For years, the iconic sail-like structure of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah remained an icon of ultimate exclusivity. You either needed a costly hotel room reservation or an equally pricey dining booking in order to be able to cross the security bridge onto the hotel’s private artificial island. The world’s most renowned “7-star hotel,” however, now offers visitors a chance to step inside its gates via a professionally curated “Inside Burj Al Arab” tour. This complete article provides you with all the information you need about your ultra-luxury experience in this unique hotel from beginning to end. In here, you will learn about the luxurious places that you would be visiting during the tour including the record-breaking grand atrium and the famous 25th floor Royal Suite along with other essential information such as tour timing, ticketing process, boutique shopping area, and the dining venues including the UMA Lounge.
Arriving at Burj Al Arab: Your First Step into Luxury and the Iconic Buggy Ride
Your experience does not begin from the hotel doors but rather from the Inside Burj Al Arab ticketing center that is situated inside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Conference Center. There, you will be asked to sign in about 15 minutes prior to your reserved slot to receive the lanyards of premium guests.
After signing up, you will get into the golf buggies that will transport you via the 340-meter-long curved bridge to the private island on which the hotel is built. Along the way, you will be provided with some great views of the hotel’s exterior architecture. Upon arriving at the entrance, you will be greeted by an Emirati host serving you some refreshments such as cold towels, fresh dates, and Arabic coffee.
Architectural Marvel: Exploring the World-Record Holding Atrium inside Burj Al Arab
While they step into the building, they will be able to see the spectacular atrium of the hotel which is very impressive when one takes into consideration its height. This is due to the fact that the height of the atrium is 180 meters making it the tallest atrium in the world. Created by the world-famous interior designer Khuan Chew, the atrium features a smooth color transition from deep orange and red tones on the bottom of the atrium up to green and blue colors on the top. The center of attraction in the lower lobby is the water feature that shoots the water columns up to 42 meters in the air together with an impressive musical performance.
Important Notice: Although photography is welcome at the majority of points in the tour, taking videos or photos in the main lower lobby area is discouraged in order not to interfere with the comfort of checking-in guests of the hotel.
Luxury Reaching Its Pinnacle: Inside the Iconic Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab
Another thing that is sure to come with your stay at the Burj al Arab hotel is having an opportunity of experiencing the famous “Royal Suite” suite, located on the 25th floor of the hotel. This luxurious suite is accessible via a glass lift that takes off from one end of the building, thus providing you with a fantastic view of the Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Khalifa.
THE ROYAL SUITE FEATURES
- 24 Carat Gold Leaf: Ornamental covering for pillars, frames, and ceilings
- Michelangelo Marble: Real statuary marble on walls & floors
- Leopard-Print Staircase: Signature, sumptuous transitional highlight
- Rotating Canopy Bed: Unique master bedroom design looking out to the Gulf
- Cinema and Library: Personal entertainment & study rooms
As you are being taken to the luxurious suite by your personal butler, you would find yourself immersed in an environment that reeks of luxury. This suite is known for entertaining world leaders, royalty, and celebrities. Everything about this place exudes elegance; for instance, approximately 1,790 square meters of 24 carat gold leaf have been used in decorating the hotel, most of it being contained here. From the marble bathrooms fitted with full-size Hermès products to the master bedrooms complete with revolving beds, the suite gives you an insight into how the elite travel.
The Backstage Tour: Exploring the Experience Suite Inside Burj Al Arab
Following the guided tour of the Royal Suite, the burj al arab tour moves to the Experience Suite which is a well-designed museum with interactive multi-media and blueprints that depict the ambitious visions of Dubai.
Here, visitors can view the original sketches designed by the British architect Tom Wright who was given the responsibility by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to design something iconic for Dubai in order to make it as iconic as Eiffel Tower to Paris. Interactive galleries here explain how they have managed to perform the amazing feat of building their artificial island and all the physics behind designing such an extraordinary exoskeleton structure along with the story of their helicopter pad where the world-famous players like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Andre Agassi performed amazing feats.
What Luxury Shopping Options Are Available at Burj Al Arab?
In the end of the interior tour, guests are shown to the Inside Burj Al Arab Boutique. Unlike a traditional airport duty free shop which sells the products without charging taxes, the boutique is an exclusive “duty free” style store located inside the hotel, offering its customers only luxury bespoke items.
The shop sells custom branded items, unique souvenirs, jewelry, luxury perfumes and leather items which are available nowhere else in the world. If you need either a small souvenir or a unique collector’s item with golden thread to remember your burj al arab tour, the retail section is the perfect place to finish your visit and pick up an exclusive souvenir.
Burj Al Arab Restaurant Guide: UMA Lounge, SAL, and the Golden Cappuccino
For the final part of this culinary journey, one realizes that most customers tend to spend time on the UMA Lounge, Burj al arab restaurant which is an elegant terrace located at the base of the sail-shaped structure and also at the level of the blue water of the Arabian Gulf.
Experience package: Classic tour
Inclusion: Guided 90-minute walk
Experience package: Gold Cappuccino Package
Inclusion: 24 carat edible gold coffee in UMA
Experience Package: Sunset beverage combination
Inclusion: Unique mocktail/cocktail
Experience package: Tour & dine package
Inclusion: Full buffet lunch and dinner.
