The Burj Al-Arab hotel in Dubai is well-known for many reasons. It is one of the tallest hotels in the world, standing at an impressive height of 1,053 feet. Its unique structure is an architectural representation of the billowing sail of an Arabian bow, and it continues to top the list of the world’s best 7-star hotels, a title that only it held at some point.

Image of the exterior of the burj al-arab — **The Burj Al-Arab is truly an iconic hotel. Image courtesy of CN Traveler**

The ‘Tower of the Arabs’ is not a new fixture in Dubai, and it is almost as though everyone possesses the knowledge of everything there is to know about the hotel. However, as with most things and even people, there are some little-known facts about the Burj Al-Arab that make it even more fascinating.

If you are planning to stay at the hotel anytime soon, look out for these features that undoubtedly make the Burj Al-Arab the world-class 7-star hotel that it is:

Gold-coated interiors

You may already know that the hotel is full of decadent amenities like 24-karat-gold iPads in all the suites, but did you know that the decor elements of the hotel rooms are inlaid with real 24-carat gold?

Gold-infused interior of the Burj Al-Arab — **The interior decor of the hotel features gold prominently. Image courtesy of the Jumeirah Group**

Interestingly, the hotel does not keep this a secret: its parent website states that a total of 1,790 sqm of the interior decor of Burj Al Arab is covered with gold. Add this to the fact that it is home to the largest Swarovski crystal ceiling in the world, and features more than 24,000sqm of Statuario marble, and you can begin to understand why this hotel is as celebrated as it is.

Duplex-apartment styled-rooms

Unlike most hotels whose standard rooms – usually the smallest in the hotel – measure approximately 31sqm, the rooms at the Burj Al-Arab are very spacious with the minimum area of the rooms measuring 170sqm. Its three-bedroom suites – both the diplomatic and family three-bedroom suites – cover an impressive 670sqm.

The club one bedroom suite at the burj al-arab — **The Club one-bedroom suite at the hotel. Image courtesy of the Jumeirah Group**

To put this in perspective: an average three-bedroom house will cover anywhere from 88sqm to 175sqm. What this means is that the three-bedroom suites at the Burj Al-Arab are triple the size of an average house with the same number of rooms!

Heavy-weighted wonder on a man-made island

With all the amenities it packs and the size of its rooms as well as its height, it will not come as a surprise that the hotel is a rather heavy structure.

But how heavy? You may ask.

Landscape image of the hotel's exterior — **The hotel is rather heavy, weighing an estimated 250,000 tonnes. Image courtesy of the Jumeirah Group**

Well, approximate estimates put it at 250,000 tonnes! Warning: do not try to convert this figure to kilograms; what you get may cause you to hyperventilate for a few seconds.

So how can this rather heavy structure stand secure on a man-made island? Before the actual building was erected, 250 piles were erected under it, each about 40 meters high. The perimeter of the island is also protected by special blocks from waves, keeping the building safe and secure.

Exclusive duvets with a costly backstory

Now, here is not the time to debate why a hotel set in the desert will offer its guests duvets. What is more important is that these duvets are filled with eiderdowns, which do not come cheap.

Amonhg the interesting facts of the Burj Al-Arab is the point that its blankets are filled with eiderdown — **The eiderdown blankets at the hotel are probably the most expensive in the world. Image courtesy of the Jumeirah Group**

The down is harvested from abandoned eider duck nests in Iceland, and one nest provides only about 15-20g of eiderdown. The law allows only 2,000kg to be harvested each year, making the Burj Al-Arab eiderdown duvets some of the rarest and most expensive in the world.

A haven for turtles

When you stay at the Burj Al-Arab, you are not only enjoying some of the finest luxuries life has to offer; your stay also allows the hotel to sustain nature through its Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project.

Other fun facts about the Burj Al-Arab: it helps turtles too — **The hotel provides top-notch services to turtles too! Image courtesy of the Jumeirah Group**

In collaboration with Dubai’s Wildlife Protection Office, Dubai Falcon Clinic and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, the hotel treats sick and injured sea turtles. So, it is not all about decadent luxury: there is some good work going on there too.

Source: ABC Money