Legends are told about it. It is loved and hated for its immoderate devotion to luxury and excessive perfectionism. It is unique. Every major publication in the world has written about it more than once. People envy it, secretly or openly. If it were a person, it could easily make the list of the most famous and influential people on the planet. It is a symbol of Dubai and, perhaps, of the entire United Arab Emirates. It is Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped hotel, or the Arab Tower.

The story of how this grand structure was created has been told and retold many times, yet it is still worth recalling once again. The Sheikh of Dubai had long cherished the dream of building something grand in the city he ruled. Something that could stand alongside the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Kremlin in Moscow, and the Statue of Liberty in New York. At the same time, it had to be truly authentic, so that throughout the world it would be associated only with Dubai. The creation of such a symbol was entrusted to the design firm WS Atkins & Partners.

Its staff knew perfectly well that a building becomes a symbol when its forms are simple, concise and, at the same time, unique. However, the image of a sail did not occur to anyone for a long time. One day, the team of designers and architects met in a small restaurant. It seemed they had already discussed everything. Then suddenly someone's yacht slowly and gracefully glided along the coast of the gulf. There it is — a sail! The form the designers settled on is simple and instantly recognizable. And this idea immediately captured the imagination of the client — the Sheikh of Dubai. Later there were many revisions and redesigns, but the main thing — the sail concept — remained unchanged.

The interiors of Burj Al Arab were designed by Khuan Chew. Before that, she already had experience dealing with demanding royals and had worked with the Sultan of Brunei. However, when decorating the lobby, Khuan Chew almost made a blunder. She believed that the complex architecture of the hotel's atrium should speak for itself and painted the walls white. The ruler of Dubai came personally to assess her work. The Sheikh was pleased when he saw the ornate decorations of the luxurious suites. However, he asked when the lobby decoration would be completed. And where was the brightness, why was everything white? The interior details had to be covered with gold and more color had to be added.

The sail-shaped hotel was built in 5 years. In December 1999, Burj Al Arab opened its doors to its first visitors. And Dubai entered the new millennium with a new, memorable symbol.

Gossips say that the quality of service at the hotel has dropped sharply in recent years. Those lucky enough to have been there can tell whether that is true. As can the stories associated with this iconic place.

It is commonly believed that any whim is fulfilled here. For some reason, one of the hotel guests was dissatisfied with the luxury Hermes toiletries. At his request, all the cosmetics in the room were replaced with Guerlain.

Another stunt looks even more eccentric. One guest demanded a noble Arabian horse, on which he intended to appear for dinner at the Al Muntaha restaurant. Incidentally, this restaurant is located on the 27th floor of the hotel. What the animal felt at that moment, and how Greenpeace reacted, remains unknown...

Contrary to numerous rumors and legends, you will not find gold toilets in the hotel. The sanitary fixtures are made of tile. However, this tile is unusual because it really does contain veins of genuine high-grade gold.

Generally speaking, the hotel has a special relationship with this precious metal. Thus, the famous The Sky View bar is one of the few places on the planet where you can taste gold (gold pastries and gold coffee). And quite recently, Burj Al Arab guests began to be provided with gold iPads featuring a “virtual concierge” function for the duration of their stay. What can you say, a golden hotel.

Almost at the very top of the hotel there is a tennis court. From afar, it looks like a small disk at the base of the spire. Although in fact its area is more than 400 sq. m. The most interesting thing is that it is practically impossible to fall from this platform, even if you get too caught up in the game — a strong wire net stretched under the court will protect you. But balls often fly down from a height of 300 meters — perhaps someone even finds them after tournaments.

By the way, have you ever wondered why there are so few photos of Burj Al Arab from the gulf side? The answer lies in the religious sphere. If you look at the hotel from the Arabian Gulf side, you may notice that its axis (the sail mast) and the restaurant on the 27th floor form... a Catholic cross. This fact, simply indecent for a Muslim country, came to light only after construction was completed. The architects swore that it happened by accident... And the emirate government even banned the publication of photographs taken from the gulf side. Still, you can find some such photos.

Don't even ask about the price of a room. Although, if you are ready to pay a very substantial sum for a night in a two-story deluxe suite, the most convenient way to book a room will be the hotel's official website. However, it is no less convenient to book a room at Burj Al Arab through the familiar Booking.com interface.

However, to get into this hotel “for the rich,” it is not at all necessary to pay around 1000 euros for one night. There is another, “budget,” but quite legal way to find yourself in this Arabian fairy tale. It is genuinely possible to book lunch, dinner, or a tea ceremony at one of the Burj Al Arab restaurants. Before and after the meal, the entire sail-shaped hotel is at your disposal. You can walk around the atrium, arrange a photo shoot, ride the elevator... Only the rooms will be off-limits, unfortunately...

It is better to reserve a table in advance, for example through the reception of your hotel in Dubai. The cheapest option is a tea ceremony at the Junsui restaurant. Don't hesitate, and confidently choose the “afternoon tea” option. In terms of quantity, it is a full lunch.

They bring rolls, kebabs, some exotic soup, and, of course, desserts. The Junsui restaurant is also famous for the fact that more than 20 thousand Swarovski crystals were used to decorate its ceiling.

Many people wonder: how can you come on an excursion to a sail-shaped hotel? But any curious traveler coming to Moscow will certainly visit the Kremlin. Believe me, Burj Al Arab means no less to Dubai than the Kremlin does to Moscow. And besides, you certainly will not see a hotel like this anywhere else. Burj Al Arab stopped being just a hotel long ago. It is a symbol.