The first hint that a Dubai helicopter tour is something out of the ordinary arrives before you leave the ground. There's the hum that grows into a throb, the quick, nervous choreography of blades becoming a blur, and the way the city's mirrored towers seem to lean in, curious, as if Dubai itself wants to see you off. Then the doors click shut, the headset softens the world into a muted, purposeful hush, and the machine lifts-light as a thought-until you're no longer a person on a helipad but an idea moving through the air.
From above, Dubai rearranges itself. What feels, at street level, like a race of glass and steel toward the sky reveals an entirely different personality in the open.
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Grids loosen into curves. The coastline becomes a calligraphic stroke, pale sand meeting deep water with a sharp, clean edge. The desert, which can be hard to imagine while walking beneath palm-lined boulevards, waits just beyond the last ring road-an ocean of amber waves frozen mid-swell. On this aerial adventure, the city is both map and poem, each landmark a line break, each island a verse.
The pilot narrates more than just location. There's a particular pride in pointing out how audacity here isn't a rumor, it's a skyline. The Burj Khalifa rises like a needle threading sky to earth, its shadow tracing a dark ruler across neighborhoods that look as tidy and miniature as a maker's model. Even at a distance, it feels less like a building and more like an intent. You bank, and suddenly the Arabian Gulf spreads wide, the water so calm it's as if the whole sea is holding its breath.
Then there's the moment you've likely imagined: the palm that only makes sense to the birds and the brave. Palm Jumeirah blooms beneath you, each frond a neat boulevard of villas and gardens, the crescent a protective arm laid gently on the water. From the ground, it's a neighborhood.
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From the air, it's a statement. The helicopter arcs along the curve, and you catch flashes of swimming pools, docked boats, and the Atlantis resort peeking through like a coral palace. This is why some things were made to be seen from above. Even the World Islands, scattered like a cartographer's daydream, emerge from their haze: continents redrawn by ambition, smaller than the globe but big enough to tilt perspective.
Inside, the cabin is its own little theater. A child's laughter pulses over the intercom, someone else goes quiet, and another person clutches a camera as if it were a passport. Headsets carry the pilot's steady voice, the occasional chirp of air traffic control, and the soft exclamations that are half words and half breath. The helicopter tilts and slides with a confidence that feels kind; you're aware of movement not as a jolt but as a gesture, like a dancer changing direction at the edge of a stage. The small tremors of the rotor wash are a reminder that you are in a machine, but they never overwhelm the smooth glide of the ride.
The Burj Al Arab appears like a sail brimming with wind, moored permanently to a sliver of man-made island. It's one of those buildings that looks glamorous from every angle, and the helicopter obliges with a slow, respectful pass, the white structure gleaming like the spine of an open book against teal water. Down the coast, beaches show as soft, pale ribbons, umbrellas like confetti. A speedboat scripts frothy punctuation through the Gulf; a dhow, heavy and slow, writes a sentence in the opposite direction.
If you lean close to the window (and you will), a new Dubai reveals itself in micro: rooftop gardens tucked between solar panels, sunlit balconies, hidden courtyards shaded by fabric sails. You notice the order of traffic from above-rivers of cars flowing in rational patterns-and the pockets of unexpected emptiness where construction has yet to speak. It's a reminder that the city is still becoming. That making is the tense in which Dubai prefers to live.
The best times to fly are the bookends of the day, when the light does you favors. Morning softens the edges, diffusing detail into something painterly. Sunset, though, is a revelation. The buildings catch fire in a palette of golds, and the desert turns to velvet. As the sun drops, the city lights up like a circuit board-avenues glowing with ordered energy, towers tracing constellations of their own design. At night, the Burj Khalifa whispers in twinkles all the way up its spine, and the Palm's fronds glow like a chandelier laid on the sea. Aerial Dubai at dusk feels simultaneously infinite and intimate, like looking down at a living postcard addressed to everyone and no one in particular.
There are practicalities, yes. You'll watch a safety video, listen to instructions, and have your seat assigned for balance. The doors will shut decisively, and the headset may feel like a firm handshake around your temples. Any nerves you bring will dissolve somewhere between liftoff and the first glimpse of coastline. The adrenaline comes not as a spike but as a steady, warm current; you are safe, you are held, and the wonder arrives in manageable waves. If you're tempted to hold your phone the entire time, consider a compromise: take a few photos, then let the lens slip to your lap and let your eyes do their work. Memory, when fed something this grand, tends to hold on.
Calling it a Dubai helicopter tour aerial adventure is accurate, but also undersells it. Adventure conjures risk and grit; this is more like borrowing a superpower for twenty minutes. Dubai helicopter tour exclusive experience . It gives you perspective in the purest sense: a way to understand the scale, the audacity, the improbable elegance of a place that has turned imagination into skyline.
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It also reveals a quiet truth: from above, everything human looks tender. Roads and homes and harbors and gardens-arrangements of care and intention, stitched together by the need to belong somewhere.
