building; the Burj Al Arab, the world’s only seven-star hotel; and Ski Dubai, the world’s largest indoor snow park, characterise the emirate in the world’s collective consciousness.

Dubai is an increasingly accessible tourism destination, offering visitors both luxury and value

The city, however, is ever evolving, and moving beyond the superlatives to establish itself as a vibrant destination with a quality and diverse tourism offer and a range of attractions to suit every type of traveller. By doing so, Dubai is maturing into its role as a global city that is as welcoming as it is accessible, for both leisure and business tourists.

From hotels to meetings venues and transport options, the emirate is keen to show it maintains world-class standards in every category it caters to, from seven-star luxury to affordable three-star value. Dubai aims to become a truly international city by attracting more and more visitors of all budgets.

Tourism Vision 2020 As part of the Tourism Vision 2020, Dubai aims to double its visitor numbers and tourism revenue from 10 million people and almost £12bn in 2012, to 20 million people and almost £36bn in 2020. This ambitious plan focuses on maintaining market share, tapping high-potential markets, and increasing repeat visitors to Dubai through the leisure and business events sectors.

Dubai’s year-on-year visitor growth rate in 2012 was 9.3 percent and averaged eight percent over the previous five years. In 2013, the growth rate hit 11 percent and to reach 20 million tourists by 2020, a nine percent annual growth rate is required. The emirate is working hard to promote its year-round calendar of leisure events and grow its business and incentive tourism offer by capitalising on its location and infrastructure.

Conveniently connected One look at a world map and it becomes apparent why Dubai is the ideal place for a meeting of global delegates. Its location between east and west makes it the perfect gateway to emerging markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. As it stands, one third of the world’s population is within a four-hour flight and two thirds are within an eight-hour flight.

For business travellers, this strategic location is backed up with first-class accessibility thanks to state-of-the-art Dubai International Airport (DXB). Served by more than 145 airlines flying to more than 260 destinations across six continents, DXB is ranked the second-busiest airport in the world in terms of international passengers, according to Airports Council International’s latest figures.

Annual passenger traffic in 2013 reached 66,431,533, up 15.2 percent compared to the 57,684,550 passengers recorded during 2012. It is projected that passenger numbers will keep climbing, reaching 78 million in 2015 and 98 million by 2020.

The October 2013 opening of Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) supports this growth. Currently, Dubai’s second airport, Al Maktoum International will eventually become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year.

Business events Dubai won the right to host World Expo 2020, the world’s largest and most prestigious exhibition, in a landslide victory in November 2013 under the theme ‘connecting minds, creating the future’. Dubai expects around 25 million visitors over the Expo’s six-month period and that development in the run-up to the event will also play a decisive role in helping achieve Tourism Vision 2020.

The Dubai World Central (DWC) area near Jebel Ali will be central to Dubai’s hosting of World Expo 2020, and is currently the focal point of development plans in the emirate. At present Dubai’s infrastructure means doing business in and from the city is easy. There are more than 600 hotels in the emirate, constituting over 84,000 hotel rooms.

By 2016, according to current plans, over 100 new hotels will provide an additional 29,000 rooms. While more five-star properties are in the pipeline, Dubai will also see an increase in the number of four and three-star properties as the city looks to enhance its mid-market appeal.

For business travellers, Dubai’s hotels offer a plethora of flexible business facilities – whether you need a meeting room for 10 people or a convention for tens of thousands. And this is all supported by the expansive facilities offered at the impressive Dubai World Trade Centre – the host for over 50 percent of all exhibitions in the Middle East region. Understandably then, the city has been named Best Destination for MICE, Middle East, 2014 in the Business Destinations  Travel Awards.

Backed up by professional service and a ‘can do’ attitude, corporate travellers appreciate the business opportunities on offer in this city, which is why Dubai has been named among the top three most vibrant cities in the world in the latest City Momentum Index released by the realtor Jones Lang LaSalle in January 2014.

Describing the yardsticks for the index, LaSalle reported that highly dynamic cities are characterised by their speed of innovation and creation of cutting-edge businesses. The index clubs Dubai, and its hosting of Expo 2020, with Tokyo, which will stage the Olympics in the same year, calling them resurgent cities gearing up for their respective events with vigour.

Leisure events But of course, Dubai is more than just business. It’s one of the world’s safest, fastest-growing tourist destinations. For incentive delegates it offers an array of truly memorable experiences, with itineraries that capture the essence of Arabia with desert safaris, dune bashing, falconry and camel riding, while adrenaline junkies can go sky-diving over Palm Jumeirah or dive with sharks at the Dubai Aquarium. VIP groups can take a seaplane or helicopter ride over the city and indulge in afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab.

Dubai is an increasingly accessible tourism destination, offering visitors both luxury and value. Whether witnessing The Dubai Fountain in full force, looking down on the city from the observation floor of the Burj Khalifa, visiting the amazing aquariums, the swathes of golden beaches, world-class shops, restaurants and nightlife are all on par with comparable top-flight global cities. What’s more, thanks to perpetual sunshine, it’s available all year round.

The possibilities in Dubai are endless – where else can a visitor spend the morning on the beach, the afternoon skiing and the evening riding a camel in the desert?

How to Visit the Burj al Arab: The World’s Most Luxurious Hotel, Dubai

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I’m not a girl who dreams about hotels. I have some friends who work in the luxury hotel industry and they wax poetic about hotels they dream of visiting someday — hotels with plunge pools overlooking mountains, glass-bottomed overwater bungalows, and 50,000 thread count sheets.

