The Tower of the Arabs calls itself a 7 star hotel; it is of course a luxury 5 star hotel and is managed by the Jumeirah Group. The Burj Al Arab is the 3rd tallest hotel in the world and is best known for its aesthetic shape resembling the sail of a traditional dhow boat. The Burj Al Arab is located on a man-made island of reclaimed land near Jumeirah Beach. The island stands 918 feet from the shore and is connected to the mainland by a curved bridge. Construction began on the hotel in 1994. Its unique silhouette appears to be of a vertical "mast" with a curved sail while the space between the mast and outer edge of the sail holds the building itself. The design and construction was achieved with the collaboration of several top professionals from around the world. The building was first opened in 1999. The building has a solid foundation of concrete topped by a 180 meter tall atrium. There are 202 bedroom suites in the building on 28 double-storey floors. The interior design is a mix of eastern and western patterns and architectural elements. The hotel's Royal Suite is one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world. For an exclusive dining experience you can visit the Al Muntaha restaurant 656 feet from ground level on the 27th floor or the SKYVIEW Bar also on the 27th floor. The Al Mahara restaurant is another of the hotel's eight restaurants and is accessed by walking through a transparent tunnel through a huge aquarium. Although most tourists won't be able to enjoy the VIP luxury service of the hotel they will be able to take a photo of this iconic building for free!