When the helicopter descends, the city rises to meet you. The rotors soften, the door opens, and heat and sound bloom back into being. You step onto the pad with the lightness of someone who's been somewhere impossible and come back with proof. The rest of your day feels just a little bit slow, like the world hasn't caught up with what you've seen. But that's the gift of the sky: it changes how you look when your feet return to earth. And in Dubai, where the future often seems to be arriving early, a view from above is not just a thrill. It's a glimpse of how far a dream can go when it has room to take off.
About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E.
"Sheikh Zayed Mosque" redirects here. For other uses, see Sheikh Zayed Mosque (disambiguation).
Location within the Middle East
Show map of Middle East
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
جَامِع ٱلشَّيْخ زَايِد ٱلْكَبِيْر
View of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from the courtyard, 2018
Religion
Affiliation
Islam
Location
Location
Abu Dhabi
Country
United Arab Emirates
Location within the UAE
Show map of United Arab Emirates
Coordinates24°24′43.2″N54°28′26.4″E / 24.412000°N 54.474000°E / 24.412000; 54.474000ArchitectureArchitectYusef AbdelkiStyleIslamicGroundbreaking1996Completed2007Construction costDhs2 billion (US$545 million)SpecificationsCapacity41,000+Length420 m (1,380 ft)Width290 m (950 ft)Dome82 domes of 7 different sizesDome height (outer)85 m (279 ft)Dome dia. (outer)32.2 m (106 ft)Minaret4Minaret height104 m (341 ft)Website
مركز جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Arabic: جَامِع ٱلشَّيْخ زَايِد ٱلْكَبِيْرJāmiʿ Aš-Šaykh Zāyid Al-Kabīr) is a mosque located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.[1] It is the country's largest mosque, and is the key place of worship for daily Islamic prayers. There is a smaller replica of this mosque in Surakarta, a city in Indonesia.[2]
The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and was inaugurated in December 2007.[3] The building complex measures approximately 290 by 420 m (950 by 1,380 ft), covering an area of more than 12 hectares (30 acres), excluding exterior landscaping and vehicle parking. The main axis of the building is rotated about 12° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The project was launched by the late president of the U.A.E., Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art.[4] In 2004, Sheikh Zayed died and was buried in the courtyard of the mosque.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) offices are located in the west minarets. SZGMC manages the day-to-day operations and serves as a center of learning and discovery through its educational cultural activities and visitor programs. The library, located in the northeast minaret, serves the community with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilization, calligraphy, the arts, and coins, including some rare publications. The collection comprises material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Korean. For two years running, it was voted the world's second favourite landmark by TripAdvisor.[5]
The Grand Mosque has been a significant destination for visiting foreign leaders during official state visits to the UAE. Notable visitors include Elizabeth II,[6] the then US Vice President Joe Biden[7] and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[8]
Design and construction
[edit]
The mosque was built under the guidance and supervision of Sheikh Zayed, who was buried here after his death in 2004. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. The main prayer hall is dominated by one of the largest chandeliers. The mosque was designed under the management of the Syrian architect Youssef Abdelke, and three other architectural designers from Syria who completed the design and worked on developing it, Basem Barghouti, Moataz Al-Halabi, and Imad Malas.[9]
The mosque's architect Yusef Abdelki took inspiration from a number of sources: the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque in Alexandria, designed by Mario Rossi in the 1920s;[10] the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan;[11] and other references of Persian, Mughal, and Indo-Islamic architecture. The dome layout and floorplan of the mosque was inspired by the Badshahi Mosque. Its archways are quintessentially Moorish, and its minarets classically Arab.
In a joint-venture between Italian contractors Impregilo and Rizzani de Eccher, more than 3,000 workers and 38 sub-contracting companies were conscripted in its construction. The mosque was completed under a second contract by a Joint Venture between ACC and Six Construct (part of Belgian company BESIX Group) between 2004 and 2007.[12][13][14] Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. Artisans and materials came from many countries including Syria, especially from Damascus and Aleppo, and some other countries such as India, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, North Macedonia and the U.A.E.[citation needed] The intricate flower mosaics decorating the courtyard was designed by the British artist Kevin Dean, who embraced Sheikh Zayed’s passionate vision to create a mosque that unites the world, as he chose flowers from the Middle East, such as Tulips, Lilys, and Irises. As inlays of colored marble form exuberant floral patterns that curl and twist gracefully from the edges towards the center adorn the courtyard. While the rest of the Sahan was inlaid with thousands of small pieces of white marble.
Dimensions and statistics
[edit]
The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,100 worshippers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. There are two smaller prayer halls, with a capacity of 1,500 each, one of which is the women's prayer hall.[1]
There are four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard which rise about 107 m (351 ft) in height. The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.[1] The exterior and interior are adorned with white marble, giving the mosque a serene and majestic appearance. The marble is inlaid with precious stones like lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, abalone shell, and mother of pearl.