Me? I get their fascination, but hotels aren’t my thing, and they don’t dominate my travel wishlist…

Except for one.

The Burj al Arab in Dubai . I had to visit the Burj al Arab — and when I went to Dubai, I finally got to visit.

And I’m going to show you how you can, too.

Table of Contents

The Burj al Arab, Jumeirah

The Burj al Arab is one of Dubai’s most famous landmarks, its sailboat-shaped silhouette emerging from the sea. It’s one of the most elegant properties in a city known for modern marvels of engineering.

The hotel, which opened in 1999, declared itself the world’s first seven-star hotel — even though that rating technically doesn’t exist. Why not make up a rating? It’s excellent PR! The Burj al Arab is over-the-top in every way possible.

From the first time I saw a picture of the Burj al Arab, I dreamed of visiting it. But it was WAY out of my price range.

Maybe I could just drop in and gawk at the interior, like I did so many times in Las Vegas and Macau. Would that work? Unfortunately, no again.

The Burj Al Arab is open to hotel guests exclusively — and there’s security at the front gate. If your name isn’t on their list, they won’t let you in.

The hotel may be open to hotel guests only — but I found out there IS an exception.

You can make a reservation for afternoon tea — and that puts your name on the list for security! In fact, this works for meals at any of their restaurants. I visited the Burj Al Arab for afternoon tea and absolutely LOVED it!

Afternoon Tea at the Burj al Arab

The Burj Al Arab offers a Sky Tea afternoon tea — an experience on the 27th floor overlooking the coastline.

The Burj’s PR team generously invited me to experience their Sky Tea afternoon tea  in the Skyview Bar on the 27th floor, overlooking the coastline with a view of the Burj Khalifa in the far distance.

I started my tea with something I had never tried before: sparkling date juice.

“You won’t believe where this is made,” our waiter told me.

“No idea. Lebanon?”

“France,” he said with a grin.

“No way.”

“Yes, they make it there. The dates are from the Middle East, though.”

After the sparkling date juice, they brought a pot of tea and a cappuccino and I was treated to the following courses:

We started with a mini berry tart, then moved on to the chef’s carvery of roast beef, and were finally served a tray with sandwiches and desserts shaped like the Burj Al Arab itself!

The offerings were creative and delicious. That zebra-looking bread is actually made of squid ink and pureed apples! Incredible. (And there are free refills on the sandwiches, so to speak.)

And then it was time for a tower of desserts — in ANOTHER tray shaped like the Burj al Arab itself!

Starting from top to bottom, I began with the absolute best scones and clotted cream I’ve ever had (and having lived a year and a half in the UK, that is a HUGE deal).

Next was a selection of cakes.

The best item on the Burj al Arab afternoon tea menu was the sweetest dish of all: camel milk creme brûlée.

By that point, though, I had eaten so much that I was struggling to get through my final delicious bites.

A surprise came out — a birthday cake! I had celebrated my 29th birthday the day before, and it was a sweet way to add to the occasion.

And finally, the palate-cleansing dish that almost made me burst — lychee and rose sorbet.

I was DONE. Stuffed, sated, and absolutely full of sugar.

Burj al Arab Tour

Is it possible to tour the Burj Al Arab? Somewhat. When you visit the Burj al Arab for afternoon tea, or a meal at any of their other restaurants, you’re greeted with a view from the lobby, and there are some places that are open to visit.

The Burj al Arab entrance and lobby impressed me right off the bat with enormous gold pillars and dancing fountains.

I was able to see a bit beyond that due to my travel industry connections. The PR team for the Burj Al Arab invited me on a tour of some of their best suites.

I almost didn’t want to leave the lobby! How cool of a lobby is that? The honeycomb-style grid is very rare in hotels, and here it was! An amazing design element. The Burj al Arab is all about breathtaking grandeur.

Inside Burj al Arab’s Second Most Fanciest Suite

In 2012, CNN named the Burj al Arab’s Royal Suite the 12th most expensive hotel suite in the world with a nightly rate of around $18,716. That is quite a chunk of change!

The Royal Suite was actually booked during my visit, despite it being the lowest point of low season (Ramadan plus the middle of the summer). Instead, I went to see one of their #2 suites.

It starts with a grand foyer and merges into multiple sitting rooms with many bars, adjoined to offices complete with Mac desktops.

Burj al Arab Rooms

I was surprised to see that there was so much color in the suites of the Burj Al Arab! I was expecting something a bit more muted, but this turned up the volume to 11!

The suite has two ensuite bedrooms and the master bedroom was spectacular! I can’t tell you how hard it was not to jump on that purple canopied bed. It looks like something Samantha the American Girl doll would have had.

The master bathroom was equally as impressive as the rest of the suite. How much would you love for this to be your bathroom?! Look at the size of that tub!

I’m hoping I can do “purple mosaic and gold” as a theme for a future bathroom renovation.

The guest bedroom isn’t too shabby either. It kind of gives me Superman vibes — the type of place he would stay if he had a ton of money.

The guest bathroom there was particularly memorable. How would you like a mosaic on your bathroom wall?

I remarked that I really liked the shadow clock that was projected onto the wall. Turns out these clocks were such popular items that the Burj al Arab began selling them to their guests!

Would you like to have one of those clocks on YOUR wall?