The ultimate luxury experience at this place would be the renowned Burj Al Arab Gold Cappuccino.
SAL Burj Al Arab: The stylish, mirror-clad temporary beach restaurant above the sparkling infinity pool. Meaning “salt” in Spanish and Portuguese, SAL focuses on high-end Southern Mediterranean menu items prepared by top chefs. The experience is intended to emulate an opulent day along the European Riviera with offerings that range from wild crab to sea salt-roasted fish.
The Gold Cappuccino is made from premium quality Arabica coffee beans along with local milk and dusted with gold leaf, which is 24 carat pure. It is an amazing experience to sip on this coffee while watching the waves hit this island building after a tough day out on tour.
What Are the Burj Al Arab Timing, Rules, and Dress Code?
As this is such a unique experience, therefore, one needs to plan in advance as walk-ins are not permitted and there is a limit of 12 visitors in a group.
Operation Timing & Schedule
Burj Al Arab Tour operates on a daily basis. Schedule of Operation: The attraction operates from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. There is a fresh group that leaves from the entrance area after every 15 minutes.
Recommended Timings to Visit: It is recommended to visit during morning timings (10:00 AM to 11:30 AM), which are not only less crowded but also have favorable conditions for indoor photography. Evenings Timings (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM) the most ideal times to visit.
Duration of Tour
The average duration of the guided tour inside Burj al Arab Hotel ranges between 60-90 minutes. In case, you opt for an upgraded tour which involves dining or drinking at UMA lounge, the overall duration of your tour within the island will last up to 2-2.5 hours.
Dress Code & Etiquettes
The dress code at the hotel follows strict smart casual dress code policy.
Allowed – Trousers, Collared shirts, Dresses, Closed toe shoes, Tailored knee-length shorts.
Not Allowed – Beach attire, Workout attire, Flip flops, Slippers, or anything else that could be considered too revealing.
Just follow these few simple guidelines, and by booking your tickets in advance, your Burj al arab tour experience will be one-of-a-kind experience without any hassle at all.
A Final Word on Your Gilded Journey
Ultimately, visiting the Burj Al Arab in an officially guided tour is much more than analyzing one of the most expensive structures in the world; it is a truly exceptional opportunity to understand the insides of a monument of extravagance which is quite secluded. The fact that Jumeirah gives visitors an opportunity to take a look into areas of the building which are usually off limits makes it possible for the building to strike a balance between architectural aspirations and demands of modern tourism. Whether one visited the place out of curiosity to see what the engineering marvel of being the tallest atrium in the world looks like or the carpets of the Royal Suite stairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the Burj Al Arab known as a “7-star hotel”?
The official rating system used across the globe is limited to 5 star maximum. While the Burj Al Arab represents the absolute pinnacle of “New Dubai’s” ultra-modern, record-breaking architecture, it stands in beautiful contrast to the city’s historic roots. For a complete historical walkthrough, check out the comprehensive Al Seef Dubai Travel Guide to see where old-world traditions perfectly intersect with contemporary Gulf lifestyle.
2. Can I visit the Burj Al Arab without the tour or overnight stay?
No. There is very strict security around the island bridge. You need to have booked a tour or a stay at the hotel in order to enter into the island. There is no entry for walk-in visitors to the island.
3. What is the best weather or season for the Burj Al Arab Tour?
It is advisable to go on your tour during the cooler months which include November to March. The weather will be comparatively warmer with temperatures being from 24 degree to 30 degree. The golf buggy ride and lounge in the beachfront UMALounge get very windy.
4. Can children join the tour? Do they have to buy a ticket?
Yes, there are no age restrictions on the burj al arab tour. Children who are below 4 years old can be taken to this attraction free of charge provided they are accompanied by an adult whose ticket has been bought. Children within the age group of 4 and 12 years will have some discounts whereas those aged more than 12 years should take adult tickets.
5. What is the most costly room in the hotel?
The most costly room in the hotel is the Royal Suite, which can be located on the 25th floor of the hotel. Even though there are other suites available which can be hired at a cost higher than $1,000 depending on the season, the most costly room in the hotel would cost more than $12,000 – $15,000.
6. Is it possible to buy duty free products from the boutique retail shop?
The boutique retail shop is a luxury hotel retail store and not an international duty free shop of the airport. However, it gives you the “duty free” experience with exclusive souvenirs, gold souvenirs, apparels and perfumes.
7. Are professional photography devices or tripods permitted?
It is perfectly okay to use the standard personal phones and cameras for your photography purposes. On the other hand, professional photography gear, large setups, extension tripods, and commercial drones are entirely not permitted during the tour since they can obstruct paths and cause invasion of the guests’ privacy.
8. What if I am late for the reserved tour time?
Since there is an upper limit of 12 members per tour group, and since one such group leaves after every 15 minutes for the sake of peace, tardiness could land you out of your tour. As is clear, no refund will be made against your ticket. It is advised that you arrive at the ticket counter 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
9. Are outside food and drinks allowed inside the attraction?
No, outside food and drinks are not permitted past the ticket counter entrance point. In case you wish to consume food and drinks on your tour package, you can consider the UMA Lounge and Dining Room Tour Packages.
10. Is the tour path wheelchair-friendly?
This tour is completely accessible for wheelchairs.