Marble used in the construction included:
Sivec from Prilep, North Macedonia was used on the external cladding (115,119 m2 (1,239,130 sq ft) of cladding has been used on the mosque, including the minarets)
Lasa from Laas, South Tyrol, Italy was used in the internal elevations
Makrana from Makrana, India was used in the annexes and offices
Acquabianca and Bianco P from Italy
East White and Ming Green from China[1]
To compare, the King Faisal Mosque of Sharjah, formerly the largest mosque in Sharjah[15] and country, measures 10,000–12,000 m2 (110,000–130,000 sq ft).[16][17]
Architectural features
[edit]
The carpet in the hall is considered by many [by whom?] to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi.[18] It measures 5,627 m2 (60,570 sq ft), and was made by around 1,200-1,300 carpet knotters. The weight of this carpet is 35 ton and is predominantly made from wool (originating from New Zealand and Iran). There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete.[1]
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Chandelier
The Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich, Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world,[clarification needed] and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height.[1]
The pools along the arcades reflect the mosque's columns, which become illuminated at night. The unique lighting system was designed by lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds are projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.[19]
The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places where one can see this craftsmanship.[citation needed]
The 99 names (qualities or attributes) of God (Allah) are featured on the Qibla wall in traditional Kufic calligraphy, designed by the prominent UAE calligrapher — Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is integrated as part of the organic design.
In total, three calligraphy styles — Naskhi, Thuluth and Kufic — are used throughout the mosque and were drafted by Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi of the UAE, Farouk Haddad of Syria and Mohammed Allam of Jordan.[1]
View from Wahat Al Karama
Exterior
Water mirror and columns
Inner courtyard with minaret
Interior of the main prayer hall
The mosque in 2022
The mosque at night
Outside of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (left)
Mosque walkway
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque At Night
See also
[edit]
List of mosques in the United Arab Emirates
List of cultural property of national significance in the United Arab Emirates
Qasr Al Watan
The Founder's Memorial
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden
Emir Abdelkader Mosque
References
[edit]
^ abcdefg
"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi". www.szgmc.ae.
^"President Sheikh Mohamed attends inauguration of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Indonesia: Mosque is almost identical to the original in Abu Dhabi". The National. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". Abu Dhabi Government. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
^"Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi". Wondermondo.
^The National staff (27 May 2017). "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranked the world's second favourite landmark | The National". Retrieved 28 May 2017.
^"The Queen's visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque", gov.uk, retrieved 2025-04-16
^"AP", newsroom.ap.org, retrieved 2024-10-04
^"PM Modi Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
^"9 Most Famous Buildings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah That Put the UAE on the World Map". AD Middle East. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
^"7 Facts You Must Know About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". MSN News. 12 March 2021.
^Vanessa Chiasson (15 November 2019). "8 Of The Most Beautiful Places In Abu Dhabi". Travel Awaits.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". Accsal. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Marbled architectural splendor". Besix. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
^"Infrastructure boost". Gulf Construction Online. 2004-08-01.
^"A look at the magnificent mosques of the UAE". Khaleej Times. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^Al Qassemi, Sultan Sooud (2017-11-16). "Demystifying Sharjah's iconic King Faisal Mosque". Gulf News. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^Kakande, Yasin (2011-08-11). "Sharjah's mosque where the faithful can listen and learn". The National. Sharjah. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^"Iran weaves world's largest carpet". Web India 123. 2007-07-28.
^Marinho, Carlos André (2023-10-21). "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". MuseumsOnTheRoad.com. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
The Official Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center website
The Official Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority website
Shah, Pino (2020-03-14). Rood, Carrie (compiler) (ed.). Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Heaven's Waiting Room. Vol. 1 (of World Heritage Series). Pharr, Texas, the U.S.A.: ArtByPino.com. ISBN 978-0-9979-9844-3. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
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About Burj Al Arab
Luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For other uses, see Burj (disambiguation).
This article is about Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. For other uses, see Borg El Arab (disambiguation).
Burj Al Arab برج العرب
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in 2007
Interactive map of the Burj Al Arab برج العرب area
The Jumeirah Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, lit.'Arab Tower'), commonly known as Burj Al Arab, is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[8] Developed and managed by Jumeirah, it is one of the tallest hotels in the world, although 39% of its total height is made up of non-occupiable space.[9][10][11] Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island that is 280 m (920 ft) from Jumeirah Beach and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to resemble the sail of a dhow.[12] It has a helipad near the roof, at a height of 210 m (689 ft) above ground.
Site
[edit]
The beachfront area where Jumeirah Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel are located was previously called Chicago Beach.[13] The hotel is located on an island of reclaimed land, 280 m (920 ft) offshore of the beach of the former Chicago Beach Hotel. The former hotel was demolished during the construction of the Burj Al Arab.[14] The locale's name had its origins in the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, which at one time welded giant floating oil storage tanks, known locally as Kazzans, on the site.[13]
History
[edit]
The Burj Al Arab was designed by the British multidisciplinary consultancy Atkins, led by architect Tom Wright of WKA. He came up with the iconic design and signature translucent fiberglass facade that serves as a shield from the desert sun during the day and as a screen for illumination at night.[15] The design and construction were managed by Canadian engineer Rick Gregory, and construction managed by David Kirby also of WS Atkins. The Burj Al Arab's interior is by British-Chinese designer Khuan Chew. Construction of the island began in 1994 and involved up to 2,000 construction workers during peak construction. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. The setting of a high rise building on saturated soil and the novelty of the project required groundbreaking dynamic analysis and design to take into consideration soil-structure interaction, effect of water, high winds, and helipad among other loads, to help finalize the design and take the project into construction.[16][failed verification]
The hotel was built by South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts, now renamed Concor and Al Habtoor Engineering. The interior designs were led and created by Khuan Chew and John Carolan of KCA international and delivered by UAE based Depa Group.[17]
The building opened on 1 December 1999.[1] The New Year's Eve fireworks celebration originated in 2000 with the inauguration of the United Arab Emirates.
The hotel's helipad was designed by Irish architect Rebecca Gernon.[18] The helipad is at the building's 28th floor, and the helipad been used as a car race track, a boxing ring, has hosted a tennis match, and the jumping off point for the highest kite surfing jump in history.[19]
In 2017, the hotel hosted the wedding of Daniel Kinahan, head of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group.[20] The wedding was attended by several prominent drug traffickers, such as Ridouan Taghi, Edin Gačanin, 'Ricardo (El Rico) Riquelme Vega, and Raffaele Imperiale.[20]
Features
[edit]
An AgustaWestland A109E Power landing on the Burj Al Arab's helipad
Several features of the hotel required complex engineering feats to achieve. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 280 m (920 ft) offshore. To secure a foundation, the builders drove 230 40-metre-long (130 ft) concrete piles into the sand by drilling method.[21]
Engineers created a ground surface layer of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honeycomb pattern, which serves to protect the foundation from erosion. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, while it took less than three years to construct the building itself. The building contains over 70,000 m3 (92,000 yd3) of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.[21]
Inside the building, the atrium is 180 m (590 ft) tall.[22]
Given the height of the building, the Burj Al Arab is the world's fifth tallest hotel after Gevora Hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur and Rose and Rayhaan by Rotana. But if buildings with mixed use were stripped off the list, the Burj Al Arab would be the world's third tallest hotel. The structure of the Rose Rayhaan, also in Dubai, is 333 metres (1,093 ft) tall,[23] 12 m (39 ft) taller than the Burj Al Arab, which is 321 metres (1,053 ft) tall.[23]The Burj Al Arab's helipad, located 210 meters above ground, has been the site of several high-profile events, including a tennis match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, and stunts by Red Bull athletes.[citation needed]
Rooms and suites
[edit]
The hotel is managed by the Jumeirah Group. The hotel has 199 exclusive suites each allocated eight dedicated staff members and a 24-hour butler service.[24] The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 m2 (1,820 sq ft), the largest covers 780 m2 (8,400 sq ft).[25]
The Royal Suite, billed at US$24,000 per night, is listed at number 12 on World's 15 most expensive hotel suites compiled by CNN Go in 2012.[26]
The Burj Al Arab is very popular with the Chinese market, which made up 25 percent of all bookings at the hotel in 2011 and 2012.[27]
Restaurants
[edit]
Al MuntahaAl Mahara
There are six restaurants in the hotel, including:
Al Muntaha ("The Ultimate"), is located 200 m (660 ft) above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai. It is supported by a full cantilever that extends 27 m (89 ft) from either side of the mast, and is accessed by a panoramic elevator.[citation needed]
Al Mahara ("Oyster"), which is accessed via a simulated submarine voyage, features a large seawater aquarium, holding roughly 990,000 L (260,000 US gal) of water. The wall of the tank, made of acrylic glass in order to withstand the water pressure, is about 18 cm (7.1 in) thick.[citation needed]
Rating
[edit]
While the hotel has sometimes been described as "the world's only 'seven-star' hotel", the hotel management claims never to have done so themselves. The term appeared due to a British journalist who had visited the hotel on a tour before it was officially opened. The journalist described Burj al Arab as "more than anything she has ever seen" and therefore referred to it as a seven-star hotel.[28] A Jumeirah Group spokesperson said "There's not a lot we can do to stop it. We're not encouraging the use of the term. We've never used it in our advertising."[29]
Reception
[edit]
Burj Al Arab has attracted criticism as "a contradiction of sorts, considering how well-designed and impressive the construction ultimately proves to be."[25] The contradiction here seems to be related to the hotel's decor. "This extraordinary investment in state-of-the-art construction technology stretches the limits of the ambitious urban imagination in an exercise that is largely due to the power of excessive wealth." Another critic includes negative critiques for the city of Dubai as well: "both the hotel and the city, after all, are monuments to the triumph of money over practicality. Both elevate style over substance."[25] Yet another: "Emulating the quality of palatial interiors, in an expression of wealth for the mainstream, a theater of opulence is created in Burj Al Arab ... The result is a baroque effect".[25]
In popular culture
[edit]
The last chapter of the espionage novel Performance Anomalies[30][31] takes place at the top of the Burj Al Arab,[32] where the spy protagonist Cono 7Q discovers that through deadly betrayal his spy nemesis Katerina has maneuvered herself into the top echelon of the government of Kazakhstan. The hotel can also be seen in Syriana and also some Bollywood movies.[which?]