Best Photo to Take in the Burj al Arab

After leaving the suite, I went to the spa floor, where you’ll be able to take the best picture of the hotel. This should be one of your priorities.

To get here, take the elevator to the spa floor and walk around the perimeter to the lobby. Stand next to the white piano and you’ll be in a perfect position.

The result is the photo above.

One reader remarked to me that the Burj al Arab would be more toward the taste of Eastern tourists with its penchant for gold-dripped anything. Well, I’m a Leo — in my opinion, you can’t have too much gold!

But it’s true that gold does tend to reflect the design aesthetic of the up-and-coming billionaire regions of the world like China, India, and Russia. Years ago, the Burj al Arab catered foremost to wealthy American tourists, we were told. In time, however, their customer base has shifted toward wealthy Russians and Chinese.

You don’t get a lot of presidents or royalty staying here — it tends to be the super-rich rather than the super-powerful.

Where to Book Afternoon Tea at the Burj al Arab

There are two seatings for Afternoon Tea daily. The first is at 1 PM and the second is at 4 PM. The Sky Tea costs 635 Dirham ($173) for adults and 315 Dirham ($85) for children under the age of 11.

You can easily make your reservation for afternoon tea here. That will give you the all-important name on the list that will get you into the hotel itself!

( 2023 Update: The above mentioned afternoon tea is no longer available but this one is similar.)

Is the Afternoon Tea pricey? Yes. But I think it is absolutely worth it to experience one of the world’s most luxurious hotels with unmatched views of Dubai. Personally, this was my favorite thing that I did in Dubai.

Want to do more? There are a variety of other options available which allow you to experience the Burj al Arab. These include spending the day at their pool ( 2023 update: no longer available), having dinner at their stunning aquarium restaurant ( 2023 update: I no longer see this available but you can still have dinner at the Burj Al Arab ), or enjoying sunset drinks at the SkyView Bar ( 2023 update: not currently offered). You can also do a 90 minute tour inside the Burj al Arab .

You can get more ideas for fun Dubai activities here.

Is the Burj al Arab Worth It?

I am never going to be able to afford to stay at the Burj al Arab in Dubai. But I am so glad that I actually got to visit that place, that I actually got to see that lobby and take those pictures and experience the hotel that I’ve dreamed of visiting for so long.

And as a full-time blogger who has lately been feeling more of the pitfalls  than the joys, being able to achieve a decade-long goal was the ultimate redeeming experience.

If it’s your dream to visit Burj al Arab and you aren’t secretly married to a Saudi prince or Russian czarina, afternoon tea is your best bet. It’s not a budget activity but every moment of it was absolute delicious pleasure.

Considering the food that you get, the views, and the Burj al Arab experience, I consider it much better value than afternoon tea at the fanciest hotels in London, for example.

Does that make it worth it to you? Then absolutely go and indulge yourself at this fabulous hotel.

Essential Information

The Burj al Arab is a private resort, and it’s closed to non-guests. However, you can visit if you have a dining reservation at one of the restaurants. Afternoon tea is the cheapest way to visit the Burj al Arab.

Sky Tea is the only one served in the SkyView Lounge. Keep in mind that alcohol is not served during Ramadan.

Where to Stay in Dubai

The Burj al Arab is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Dubai – a girl can only dream ! But unfortunately, this is out of budget for many travelers.

If you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay, I highly recommend the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates . The hotel is exquisite! The Kempinski takes luxury to the next level with its stylish furnishings and tastefully decorated rooms. Location-wise, it doesn’t get any better than this.

If you’re looking for a mid-range place to stay, Rove Downtown offers a luxurious stay at an affordable price. The rooms have a simplistic design with large windows offering gorgeous views of the city. There’s also an outdoor pool which is the perfect place to relax after a long day out.

If you’re looking for a budget place to stay in Dubai, I recommend Backpacker Dubai . This hostel is ideally located near all the top attractions and the rooms are spotlessly clean and comfortable. You’re guaranteed to meet other tourists here and it’s a great option for solo travelers.

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Many thanks to the Burj al Arab for inviting me for a complimentary tour and Sky Tea. Special thanks to Izabela for taking the time to show us around and indulging my desire to take crazy pictures. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab

Inside the sail-like facade, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab plays host to a collection of extraordinary suites and restaurants, including Michelin-starred Al Muntaha, an award-winning spa, and breathtaking beach club, Sal.

Accommodation

Exceptional design and personalised service await, from our unique vantage point off Dubai's golden shoreline. In our duplex suites, no two stays are the same.

Exquisitely designed

Exquisitely designed spaces overlooking the resort, lagoon or shimmering ocean.

Beautiful spaces fit for royalty

A particularly special experience to treasure.

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Jumeirah Exceptional Escapes

Save up to 15% on your stay of three nights or more at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, with added indulgent benefits.

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Bask in your private cabana on The Terrace for one day during your stay.

Ultimate Staycation Bed and Breakfast

Save up to 20% with exceptional benefits, crafted especially for UAE residents.

Jumeirah Breaks

Save up to 20% on unforgettable family stays at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, where every moment is a cherished memory.

Dining at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Enjoy captivating cuisine in serene settings, from our terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf to sky-high elegance at Michelin-starred Al Muntaha. A culinary journey, complemented by panoramic views.

Our expert teams aim to enrich every aspect of your life using a thoughtful and holistic approach, through renowned spa and fitness programmes and comprehensive wellness rituals.

Dubai explored from Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is a place of new experiences and life-affirming adventures.

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Street, PO Box 74147, Dubai, UAE

[email protected]

+971 4 301 7777

25 years on, is Dubai's Burj Al Arab still the pinnacle of luxury?

By Sophie Prideaux

Few hotels ever truly achieve landmark status. Paris has The Ritz, New York has The Plaza, Singapore has Raffles, and Dubai has Burj Al Arab.

Standing alone on its own purpose-built island just off Jumeirah Beach, Burj Al Arab ’s sail-inspired design is found in souvenir shops, on postcards and in the camera roll of just about any traveller who visits the city. Together with the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah, it stands as a symbol of Dubai’s unending ambition.

This year, Jumeirah’s flagship hotel is celebrating 25 years since opening its opulent doors and creating a whole new category of luxury. Its “seven-star” label may be unofficial, but in 1999, when travel writers first graced these gilded halls, five-star just didn’t do it justice. A quarter of a century later, I’m here to find out if Burj Al Arab is still the pinnacle of luxury.

As I cross the bridge over the piercing blue waters of the Arabian Gulf towards the foot of the hotel, my modest Renault Duster begins to stick out like a sore thumb. In front of me, a bright green Lamborghini roars towards the valet, joining the line-up of Ferraris, Rolls Royces and G Wagons parked up. Still, I’m greeted with just as warm a welcome by a grinning concierge, dressed in a pristine pressed gold-threaded kandora.

Supercars line up outside the hotel's lobby

If quiet luxury is the current in vogue hotel trend, Burj Al Arab is the antithesis of that. From the second you enter, the luxury here is unapologetically loud. The reception is surrounded by a golden dome, matching the gold ceiling, which frames lights designed to mimic the night sky. The carpet – one of the softest I’ve ever walked on – is painted in swirls of red, gold and indigo, and alongside the escalators that take guests up through the hotel’s towering atrium, two giant aquariums teem with fish, glistening as brightly as their surroundings.

I’m greeted by name as I’m told to take a seat on the red leather sofas to be checked in. No sooner have I put my bag down does a man appear with an offer of Arabic coffee and dates, which I happily accept as I’m offered a brief resort orientation. All guests of Burj Al Arab are welcome to explore the entire Jumeirah complex, which includes neighbouring Madinat Jumeirah, as well as Jumeirah Al Naseem and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, all of which are accessible by golf buggy. As I set off for my room, I spot a children’s book stand to the corner of reception. Shaped like a Rolls Royce, naturally.

The hotel's uniquely designed interior

Each of the Burj Al Arab’s 202 suites is a duplex, greeting guests with a sweeping staircase upon entry. However grand it may be, it’s the view beyond that truly wows. The view from my city-facing room is a perspective on Dubai I’ve never seen before – looking back towards the shore with the length of Jumeirah’s golden sands stretching out below. Downstairs, I’m welcomed with canapés laid out on a marble-top bar and a spacious lounge with a chaise and six-seater corner sofa, both strategically placed to take in the views. Gold is everywhere – encasing the television, on the skirting boards, threaded through the thick baroque Roman blinds. Upstairs, it frames the enormous bed (as well as the mirror that sits on the ceiling above it). Bedside clocks are made by Rolex, while toiletries are Hermés (and include a full-sized eau de parfum for him and her). In the closet hangs a navy and gold baroque kimono, to be paired with tasselled leather slip-on loafers while lounging about the suite. It’s unlike any room I’ve ever seen, and that’s precisely the point. Should you need anything, each of the hotel’s floors has its own butler, who will be with you with the touch of a button on the in-room (gold) iPad.

Sal at Burj Al Arab

The hotel’s pool club, Sal, feels more pared back. Set on a platform to the rear of the hotel, its rectangular infinity pool is flanked by chic navy loungers and circular day beds, where both guests and non-hotel guests sip spritzes from behind their designer sunglasses.

Away from the pool, afternoon tea at the Burj’s Skyview Lounge is on many-a Dubai bucket list . While the lounge itself shows its age, with its blue and green leather banquettes and (slightly odd) light-up entryway, the view from the 27th-floor, the hotel’s highest point (bar its rooftop helipad), is impressive. From here, the city unfurls around you with the curve of Palm Jumeirah’s east crescent to the left and the World Islands and Downtown skyline to the right. The menu is a collaboration between French pastry chef Tom Coll and Italian chef Saverio Sbaragli, separated into sweet and savoury, elevating classic sandwiches and cakes with the addition of zucchini tarelettes – made with produce grown from Sbaragli’s private garden – and a particularly delightful vanilla caramel chouquette, all served on a Burj Al Arab-shaped cake stand.

Ristorante L'Olivo at Al Mahara, Dubai

There are seven on-site restaurants, as well as gold-laden sky bar , Gilt, and a dessert shop. French-Italian restaurant Al Muntaha from chef Sbaragli was awarded a Michelin star in Dubai’s 2023 guide, while Al Iwan serves a fine-dining take on traditional Arabic dishes. I dine at L'Olivo at Al Mahara, though, a rendition of Capri's two Michelin-starred restaurant by Chef Andrea Migliaccio, where a six-course tasting menu features red tuna tartare, blue lobster, sea bass, and the chef’s signature lemon tagliolini. It’s a spectacular menu, served in an even more spectacular setting – hidden behind the hotel’s aquariums, surrounding diners by passing sharks and eels. At the end of the meal, I’m handed a bouquet of white and pink roses – perhaps as a congratulations for getting through quite so many courses a mere few hours after polishing off afternoon tea. Either way, it makes my night.

