Abraj: The two towers of Dubai from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.
Dubai is the eponymous [self named] capitol city with in the emirate of Dubai within the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gilf of the Middle East. The UAE is a country broken into state-like emirates governed by an Emir.
The video above was created by filmmaker Philip Bloom on commission by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The two towers featured in this video are The Burj Al Arab and the The Burj Khalifa.
Burj Khalifa
This is the tallest building in the word since it was completed in 2009 and opened to the public in 2010. The Tower is 829.84 meters high.
The building has facilities for hotels, commercial offices, residences, dining and entertainment. There is an observation deck on the 124th floor called ‘At The Top,’ which is the 3rd highest observation deck in the world and the 2nd highest outdoor observation deck in the world. If you want a better view the only place you can find one at the top of an elevator is the Canton Tower In China.
Here’s an infographic of the worlds ten tallest buildings.
Burj Al Arab
This tower sits on an artificial island connected to land by a bridge and is the 4th tallest luxury hotel in the world. It’s a super luxury hotel. You probably can’t afford a night there. Hotels usually are rated with from 1 to 5 stars. Some say this hotel gets 7 stars!
This tower was designed to resemble the sail of a Dhow, an Arabian sail boat. Here’s what a dhow looks like.
Despite its size, Burj Al Arab holds only 28 double-story floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 m2 (1,820 sq ft), the largest covers 780 m2 (8,400 sq ft). Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west. White columns show great influence. Bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns. Prices of rooms vary from approximately $1,000 to $27,000 per night. [Wikipedia]
Abraj
The title of Philip Bloom’s video ‘Abraj’ is plural for Braj, which means Towers. Find out more at the source links below, and keep an eye on Philip Bloom’s Vimeo feed.
-Mike
Hey Mike,
Last time I was in DXB I had a beer on the beach next to the Burj Al Arab, though I don’t think it was completely finished at the time. What is not shown in this post is the hotel on the land next to the Burj Al Arab (BAA), that was huge in itself too, but not has tall as the BAA, my soon to be wife and myself took an elevator to the top of that place and looked down and it is no place for those fearful of heights!
The indoor ski place was not yet a reality the last time I was there and in any event when I resident in Al-Ain (in the Abu Dhabi emirate near the border with Oman) from ’92-’98 I was not yet a skier.
The UAE is a cool place to be, especially DXB, the best ribs I had were in a joint called Bill Blues in DXB and most all USN sailors know “Pacos” there too.
When I was living there I would come back to WI for the summer (with perhaps some side trips along the way) and when I would return (the DXB airport was always the best of all the airports in the UAE) I would just jaw drop on the amount of change being away for 2-3 months would bring. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I went back for a visit.
I still have a few things to DM you about!
Hey Mike,
Last time I was in DXB I had a beer on the beach next to the Burj Al Arab, though I don’t think it was completely finished at the time. What is not shown in this post is the hotel on the land next to the Burj Al Arab (BAA), that was huge in itself too, but not has tall as the BAA, my soon to be wife and myself took an elevator to the top of that place and looked down and it is no place for those fearful of heights!
The indoor ski place was not yet a reality the last time I was there and in any event when I resident in Al-Ain (in the Abu Dhabi emirate near the border with Oman) from ’92-’98 I was not yet a skier.
The UAE is a cool place to be, especially DXB, the best ribs I had were in a joint called Bill Blues in DXB and most all USN sailors know “Pacos” there too.
When I was living there I would come back to WI for the summer (with perhaps some side trips along the way) and when I would return (the DXB airport was always the best of all the airports in the UAE) I would just jaw drop on the amount of change being away for 2-3 months would bring. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I went back for a visit.
I still have a few things to DM you about!