Richard Hammond included the building in his television series Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections.
The Jumeirah Burj Al Arab serves as the cover image for the 2009 album Ocean Eyes by Owl City.
The Burj Al Arab was the site of the last task of the fifth episode of the first season of the Chinese edition of The Amazing Race, where teams had to clean up a room to the hotel's standards.[33][34]
The building is featured in Matthew Reilly's novel The Six Sacred Stones, where a kamikaze pilot crashes a plane into the hotel, destroying it in an attempt to kill the protagonist, Jack West Jr.
The building was the location of the main challenge of the ninth episode of the Canadian-American animated television series Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race,[35] where contestants were tasked to either return a serve from a tennis robot on the hotel's helipad, or squeegee an entire column of the hotel's windows.
See also
[edit]
Hotels portal
W Barcelona (Hotel Vela) – skyscraper of similar appearance in Barcelona, Spain (sail)
Oman TiT – residential skyscraper of similar appearance in Taipei, Taiwan (sail)
Elite Plaza – a similar-shaped skyscraper in Yerevan, Armenia
JW Marriott Panama (Panama City) – similar structure
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth – similar structure in Portsmouth, UK
Vasco da Gama Tower – a skyscraper of similar appearance in Lisbon, Portugal (sail)
Sail Tower – a skyscraper of similar appearance in Haifa, Israel (sail)
List of tallest buildings in the United Arab Emirates
List of buildings in Dubai
List of tallest buildings in Dubai
References
[edit]
^ ab
"Media Fact File of Burj Al Arab" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
^Swibel, Matthew (15 March 2014). "Forbes.com: Arabian Knight". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^ abcd"Burj Al Arab Hotel – The Skyscraper Center". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
^"Emporis building ID 107803". Emporis. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020.
^"Burj Al Arab". SkyscraperPage.
^Burj Al Arab at Structurae
^"Stay at Burj Al Arab". Jumeirah. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
^Eytan, Declan. "Milan: Inside the World's Only Certified 7 Star Hotel". Forbes. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^"Vanity Height: the Use-less Space in Today's Tallest". CTBUH. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
^"Study: Skyscrapers Topped by Wasted Space". World Property Channel. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
^Solon, Olivia (6 September 2013). "Report names and shames vanity skyscrapers with unnecessary spires". Wired. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
^"Burj Al Arab". www.atkinsglobal.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^ abKrane, Jim City of Mud: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism, page 103, St. Martin's Press (15 September 2009)
^"Dubai's Chicago Beach Hotel". Dubai As It Used To Be. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
^Chalhoub, Michel Soto (1993). "Structural Design and Deep Foundation Soil-Structure Interaction of Burj-Al-Arab - A Comparison of Two Alternatives". Parsons Engineering.
^Pantin, Travis (17 February 2009). "Depa announces strong growth". The National. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"From the inside out". Construction Week Online Middle East. March 2011.
^"Global Gateway". CNN. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^ abCaesar, Ed (20 October 2025). "The Cocaine Kingpin Living Large in Dubai". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X.
^ ab"Burj Al Arab". EgyptEng.com engineering directory. 2000. Archived from the original on 17 January 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
^"VIDEO: Burj Al Arab's 15th anniversary 'dream'". HotelierME. 28 November 2014.
^ ab"The world's 17 tallest hotels – for the ultimate room with a view". The Telegraph. 11 February 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
^"Burj Al Arab". www.jumeirah.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
^ abcdDamluji, Salma Samar, The Architecture of the U.A.E.. Reading, UK: 2006.
^Arnold, Helen "World's 15 most expensive hotel suites" Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine CNN Go. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012
^"Jumeirah gets ravenous for China". TTGmice. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
^Parr, Christopher. "Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai: Inside The 7 Star Luxury Hotel". Business Insider. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
^Bundhun, Rebecca (14 July 2009). "Hotel star ratings standards long overdue". The National. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
^"Performance Anomalies". Goodreads. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^Lee, Victor Robert (20 December 2012). Performance Anomalies. USA: Perimeter Six. ISBN 978-1-938409-22-6.
^Lee, Victor Robert (15 January 2013). Performance Anomalies: A Novel. Perimeter Six Press. p. 327. ISBN 978-1-938409-20-2.
