Which Dubai hotel skyscraper is shaped like a sail?

Burj Al Arab is the Dubai hotel skyscraper shaped like a sail.

The building stands on an artificial island near the coast of Dubai and was designed by architect Tom Wright. Its curved exterior resembles the billowing sail of a dhow, a traditional vessel associated with the region’s maritime history.

Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 and rises 321 metres. Although most of the structure is occupied by hotel space rather than offices, its height and landmark status make it one of the world’s best-known skyscraper-shaped buildings.

The hotel is often described in popular media as a “seven-star” hotel, but that is an informal marketing expression rather than an official hotel classification. Its distinctive sail form is also sometimes confused with Dubai’s sail-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel.