What does a flower have to do with the Burj Khalifa? Facts kids will love about Dubai’s record-breaking hot spots

Inspiration can be found in the tiniest of details – the look of a flower, a memory of a time gone by. Here’s a look at some sparks that led to spaces that now bear world records. This winter break, play match the inspiration with the construction with kids – they’ll not only discover some cool facts but also perhaps get inspired themselves.

Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl Dome: The impressive 360-degree projection dome at the heart of the world’s greatest fair is only one of the many record-holders at the site. The dome, inspired by Expo’s logo – which itself was inspired by an ancient ring discovered by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, in 2002 – is 130 metres wide and 67.5 metres tall. It weighs 350 tonnes – that’s roughly the weight of an Airbus A380. And the length of its iron beams is about 16 times the length of the Burj Khalifa!

Burj Khalifa: Speaking of the Burj Khalifa, yes, it’s the tallest building in the world, three times as tall as Paris’ Eiffel Tower, in fact – but did you know the giant steel and concrete structure was inspired by a Hymenocallis flower? This bud, also called spider lilly, grows across the UAE and spreads out in a tent-like fashion. See photos of the top of the 828-metre tall skyscraper that also bears marks of old Islamic architectural style for comparisons.

Deep Dive Dubai: When Dubai unveiled the 60.02-metre diving attraction, it also paid homage to its pearl diving past. The pool, which spans 1,500-square metres, has been moulded to the shape of an oyster. When you – and the kids – learn to dive here, you get a vision of a sunken city, complete with streets, apartments and two underwater habitats.

Dubai Frame: The city isn’t just about looks – although it does pretty well in that department all right. Dubai’s 150-metre landmark frame is the biggest picture frame on Earth and offers a lovely view of the city. But its origin story is even more interesting than the vistas it offers. The structure, made using more than 9,900 cubic metres of reinforced concrete, 2,000 tonnes of steel and 2,900 square metres of laminated glass, was inspired by the ‘golden ratio’. This ratio, 1.618, is considered an ideal structural balance by architects. The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the early examples of A building that used this ratio.

Dubai Miracle Garden: The UAE is an international travel hub, so when it came time to take on a world record for world’s largest flower structure, this one was a no-brainer. The arrangement, which measures 72.95 metres x 78.34 metres x 21.98 metres in 2016, is in the shape of an Airbus A380. It is covered in more than 500,000 fresh flowers and living plants.

Ain Dubai: The world’s tallest Ferris Wheel may be inspired by the famous London Eye, but it is about twice its size. The 250-metre attraction on Bluewaters Island offers a 360-degree view of Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Road, Burj Al Arab and the sea. With 48 air conditioned cabins on offer and a capacity of 1,750 people, perhaps this is the spot to go to for cheerful, stunning sunsets.