I pack them the following morning, alongside my full-sized Hermés Un Jardin and the sample-sized Twilly perfume that was left on my pillow at turn down, and I think of the question that brought me here. Burj Al Arab is an acquired taste, one that strays far from the pared-back interiors and discreet touches so often found in the world’s top hotels . But that’s exactly why people continue to flock here. It’s different. It’s memorable. And it’s oh-so-Dubai. It continues to offer its own take on luxury, and if the crowd of people I pass in the lobby on my way out who have paid just to have a tour inside are anything to go by, it continues to inspire awe.

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Burj Al Arab's new guided tours: what to expect from the 90-minute experience

The landmark hotel is offering an inside peek to non-guests for the first time in its history, you can now book a 90-minute tour to experience the luxury inside burj al arab.

Tickets have gone on sale for Inside Burj Al Arab, a newly launched guided tour experience of one of Dubai’s most famous hotels.

Open to the public from October 15, the butler-guided tours are curated for up to 12 visitors at a time and will operate every 15 minutes from 9.30am to 8.30pm daily.

Tickets cost Dh399, with the option to add a series of signature experiences, including the hotel’s 24-carat Ultimate Gold Cappuccino or afternoon tea at Sahn Eddar in the hotel’s atrium.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of Inside Burj Al Arab, especially with all eyes on Dubai as it stages the ’The World’s Greatest Show’ with Expo 2020,” says Ermanno Zanini, regional vice president and general manager of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. “It is the perfect opportunity to give residents and visitors the chance to experience the wonders of this world-famous landmark first-hand.

“Providing a stunning window into the world of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the tour will appeal to those intrigued by its story, not just of the building, but of its people, creativity, and ingenuity, as well as its Emirati hospitality, Arabian opulence and world-class service. We are proud to deliver this exceptional experience to the world.”

The 90-minute tours include a visit to the hotel atrium and Royal Suite, as well as a stop in the newly curated Experience Suite, where guests can partake in interactive digital experiences that trace the history of the hotel, back to the original architectural designs.

The tour ends with a visit to the new Uma lounge, where guests can enjoy views of the Arabian Gulf. Visitors can also top off their experience by reserving a table in one of the hotel’s award-winning restaurants.

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Guide to the Inside Burj Al Arab Tour: A taste of true luxury

• About the Burj Al Arab Tour
• What to Expect

Tour Packages

• Things to Remember

Want to see inside the world’s only seven-star hotel without spending a fortune? The Inside Burj Al Arab tour is an immersive experience that allows UAE residents and visitors to finally see the most coveted areas of Burj Al Arab. Read on to find out all about the one-of-a-kind tour.

ABOUT THE BURJ AL ARAB TOUR

The Inside Burj Al Arab tour, which opened to the public on 15th October 2021, can accommodate up to 12 people at a time. It runs every 15 minutes from 09:30 am to 08:30 pm daily.

The 90-minute butler-guided tour has rapidly become immensely popular with those fascinated by this world-famous hotel. Located in Jumeirah , the Burj Al Arab shows us what it means to be truly exceptional in the hospitality industry. It is the true representation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai’s extraordinary vision.

The tour takes guests on an exclusive journey of discovery, allowing them to hear the untold stories behind one of Dubai’s most iconic hotels. The tour can be upgraded to include a variety of distinctive experiences.

What to expect

Here is what you can expect when you tour Burj Al Arab.

• Architectural Design and History: From the very first hand-drawn sketch to unique design elements of the Burj Al Arab — explore how the iconic structure came to be.
• Photo opportunities: Get that perfect snap for the Gram with the stunning interiors as a backdrop.
• Royal Guided Tour: Feel like royalty with each tour guided by a dedicated butler. Check out the Royal Suite for a glimpse into the ultimate luxury
• Upgrade your experience: From pastries and fresh juices to sumptuous afternoon tea and cocktails at sunset, several options elevate your touring experience.
• Kids Club: Book the Our Kids Club, available from  02:00 pm to 06:45 pm and 09:00 am to 12:45 pm. The service can accommodate kids aged two and has professionals at hand.
• Grab a souvenir: Head to the Burj Al Arab Boutique and buy a little something to remember your experience.

Visitors can choose from these packages for the Burj Al Arab guided tour.

Iconic Sunset Tour

Make the most of the emirate’s spectacular sea view sunset by choosing from these tours.

• Sunset and Premium Beverage: Stop at the UMA Lounge and indulge in drinks and the finest cuisine. The shared tour includes three-time slots with AED 349 per ticket.
• Sunset Sparkle: Enjoy a wine or beer from the 25 th floor. Potential visitors can contact the concerned management for this Burj Al Arab tour cost.

Inside Burj Al Arab

Starting at AED 249, this tour explores the lavish interior of one of the most popular hotels in the world.

Tour and Golden Cappuccino at UMA Lounge

Enjoy the tour and have a cuppa sprinkled with 24-carat gold! The shared tour costs AED 369 per visitor.

Tour and Dine

This Dubai Burj Al Arab tour has three options depending on chosen cuisine. The prices mentioned below are per ticket.