^"Burj Al Arab hotel stars in Chinese reality TV show". Arabian Business. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
^"卓美亚集团与「极速前进」首次合作" [Jumeirah Group collaborates with The Amazing Race for the first time]. Neeu (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
^"Press Release". corusent.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
Further reading
[edit]
Rose, Steve (28 November 2005). "Architecture: Sand and freedom". The Guardian.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Burj Al Arab (category)
Official website
Records
Preceded by
Dubai World Trade Center
Tallest building in Dubai
1999 – 2000
Succeeded by
Emirates Office Tower
v
t
e
Jumeirah Group
Facilities
Burj Al Arab
The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel
Madinat Jumeirah
Palais Quartier
Wild Wadi Water Park
Related
Dubai Holding
v
t
e
Timeline of the world's tallest hotels
Hotel New Netherland (71m, 1893)
Hotel Manhattan (76m, 1896)
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel (111.9m, 1924)
Waldorf Astoria Hotel (191m, 1931)
Hotel Ukraina, Moscow (198m, 1953)
Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel (220m, 1973)
Westin Renaissance Center Detroit (221.5m, 1977)
Westin Stamford Hotel (226m, 1986)
Baiyoke Tower II (304m, 1997)
Burj Al Arab (321m, 1999)
Le Royal Méridien Shanghai at Shimao International Plaza (333m, 2006)
Rose Tower (333m, 2009)
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (355m, 2012)
Gevora Hotel (356m, 2017)
Ciel Tower (377m, 2025)
v
t
e
Dubai skyscrapers
List of tallest buildings in Dubai
Supertalls
> 350 m
Burj Khalifa (828 m)
Marina 101 (425 m)
Princess Tower (414 m)
23 Marina (392.8 m)
Elite Residence (381 m)
Ciel Tower (377 m)
Address Boulevard (370 m)
Almas Tower (360 m)
Gevora Hotel (356 m)
Il Primo Dubai (356 m)
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (355 m)
Emirates Office Tower (355 m)
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300-350 m
Uptown Tower (340 m)
DAMAC Residenze (335 m)
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana (333 m)
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HHHR Tower (318 m)
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Address Downtown (302 m)
Skyscraper
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D1 (277.5 m)
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Al Kazim Towers (265 m)
Ubora Towers (263 m)
Vision Tower (260 m)
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200-250 m
Al Tayer Tower (249 m)
Rolex Tower (247 m)
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AAM Tower (244 m)
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Al Rostamani Maze Tower (210 m)
The One Tower (209 m)
Executive Towers (208 m)
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Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai (167 m)
Sky Gardens (160 m)
Al Attar Business Tower (158 m)
World Trade Centre Residence (158 m)
Clusters
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Marina 1
The Residences
See also: Future Dubai skyscrapers and List of tallest buildings in Dubai
Category
v
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e
Supertall skyscrapers (300 m/984 ft and taller)
Completed
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The Exchange 106
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Merdeka 118
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Aspire Tower
Lusail Plaza Towers 3 and 4
Saudi Arabia
The Clock Towers
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South Korea
Haeundae Doosan We've the Zenith
Haeundae LCT The Sharp
Lotte World Tower
Parc1
Posco Tower-Songdo
Taiwan
85 Sky Tower
Taipei 101
Thailand
Baiyoke Tower II
ICONSIAM
MahaNakhon
Turkey
CBRT Tower
United Arab
Emirates
23 Marina
Address Boulevard
Address Downtown
ADNOC Headquarters
Almas Tower
Amna Tower
Burj Al Arab
Burj Khalifa
Cayan Tower
DAMAC Residenze
Elite Residence
Emirates Office Tower
Etihad Towers
Gevora Hotel
HHHR Tower
Il Primo Dubai
The Index
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
The Landmark
Marina 101
The Marina Torch
Ocean Heights
Princess Tower
Rose Tower
World Trade Center Abu Dhabi
Vietnam
Landmark 72
Landmark 81
Europe
Poland
Varso Tower
Russia
City of Capitals
Eurasia
Federation Tower
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Neva Towers 2
OKO Tower
United Kingdom
The Shard
Oceania
Australia
Australia 108
Q1 Tower
†No longer standing.
Under construction
Africa
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Electric Power Headquarters
Côte d'Ivoire
Tour F
Asia
China
Chongqing Corporate Avenue 1
Evergrande Center
Eye of Spring Trade Center
Greenland Group Suzhou Center
Haikou Tower
Knowledge Tower
Nanjing World Trade Center Tower 1
Ningbo Center
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South Asian Gate
Suzhou Zhongnan Center
Tianshan Gate of the World Plots 27 and 28
Wuhan CTF Finance Center
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Xiamen International Centre
Xiangmi Lake New Financial Center
Other
Beyond Office Tower
Burj Azizi
Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences
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Jeddah Tower
Legacy Tower
One Bangkok
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Thamrin Nine
Torch Tower
North America
520 Fifth Avenue
Concord Sky
SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge
One Bloor West
Waldorf Astoria Miami
South America
Senna Tower
On hold
2 World Trade Center
45 Broad Street
Baoneng Shenyang Global Financial Center
Busan Lotte Town Tower
Chengdu Greenland Tower
Chongqing Tall Tower
Dalian Greenland Center
Diamond Tower (Jeddah)
Dubai Pearl
Dubai Towers Doha
Forum 66
Gate of Kuwait
Goldin Finance 117
Hyundai Global Business Center
Sumou Towers
Mandarin Oriental Chengdu
Marina 106
Namaste Tower
Nanjing Olympic Suning Tower
One Tower
Palais Royale, Mumbai
Pentominium
Runhua Global Center 1
Ryugyong Hotel
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Skycity
Square Capital Tower
The Stratford Residences
Tameer Commercial Tower
Tianjin R&F Guangdong Tower
Tour Financial Hub Center
Tower Infinity
VietinBank Business Center Office Tower
See also
Proposed supertall skyscrapers
List of architects of supertall buildings
v
t
e
Landmarks and attractions in Dubai
Ain Dubai
Al Bastakiya
Al Fahidi Fort
Atlantis, The Palm
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Portals:
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About Atlantis, The Palm
Luxury hotel resort in Dubai
