Dubai's most famous hotel is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Sunday.
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Dubai's architectural marvel, has been welcoming guests for a quarter of a century. The luxury hotel – which was described as the world's first seven-star hotel despite no official rating – has been a hit with travellers since the day it opened. It quickly became known for its grandeur and opulence.
Its sail-shaped silhouette, inspired by the traditional dhow boats of the Arabian Gulf, is one of the most prominent structures on Dubai's burgeoning skyline. Towering over the coastline, it is topped with a circular helipad, a platform that's been the stage for many unforgettable events during the hotel's 25 years.
From hosting yoga classes hundreds of metres above ground, to showcasing David Guetta's virtual concert while the world was in lockdown, here are 10 memorable moments from the helipad's history.
1. Tiger Wood tees-off
Golf professional Tiger Woods is a repeat visitor to the Burj Al Arab's highest floor. His first sporting spectacle on the helipad was in 2004, when Woods tee-ed off from the platform to mark the start of the Dubai Desert Classic. He returned 10 years later, but in 2014, it was his niece Cheyenne Woods who would make the shot. In 2017, Tiger was back at the helipad again ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, although this time he used the platform in a more conventional manner when he took a helicopter tour of the city.
2. Formula 1 in the air
Formula One racing driver David Coulthard executed a series of daring "doughnuts" on the helipad in 2007. Piloting an Infiniti 750bhp F1 car, the Scottish sportsman spun the vehicle in controlled circles, sending plumes of smoke billowing from its tyres. This spectacle for Red Bull was captured in photos and videos that offer a stark contrast to the Dubai of today.
3. Tennis in the clouds
In February 2005, tennis stars Roger Federer and Andre Agassi made history by playing a match on the helipad. It was part of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and there was no winner – instead the players were there to promote the tournament. The helipad was transformed into a temporary tennis court, complete with a grass surface, and the duo executed some incredible volleys.
4. A royal skydive
In 2013, Nasser Al Neyadi of Skydive Dubai made history by becoming the first person to skydive onto the helipad of Burj Al Arab. The stunt took place three years after Dubai's first skydiving school opened on Palm Jumeirah. Captured on GoPro camera, the jump was a meticulously planned operation. Al Neyadi, a seasoned skydiver, expertly navigated his descent towards the helipad and footage of the jump was shared widely on social media.
5. Table tennis showdowns
The Burj Al Arab's helipad has also hosted thrilling table tennis showdowns. In 2013, the venue transformed into a unique sporting arena as world-class players Long Ma and ShiWen Liu battled it out high above the city. The match was a spectacle, with the Dubai's skyline as a backdrop adding to the excitement. A year later, in 2014, the helipad once again became a stage for table tennis as top players Zhang Jike and Li Xiaoxia teamed up for a thrilling mixed doubles match.
6. Movie-star status
In 2013, Burj Al Arab's helipad claimed movie star status after being used in the Chinese action film Switch, starring actors Andy Lau, Lin Chi-ling, Zhang Jingchu and Tong Dawei. The film, shot in six cities worldwide, utilised the hotel's distinctive architecture for several key scenes. The towering helipad, the opulent lobby and the grand Al Falak ballroom are all featured in the film, adding a touch of luxury and grandeur to the action-packed narrative.
7. A sky-high boxing bout
In 2017, heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua sparred with boxing legend Seb Eubank in a makeshift boxing ring set up on the helipad which was temporarily transformed into the world's highest boxing ring. The stunt was part of Joshua's partnership with the Dubai Fitness challenge and it was a friendly bout, meaning that neither was declared the winner.
8. Stretch with a view
In 2020, a unusual yoga experience took place high above the city. Fifteen lucky yoga enthusiasts were selected to participate in a 60-minute yoga session led by renowned yogi Sjana Elise, as part of the XYoga Festival. The session was held on the helipad, offering participants breathtaking panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. Guided by Elise, the yogis flowed through a series of challenging asanas designed to revitalise the body and mind, all while enjoying the tranquillity of the sky.
9. Virtual reality
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, when live entertainment was largely halted, DJ David Guetta took to Burj Al Arab's helipad to deliver an inspiring performance. As part of his United at Home global tour, Guetta's live-streamed set aimed to raise funds for various charities while providing much-needed entertainment to audiences worldwide who were confined to their homes due to lockdowns and social distancing restrictions.
10. A plane landing with a difference
On March 14, 2023, Polish pilot Luke Czepiela landed a seven-metre plane on the helipad of Burj Al Arab. Landing on a helipad, especially one as high and exposed as Burj Al Arab's, was a challenging task. The helipad has a diametre of 27 metres. The precise landing required meticulous planning, exceptional piloting and perfect weather conditions.
Czepiela spent months preparing for the attempt, practising in a flight simulator and refining his landing techniques. On the day of the challenge, he took off from a nearby airfield and manoeuvred his plane towards Burj Al Arab. Strong winds weren't enough to put him off, and he landed the custom-modified Cub Crafters Carbon Cub safely, making it into the history books.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Apple product price list
iPad Pro
11" - $799 (64GB)
12.9" - $999 (64GB)
MacBook Air
$1,199
Mac Mini
$799
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
ARGYLLE
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Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Tips for avoiding trouble online
- Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
- Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
- Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
- Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
- Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
Company%20profile
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Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
