Tom Wright designed Dubai’s distinctive sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel.
Tom Wright, working for the architectural firm Atkins, designed the Burj Al Arab for the Jumeirah Group. The hotel was built on an artificial island off Dubai’s coast and opened in December 1999. Its sail-like profile was intended to evoke the spinnaker of an Arabian dhow, connecting the modern building with the region’s maritime heritage.
The structure rises about 321 metres, making it one of the world’s tallest hotels. Its triangular plan is wrapped in a fabric exterior that creates a glowing presence at night while filtering strong sunlight. The building’s interior uses dramatic atriums, bold colors, and extensive decorative materials.
The Burj Al Arab is often marketed as a seven-star hotel, but “seven-star” is not an official hotel classification. It is formally rated five-star deluxe. The hotel’s offshore position, helipad, and highly stylized design helped make it an international symbol of Dubai’s rapid architectural and tourism development.