Atlantis, The Palm
Interactive map of the Atlantis, The Palm area
Hotel chain
Atlantis, The Palm
General information
Location
Jumeirah Palm, Dubai
Construction started
2006[1]
Opening
September 24, 2008 (2008-09-24)
Management
Kerzner International Resorts
Height
93.0 m (305.1 ft)
Technical details
Floor count
22
Design and construction
Developer
Kerzner International Resorts
Other information
Number of rooms
1,544[2]
Number of suites
Suites (Regal, Terrace, Executive)
Super Suites (Royal Bridge, Grand Atlantis, Underwater, Presidential)
Website
www.atlantis.com/dubai/atlantis-the-palm
[3][4][5]
Atlantis, The Palm is a luxury hotel resort located at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah in the United Arab Emirates. It was the first resort to be built on the island and is themed on the myth of Atlantis[6] but includes distinct Arabian elements. The resort opened on September 24, 2008 as a joint venture between Kerzner International Holdings Limited and Istithmar World.[7]
Hotel
[edit]
The 1,544 room nautically themed resort has two accommodation wings, consisting of the East and the West Tower. It is complemented by the Aquaventure water park and the Lost Chambers Aquarium, home to over 65,000 marine animals. Atlantis, The Palm is also known as the culinary destination in the region where guests can take their pick from a collection of 35 world-renowned restaurants including Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Street Pizza, Hakkasan, Nobu, En Fuego, Seafire Steakhouse & Bar and the award-winning underwater restaurant, Ossiano.[8]
Underwater rooms
[edit]
The Poseidon and Neptune Underwater Suites at Atlantis The Palm are two of only a tiny handful of underwater hotel rooms around the world, and regularly appear in lists of the world's most unique accommodation.
Measuring 165 m2 (1,780 sq ft) in total, the upper, entrance floor is at ground level while the master bedroom and en-suite bathroom are submerged. The almost floor to ceiling windows in both the bedroom and bathroom face out on to the resort's Ambassador Lagoon, home to a multitude of exotic sea creatures.[9] The floor-to-ceiling windows includes 65,000 marine animal aquarium in Dubai and will be amazed as sharks, rays and fish glide right past your bed.[10]
Development
[edit]
Atlantis The Palm, opened on 24 September 2008 as a joint venture between Kerzner International Holdings Limited and Istithmar World. In April 2012, Istithmar World acquired Kerzner's 50-percent stake in the property for US$250 million. The property continues to be managed by Kerzner International Resorts. The conceptual design architects were Northpoint-South Africa. The architect of record was design firm Wimberly, Allison, Tong and Goo (WATG) an international firm specializing in Luxury Hotels. The principal contract for the project was awarded to Laing O'Rourke,[11] a multinational construction firm based in United Kingdom. Laing O'Rourke was responsible for the design and construction phases of the 23-story hotel and water park.
Launch
[edit]
The hotel was officially opened on 24 September 2008.[12]
Days before the opening ceremony, the hotel's grand lobby caught fire[13] and became engulfed in flames which caused concern over the hotel's opening. Work was done to repair the damage caused and the hotel opened on time.[14][15]
As part of the opening, a light show of moving images was illuminated onto the hotel. 100,000 fireworks, around seven times the amount that were used for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, were let off, lasting 15 minutes. The display of fireworks across the full 5 km (3.1 mi) stretch of The Palm lit up the entire island and Atlantis, The Palm. Custom-made shells shipped in from across the globe created a light spectacle taking off from the 716 firing locations around the island, including 400 balconies at the resort. Display creator Fireworks by Grucci claims the display set a new world record, but records curator Guinness World Records has yet to announce the status.[16] The launch party costed an estimated £15m in total, with Kylie Minogue earning £2m for a 60-minute performance for the hotel's 2,000 guests.[17][18]
Reception
[edit]
The Telegraph gave the hotel a 8/10, commending the underwater theme and facilities available.[19] A 2024 review by The Sunday Times gave the hotel a score of 9/10, complimenting the architecture and appeal to all age groups.[20]
Controversy
[edit]
In October 2007, the hotel received a shipment of 28 bottlenose dolphins from the Solomon Islands, to be used as part of their aquarium exhibit, called Dolphin Bay. The move was decried by several environmental groups, particularly for the fact that the export of dolphins had earlier been banned by the Solomon Islands government (after a similar controversial shipment to Mexico). Hotel managers have said that though the dolphins are being trained to interact with visitors, they will not appear in any sort of show or circus-like performance. They have also stated that the health of the dolphins is paramount; because the bottlenose is not an endangered species, their shipment did not pose a problem. The deal was done with the approval of the United Arab Emirates and Solomon Island governments, through the company Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre and Exporters Limited (who had overturned the earlier ban in court). The amount of money paid for the dolphins has not been disclosed.[21][22]
The hotel faced controversy in 2010 following the captivity of a whale shark, nicknamed Sammy, in an aquarium exhibit for 18 months.[23] The female juvenile was caught off a coast in Jebel Ali in August 2008 after appearing in distress.[24][25] At the time, whale sharks were listed in appendix 2 of CITES, stipulating that they can "only be held for scientific purposes provided that it does not harm the survival of the species". The captivity sparked outrage among animal rights groups and activists, including PETA and actress Pamela Anderson.[24] Gulf News launched a campaign with thousands of supporters calling for the release of the shark.[26] Atlantis would release a press release, stating:
"After several months of planning, Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai has returned a female whale shark to the waters of the Persian Gulf from where she was rescued. The Atlantis Fish Husbandry Team utilised their experience and skill to save the animal in compliance with all CITIES regulations."
