Hi, Sunil here to talk about the iconic Burj al Arab in Dubai City

This masterpiece monument is not only Dubai’s honorary “symbol”, but it is also the world’s only star hotel as of 2009.

A lot of serious time, money and effort was spent in building what many people think should be one of the wonders of the world.

The inner walls are mostly done in pure gold, with rooms averaging in the $8,000 per night range as of 2009.

As of then it also had the second most expensive suite ($28,000 per night) in the world (the most expensive was the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City).

No matter how much I discuss the Burj al Arab here, I wouldn’t be able to justice telling you the full story.

But what I can do is highlight some of the cool facts about it for you:

• Year construction started = 1994
• Total spend to build = $650 Million
• Designed by world renown architects from the United Kingdom
• Free limousine service to and from Dubai International Airport

Andre Agassi and Roger Federer once played a recreational tennis match on the helipad located all the way up top of the hotel. I’ve actually never seen a helicopter on it…but I am sure there have been many as this is how I heard they fly in the top names around the world (i.e. Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, etc).

The food sucks! (Al Muntaha restaurant located at the very top) Well maybe sucks is an extreme word, but I am not a fan of the overpriced and underperforming dining option inside the Burj (side note: a friend spend of mine spent almost $2,000 on the dinner date during which he proposed to his girlfriend. A drop in the bucket for him because he is so rich - and so is everyone and their dog who live in Dubai).

Stands on a man made island not far from the Jumeirah beach shore (a thin curvy strip connects the mainland to the island).

The hotel is shaped like a sailboat. The water wave shaped Jumeirah beach hotel is behind it. When you look at it from a distance it seems as though the wave is pushing the sail forward. This is no accident my friend :-)

99% of the images are from mainland looking toward the sea. Why? Because if you look at it from the sea inward, you will notice a big “cross” on the hotel, almost representative of the Christian cross. Now we wouldn’t want that in a Muslim country would we?

My friend (his name is also Sunil) lives 5 minutes from it (walking distance)

Extravaganza Burj Al Arab is the best DVD made on the Burj, with a cool inside look to this materpiece

Read MORE about the only 7 star hotel in the world and take a look at some beautiful pictures of the Burj.