• Tour and Club Sandwich or Margherita Pizza at UMA Lounge: AED 399
• Tour and two-course dinner or lunch at Sahn Eddar: AED 599
• Tour and Family Buffet at Al Iwan: AED 699

Family Offers

Coming in with a group? Select from any of these Burj Al Arab tour deals. Please note these packages cater to a family of two adults and two children.

• Family Package: Applicable for AED 599 per ticket
• Family Package and UMA: Dine with the family at UMA and have fun in the tour for AED 750.

Things to Consider

Excited about the tour? Just keep these considerations in mind before you go.

• The tickets include access inside the hotel only and exclusively to the 25 th floor
• Food and beverages from outside are not permitted
• Tickets are non-refundable
• Changes to the tour are allowed 48 hours before the date
• Professional and flash photography isn’t permitted
• Visitors are expected to dress appropriately. This means no beachwear.

A complete list of the terms is available on the Burj Al Arab tour official website.

Please visit the Inside Burj Al Arab hospitality desk on the ground level if you want to upgrade your ticket after your tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i buy tickets for the tour.

You can make a booking via the tour’s official website. For more information, fill out the form on their contact page and someone will get back to you shortly.

Can I cancel a booking?

Bookings cannot be cancelled and refunds are not entertained.

Are kids under four allowed free entry?

The Inside Burj Al Arab tour is complimentary for kids under five. Child rates apply to children of five to thirteen, while those above thirteen are charged as adults.

Where can I drop my kids off?

There is a Kids Club at the hotel. It cares for children as young as 2.

How many floors does Burj Al Arab have?

Burj Al Arab has 56 floors.

Can we visit more of the hotel on the Burj Al Arab guided tour?

Yes, add-ons are possible. For instance, you can make a reservation at fancy restaurants in Burj Al Arab . You can also ask to spend some time at the beautiful Burj Al Arab Terrace .

What are some other things to do at the Burj Al Arab?

There are many fabulous things to do in Burj Al Arab – as you’d expect of one of the world’s most famous hotels.

That wraps up our guide on the Burj Al Arab Tour. This tour will allow you to experience authentic Emirati hospitality, learn everything there is to know about this incredible structure and gain insight into living the high life.

Why not visit Downtown Dubai, the city’s entertainment centre, if you’re looking for other fun activities in this gorgeous city? There are many things to do in Downtown Dubai that combine to make the district a true tourist delight.

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Can You Visit the Burj Al Arab? Inside Dubai’s Most Exclusive Hotel

It is one of the most exquisite and beautiful buildings in Dubai, but what do you actually know about the Burj Al Arab?

Insider tips on how to get into Dubai’s most exclusive address

The stunning sail silhouette is symbolic of one of the world’s most luxurious and exclusive hotels – complete with its own helipad no less.  It is also renowned for being hopelessly difficult to get into for a sneaky peek!

You must be a guest of the hotel, but there are plenty of ways you can do this without actually staying the night – though be warned it certainly won’t be the cheapest thing you do in Dubai, whatever way you play it! (But we’ll share with you below one option under $30 USD!)

Burj al Arab – a Seven-Star hotel?

OK, we should all know by now there’s no such thing as a seven-star hotel, but where did the catchphrase come from?  It was actually first expressed by a journalist when reviewing the newly opened Burj Al Arab in 1999 but clearly left a lasting impression.

Whilst classifications in Dubai – regulated by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing – only give the hotel a 5-star rating, even the Jumeirah group who run the hotel still refer to their “7-star service” in their marketing; so you decide!

(Want to read more on the 7-star debate – if it doesn’t exist it looks like you ask someone to create it! )

So can you get inside the Burj al Arab? 

The million-dollar question! The hotel is NOT open to walk-in visits from non-paying guests – and don’t even attempt it; you will be stopped by security well before you are near the building.

However, you need not stay the night in any of the Burj al Arab suites (they are too posh for hotel rooms). Instead, you could try booking in at one of the restaurants or bars for an indulgent treat or entering on a recreation day pass. We will look at each in turn:

• Afternoon Tea at Burj Al Arab

Lunch and Dinner at Burj Al Arab

Enjoy sundowner drinks from the burj al arab, guided tour of burj al arab, pool day passes for burj al arab, other ways to see the burj al arab from outside..

Note 1 USD = 3.67 AED | 100 AED is approximately $28 USD

The easiest way into Burj al Arab is to book an afternoon tea

The restaurants themselves in the Burj al Arab, as you can imagine, are masterpieces before you even get to the food.

The Muntaha Restaurant and Skyview Bar and Restaurant are located on the 27th floor. 200m high they both reward visitors with amazing panoramic views of Dubai’s beaches, the Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah , and in the distance the skyline of Downtown Dubai.

There are two afternoon tea restaurants with several variations available at Burj al Arab:

Sky Tea is served in the Skyview lounge

Perched on the 27th floor of this iconic building, this is one of the most elaborate Afternoon Tea experiences in Dubai .  Try date juice and exotic savouries before moving on to a delectable selection of sweets. There are options for a 5-course menu, or why not go all out and treat yourself to the 7-course option with champagne and caviar?

There are two seatings daily, the first is at 1:00 pm and another at 4:00 pm. The afternoon tea costs from 500 AED for adults and 315 AED for children (aged 8+). 

Be warned if this is on your agenda it can sometimes book out weeks in advance, especially if you are eyeing up popular celebration dates. You pay an additional fee of 100 AED per person to be seated beside a window.