Ali Bin Saqr Al Suwaidi, president and founder of the Emirates Marine Environment Group, another group involved in the campaign, confirmed the shark was set to be released.[23] Scepticism surrounding the release persisted afterwards due to a lack of images being circulated, with Steve Kaiser, vice president of Marine Science and Engineering at Atlantis, denying the claims of Sammy still being held in captivity.[25]
Gallery
[edit]
Aerial view of Atlantis The Palm and nearby artificial islands
Aerial view
Daytime exterior view
Atlantis The Palm at night
Lobby Lounge
Lobby Corridor
Hotel aquarium
Aquaventure Beach
Aquaventure Water Park
Ocean-side aerial view of Atlantis, The Palm
See also
[edit]
Hotels portal
Dubai World
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
List of hotels in Dubai
Atlantis Paradise Island – similar looking hotel by Sol Kerzner
Atlantis Sanya
Atlantis Resorts
References
[edit]
^
Husain, Shakir (9 October 2006). "Construction of Atlantis resort project set to peak in February". Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
^"Hotel Rooms and Suites Atlantis The Palm Dubai". www.atlantisthepalm.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
^"Emporis building complex ID 112406". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
^"Atlantis, The Palm". SkyscraperPage.
^Atlantis, The Palm at Structurae
^http://www.atlantisthepalm.com Archived 2009-05-24 at the Wayback Machine Atlantis
^Ahmed Hussein (November 25, 2008). "Landmark project Atlantis, The Palm officially launched amidst grand ceremony". EstatesDubai. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
^"Atlantis, The Palm: The Resort". Atlantis, The Palm: The Resort. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
^Underwater Hotel Rooms in Dubai
^"Underwater Suite in Dubai". Atlantis.
^"Atlantis, The Palm. Dubai. United Arab Emirates". Archived from the original on 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
^CW Staff (10 June 2010). "UK giant Laing O'Rourke denies ME withdrawal". Construction Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
^Cronin, Sean. "Atlantis bosses say fire-hit resort will open on time". Arabian Business.
^"Atlantis fire casts doubt on opening". gulfnews.com. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
^http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/atlantis-fireworks-display-seeks-place-in-guinness-book-1.17275 Archived 2014-12-27 at the Wayback Machine Atlantis fireworks display seeks place in Guinness Book of World Records
^Bhatia, Shekhar (21 November 2008). "500 chefs, 4,000 lobsters and Kylie - recession Dubai style". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
^"Wow! Kylie Minogue to be paid £2million for 60-minute set at Dubai hotel opening party". Evening Standard. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
^"Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, United Arab Emirates". The Telegraph. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^"Atlantis The Palm hotel review: a Dubai palace with entertainment for the whole family". The Sunday Times. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^28 dolphins on way to Palm hotel Archived October 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Gulf News (16 October 2007).
^Wild dolphins adapt to indoor life Archived October 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Gulf News (27 October 2007).
^ ab"Sammy the whale shark freed in Dubai". Gulf News. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^ ab"Atlantis frees Sammy the whale shark". Hotelier Middle East. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^ ab"Satellite tag reveals tale of shark Sammy in the wild". Gulf News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
^"Sammy the Whale Shark Sent to Sea". Khaleej Times. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atlantis The Palm.
We booked this as a surprise for my son's birthday and we nailed it - he loved the thrill of the helicopter ride itself, but also the spectacular views from above. The pilot was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned so much more about Abu Dhabi than we would have ever done from walking around - and the views from above of the Mosque and of the palaces are unmatched.It is MUST experience in Abu Dhabi.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a helicopter ride with your company, and I wanted to take a moment to share my experience.
From start to finish, everything was exceptionally well-organized. The views during the ride were absolutely breathtaking, and the pilot's professionalism and knowledge added so much to the overall experience. It was clear that safety was a top priority, which made me feel comfortable and secure throughout the flight.
The only suggestion I have for improvement would be [less timing of the ride] However, this did not detract from what was an otherwise fantastic experience.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and I would highly recommend it to others. Thank you for providing such a memorable experience!
Awesome Helicopter tour of Dubai and the world Islands. We got to see everything we wanted to see. Tour left on time and everything was very organized.
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
