Everyone’s heard of the Burj al Arab – the world’s only 7-star hotel, situated on its own blissful private island in Dubai, and the hotel of choice for the super-rich. But there’s many things about the Burj al Arab that the average person DOESN’T know, and these 10 interesting facts are sure to impress and amaze you:

1. The Burj al Arab is rumoured to never make a profit. The hotel cost around $1 billion to construct and only has 28 guest suites, making it difficult to break-even let alone generate a reasonable profit from! However, it was built with a different purpose in mind: to serve as a global, iconic symbol for the city of Dubai – something it has definitely achieved.

   

2. It is the fourth-tallest hotel in the world and the third-tallest hotel in Dubai, standing at 321 metres tall, despite the fact that 39% of the Burj al Arab is non-occupable space. The Rotana Rose Rayhaan hotel and the JW Marriott Marquis take the spot for first and third tallest hotels in the world, both of which are also located in Dubai.
3. Each suite provides guest with full-sized complimentary Hermés amenities. Talk about luxury!
4. The Burj al Arab is decked out in 30 kinds of luxurious  Italian Statuario marble everywhere, from the walls to the floors. But did you know that this was the same type of marble used by famed artist Michelangelo to create his impressive sculptures?
5. Junsui, a restaurant in the Burj al Arab famed for its signature East-Asian cuisine, houses the largest Swarovski crystal ceiling in the world, with around 29,000 crystals used, placing the value of the ceil

   

   ing alone at 1.3 million dirhams. Wow!

6. The hotel took 3 years to build and during this construction phase, it was simply called the “Dubai Chicago Beach Hotel,” as a nod to an oil-storage tank that was previously located in the same area. This remained the Public Project Name until Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum announced the hotel would officially be called the Burj Al Arab.
7. During the daytime, there’s no artificial lighting used in the public areas of the Burj al Arab – it relies solely on natural daylight…and the reflections of all those diamonds and gold!
8. All female members of the front office have to wear bespoke gold earrings and necklaces designed in the shape of the Burj Al Arab logo.
9. Cleaning every window of the Burj is no easy feat – it takes 19 people a whole month to cover the entirety of the hotel.
10. The hotel ismanaged by the Jumeirah Group, the same company that managed the 5-star Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which is a popular family hotel amongst tourists.

So did you know any of those amazing facts? Comment below what your favourite secret fact about the Burj al Arab is and if you want a part two!

Which hotel would you like to see 10 interesting facts for next?