Dubai: In Paris, there's the Eiffel Tower; in Sydney, they've the Opera House. And in Dubai, we have the Burj Al Arab.
Celebrations were in order as the sail-shaped seven-star hotel marked its 10th anniversary on Tuesday. The Burj Al Arab (Arab Tower) is truly an icon.
Emblazoned on T-shirts, etched into vehicle registration plates and adorning curios, the Burj has become synonymous with Dubai.
There isn't a tourist, who hasn't had his/her picture taken against the background of the Burj. Its opulent environs have hosted the rich and famous.
Five years in the making, the building is a remarkable feat of engineering. Architect Tom Wright had the 321-metre structure rise into the sky on an island, creating the illusion of a yacht at sea.
Ten years and new structures have not dimmed its iconic stature. The Burj Al Arab will remain special, always.