Afternoon Tea at Sahn Eddar

There is a second luxurious 7-course afternoon tea held on the 1st floor at the Sahn Eddar restaurant. The beautiful mosaics, marble floor, fountains and torches create an alluringly beautiful Middle Eastern atmosphere in the magnificent hotel lobby.  Enjoy pastries, cakes and the finest teas and coffees you can imagine.

The afternoon tea is served from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and starts from 550 AED.

A 3-course High Tea is then held at Sahn Eddar, commencing at 7:00 pm.

Throughout the day there is also the option of their “Sweet Indulgences” packages offering a seasonal cake with mocktail or signature gold cappuccino for 280 AED per person.

Dress Code for High Tea or Afternoon Tea at Burj Al Arab

As you can imagine for such an opulent hotel there is a strict dress code in keeping with luxury and Muslim standards. You really need to dress for the occasion when you attend a Burj al Arab dining experience.

This means strictly no torn jeans, shirts without sleeves, translucent clothing, or gym gear. Gentleman are requested to wear a collared shirt, full-length trousers, and closed shoes.

As always for women in Dubai, respect the rules of no excessive cleavage, covered shoulders, no short skirts.  Women are requested to wear a suit or dress, long skirt or dressy slacks and top. UAE National Dress is welcome.

You can see our complete guide on how you should dress in Dubai here.

There are several other dining options at Burj al Arab to look out for at both lunch and dinner time across the Burj Al Arab’s diverse range of restaurants.

Specialising in French cuisine, Al Muntaha offers a weekend Brunch experience with the international buffet “ Le Grand Petit Dejeuner “ , described as ” an innovative interpretation of seasonal cuisine, artistically combining the finest of ingredients from around the globe into stylish masterpieces”. Situated on the 27th floor, this is one of Dubai’s best dining experiences with a view.

There is an early bird (10:00 am to 12:00 pm) seating and the full brunch which runs 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (one of the only hotels in Dubai we know where Brunch actually starts in the morning! ). Priced at 695 AED, which in 5-star Dubai brunch terms isn’t actually too bad!

They are also open for lunch and dinner throughout the week. For a greater sample of what’s on offer, you can enjoy a 4-course contemporary French lunch, or a luxury 5 or 7-course offering starting from 550 AED per person.

Dinner in the stunning aquarium restaurant

Al Mahara Aquarium Restaurant is an exquisite and unmissable touch if you are looking for the ultimate wow factor. Enjoy a 4, 5 or 7-course menu on the ground floor of Burj Al Arab. You will feel like you are dining under the sea in this exquisite one-of-a-kind restaurant, with naturally the best seafood menu you could imagine. It’s mocktails only though starting from 550 AED.

Al Iwan Restaurant

If you are looking for a traditional Arabic feed to pair perfectly with your extravagant Middle Eastern experience, look no further than Al Iwan Restaurant. Situated with views of the incredible hotel atrium, enjoy a selection of hot and cold Arabic mezze over lunch from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

The family-friendly dining option at the hotel – as casual as it gets is Bab al Yam. One of the only restaurants to let under 8’s in for the dinner time sitting.

A final dining option is Junsui, the hotels Far East Asian cuisine offering. As far as we are aware there are no special packages, just a delectable a la carte menu and setting to enjoy.

A little bit of everything? The Culinary Flight

Enjoy the culinary flight which will see you enjoying starters at Al Muntaha, followed by a main course at Al Mahara and mouth-watering mixology and dessert at Gold on 27. The package lasts from 7:00 pm to midnight for a princely sum of 1500 AED per person – a superb special occasion idea to wow your loved one.

If you don’t fancy shelling out for a meal, there are a couple of drink package options that will see you past security and into the Burj Al Arab – one which might even work on a budget!

Skyview Bar Beverage Package

Once afternoon tea is done and dusted, there are half-hourly slots to book yourself a spot at the Skyview bar and enjoy the views at sunset while sipping on a mocktail and a cocktail prepared by one of their resident mixologists. It still doesn’t come cheap, however, from 330 AED per person.

Now, this is the one we’ve been dying to share with you. Arguably the cheapest way to enjoy “7-star service” and still enjoy the ambience and experience of being inside the Burj Al Arab. NB since COVID temporarily closed.

All you need to do is head to the Gold on 27 website and select your number of guests and prefered time slot. This will get you your reservation confirmation. The Sundown on 27 menu which includes two drinks and one appetizer is 250 AED per person BUT you only need to make a minimum spend of 200 AED. Appetizers are priced at around 60 to 100 AED and cocktails around 100 AED to 140 AED.

Due to Gold on 27’s position in the hotel, yes you’re on the 27th floor, but you won’t get much of a view outside. You do get to travel through the exquisite hotel lobby to arrive at the bar and stake your claim to fame you have BEEN to the Burj al Arab!

This is the cheapest way we know to get into the Burj al Arab! (But let us know in the comments below if you think there’s a trick we’re missing!)

New in 2021, Jumeirah Group have launched a 90-minute butler-guided tour of the Burj Al Arab.

There will be morning, day, sunset and evening tour options. These can be taken in conjunction with other bookings at the hotel restaurants, or just take the tour on its own for an exclusive inside look at one of Dubai’s most luxurious and extravagant buildings.

Enjoy this little preview from insideburjalarab.com

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Inside Burj Al Arab (@insideburjalarab)

As well as dining experiences, another way to enjoy the Burj al Arab is to consider a day pass to use the exquisite pool and recreation facilities.

The Burj Al Arab Terrace is famously one of the most beautiful in the world. A triangular deck that juts out from the base of the Burj al Arab, there are two infinity pools, designed to make it look as though you are floating above the Arabian Gulf waters. 

The Terrace prices for non-guests of the hotel don’t come cheap, however. Prices start at 2000 AED to rent a cabana for one day, with prices as much as 7000 AED.

The cabanas are as luxurious as you might expect though from a “7-star” resort. They come decked out with your own coffee machine, mini-bar, dining and spa menus, sound system, television, air-conditioning and sunbeds.

Another moderately cheaper option is “A Day at the Terrace”, pool access accompanied with a 3-course lunch at Scape, the Mediterranean poolside restaurant.

Without a reservation, you simply won’t be allowed close to the hotel, even just to snap off a few shots for Instagram (despite what some reputable travel sites may have told you). It’s a big fat no, no matter how charming you think you are!

If you are like most of us mere mortals though and budget will not stretch to even a drink at the Burj Al Arab, your best bet is to head along to Umm Suqeim (Also known as Sunset Beach, or the Burj Beach) and here you can have some fun taking you snaps with the Burj from afar.

We also love the view from Souk Madinat Jumeirah. The beautiful canals make the perfect setting for viewing arguably the most stunning and luxurious hotel in the world.

The most exciting way to see the Burj Al Arab from outside though is to take a tour on the water! Adrenaline lovers will want to check out jet ski options or go for a luxury yacht tour to see how the other half live.

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The hotel itself is currently open. Some restaurants and the lounge are current closed due to Government regulations as at February 2021, we await news when they may re-open.

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Must Visit Islands in The UAE for A Heavenly Retreat

I f you need to escape from the city’s hustle-bustle, UAE Moments suggests you give a visit to one or all of these charming islands where you can enjoy the ultimate beauty of nature.

Here are some of the must-visit Islands in the UAE:

The palm islands.

The Palm Islands is one of the most popular islands to visit in UAE. Palm Island is a 7-mile-long crescent-shaped island constructed in a distinctive palm shape.

You could go deep sea diving or water-skiing which are among some of the most popular adventure activities tourists can enjoy.

There are also many wonderful tourist attractions, shopping centers, and restaurants to visit.

Al Maya Island

Al Maya, which is run by the Abu Dhabi Country Club, is an additional alternative from among the greatest Islands in the UAE for a holiday with an ambiguous level of luxury.

The island is a destination for those looking for leisure, offering amenities like lodging in some of the best hotels and resorts in the UAE.

The island, which is about 9 kilometers away, offers the greatest lodging at Al Maya Island Resort, which looks out over the mesmerizing beauty of the huge sea, the clear sky, and the calm landscape.

For those who enjoy barbecuing, Al Maya Island is the ideal destination.

Deira Islands

The Deira Islands are among the most visited islands in the UAE thanks to the night souq, shopping centers, restaurants, and cafes.

You will also enjoy an authentic range of restaurants offering the most delectable taste of all time.

This island, which has the nicest beaches in the UAE, is undoubtedly a traveler's paradise.

Al Reem Island

Al Reem Island is one of the most magnificent natural islands in the UAE and it is home to many fascinating wonders.

There are houses, stores, entertainment venues, and other exciting activities to fill your vacation time.

The Worlds Island

The World, a project in Dubai that consists of 300 little islands, is one of the best islands in the UAE for vacations.

The exotic heart-shaped island is the ideal honeymoon location in the world, providing couples with a luxurious and romantic getaway.

The island is also home to some of the top resorts and hotels for leisure and luxury.

At UAE World Islands, you can engage in adventures and entertaining activities like watersports or volleyball.

Dalma Island

One of the nicest islands in the world, Dalma Island is a significant Arab pearl trading location.

Now, this is one of the top locations in the Middle East to visit because it has some of the oldest inhabited islands and rich historical sites.

You can learn about the island's history of the island related to religious hotspots, the beauty of Islamic architecture, and Arabian culture. 

You will enjoy exploring the Volcano sites, the Al-heerat, and the Gallery of Antiquities.

With some lush green mountains, alluring valleys, and flatlands, the terrain is diverse.

Burj Al Arab

One of the most gorgeous and fascinating UAE islands you may check off your bucket list is the historic landmark Burj Al Arab.

This is yet another man-made wonder in Dubai where you can enjoy the splendor of gorgeous architecture, upscale dining, and brand-name shopping.

Burj Al Arab, one of the top things to do in the UAE, is a hotspot for water sports like speed boating and surfing, where you can feel the rush of adrenaline.

Even the most luxurious hotels are available for you to experience Dubai's warm hospitality.

Sir Bani Yas Island

One of the most beautiful islands to visit in the UAE is Sir Bani Yas Island, which provides tourists with spectacular natural beauty to take in.

This island was named the World's Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination in 2014.

Enjoy activities like environment exploration, historical site exploration, and wildlife safaris to see wild animals including Arabian oryx, giraffes, gazelles, hyenas, cheetahs, and more.

Saadiyat Island

One of the nicest islands in the UAE is Saadiyat Island, which is located close to the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The island gives each visitor every amenity and relaxation thanks to its top-notch hotels and residential areas.

This article was posted on UAEMoments