Architecture of United Arab Emirates. Must see and must visit landmarks

» Al Fahidi Fort is the oldest building in Dubai that has survived to the present day.
» The fortress was built square-shaped with towers on its three corners.
» Once the fortress was used as a protection against the raids of neighboring tribes. Later it was the ruler's palace, a garrison and even a prison.
» In 1971, the ruler of Dubai decided to open a museum within the walls of the fortress. These days it has become a major and one of the most famous museums in the city.
» There are local antique items, and well as artifacts from African and Asian countries in the collection. The museum was founded to represent the traditional way of life in Dubai.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The unusual skyscraper was constructed in 2010. The building resembles a blue balloon and seems to soar above the beach.
» The Aldar Headquarters is similar to two flat surfaces encircled with a ring along the rim. A circular building rises on a platform. It’s fixed with a shining steel grid.
» The glass construction symbolizes economic stability in the country.
» The 23-storey Aldar Headquarters is 110 metres tall. The total area is 62,000 square metres. Inside, there are shops, offices, and cafes. A hotel with luxurious rooms waits for visitors.
» There are twelve passenger and two service lifts inside.
» The architects won lots of awards for such an original design. It took seven months to build the spherical skyscraper.
» It’s constructed completely from recycled materials. Despite the convexity from both sides, no curved glass was used. All windows are made in the form of transparent triangles.
» A curved facade is supported by internal steel structures, which allowed dispensing with concrete supports. That’s why all rooms are bright and spacious.

» Hotel complex Atlantis - The Palm was erected in 2008 on the artificial island of Palma Jumeirah, it also became the first hotel of the island.
»  It’s a unique engineering structure in the form of two multi-storey buildings connected by an arch.
»  The hotel has 1539 rooms. The most luxurious suite, located above the arch, has huge windows, from which the island "Palma Jumeirah", Dubai and the Persian Gulf are well visible.
»  A series of water entertainments is a special feature of the complex: a huge aquapark "Aquavenchur", a Dolphin Bay, an aquarium incorporating 70,000 marine animals.
»  Some rooms, halls, restaurants, children's club have windows directly to the aquarium with its inhabitants.
»  16 restaurants and bars serve the tourists, providing dishes of world cuisine.
»  At the opening of the hotel, a grandiose fireworks took place, and it was 10 times higher than the salute in Beijing at the opening of the Olympics.

» Hotel Burj Al Arab was constructed for five years on a bulk island. A bridge connects it with the shore.
»  The architectural structure has a unique silhouette in the form of a sail, the building seems to hover over the bay.
»  The height of the hotel is 321 meter. At the top, there is a helipad and arestaurant "El Muntaha".
»  The lobby of the hotel, 180 meters high, is labelled as the highest in the world. In its decoration, there is a stair fountain surrounded by moving escalators. Climbing up, hotel guests can watch the inhabitants of aquariums built into the wall.
»  The hotel has only two-story rooms. Smallest one - 169 square meters, and the largest one - 780 square meters. All rooms have huge windows that allow guests to admire the sea breeze.
»  Burj al Arab's interiors are made at the highest level of luxury. Constructors used 8000 sq.m. of 22-carat gold.
»  It is now the most expensive hotel in Dubai. The building of the hotel has become a symbol of the city and the country.

» Burj Khalifa is 828 m skyscraper in Dubai, the tallest building in the world. The building has 163 floors, and its shape resembles a stalagmite.
» Burj Khalifa was designed as the city within the city. The total cost of construction is about $1.5 billion.
» The building houses a hotel, apartments, offices and shopping centers. Burj Khalifa has three entrances: the entrance to the hotel, the entrance to the apartment and the entrance to the offices.
» The highest observation deck of Burj Khalifa is located on the 124th floor at a height of 452 meters.
» You can’t get to the top floor directly on any elevator, except technical one. In total, the building has 57 elevators, which can reach speeds up to 12 m/s.
» A special grade of concrete that can withstand temperatures of up to +50°C was developed especially for Burj Khalifa. During construction of building the concrete mix was laid only in night hours, and ice was added to the solution.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » Capital Gate is a skyscraper in the form of a leaning tower. It is situated near the National Exhibitions Company and a stadium.
» Its construction lasted for 4 years. A multifunctional building was erected in 2007.
» Capital Gate stretches for 160 metres. Having an eighteen-degree inclination, it’s listed in Guinness World Records.
» Twelve levels of the tower are placed strictly one over another. Further levels were designed with a metre gap. That’s why the construction is stable.
» The 35-storey building has an internal area of over 50,000 square metres. There are lots of offices and a five-star hotel.
» $2.2 billion was spent to build a skyscraper.
» The exterior of the tower is made of glass. Light goes in without hindrance, which reduces electricity costs.
» A diagonal grid was used in the construction of the building for the first time. It can absorb and redirect wind.
» To make a building stable, 490 pilings were drilled 30 metres below ground.
» 728 diamond-shaped glass panels were inserted between the diagrid borders. 12,500 panes of glass were used in total. This solution helps reduce lighting costs significantly.

» Dubai Mall is the largest shopping and entertainment center in the world (1.2mn m2).
» There are 1,200 stores as well as cultural and entertainment facilities of world-class at Dubai Mall.
» This trade and entertainment center has the Olympic-sized ice rink.
» Dubai Mall can also boast the world's largest indoor aquarium, where you can see more than 33,000 fish and marine animals.
» Dubai Mall is located in the most prestigious place in the world, in downtown of Dubai.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The initiative to create the so-called Dubai Silicon Oasis belongs to the government of Dubai. This free economic zone has the opportunity to develop the most advanced scientific technologies.
»  For this purpose, an area of 7.2 million square meters is allocated.
»  The plan provides for construction of 560 residential villas and offices, as well as high-rise buildings for housing and commercial purposes.
»  It is envisaged that the Academy of Electronics and Design will be built here. Besides this, prestigious educational institutions - GEMS International School and AMA University - will be opened here also, all surrounded by sports grounds, waterfalls, parks and shops.
»  The technology center has a very advantageous location in the city: near the shipping port, within 15 km of the international airport, and within 20 min of the Emirates Road.
»  Dubai Silicon Oasis is attractive also for the world financial companies by creating excellent conditions for work and business.

» The Emirates Palace, a five star hotel on the beach, was opened in Abu Dhabi in 2005.
» It’s made to look like a castle. It’s covered with a colourful ceramic dome surrounded by 114 smaller domes. Each one has a gold spire.
» The palette of exterior walls is similar to the shades of sand found in the Arabian Desert.
» The hotel is surrounded by a green area of 100 hectares.
» The interior of the Emirates Palace is rich in silver, gold, and glass mosaics. It’s a mix of traditional hospitality and modernity. All decorative elements demonstrate Arabian cordiality.
» There are 14 cafes, lots of bars and restaurants.
» The Emirates Palace has marble bathrooms, provides all necessary technical services (free wi-fi, TV, video). It offers a 24-hour service. A set of snacks and traditional Emirati dishes are offered in lounge areas with a view of the sea. They can be tasted during a buffet or ordered individually.
» The hotel has two swimming pools, a health centre with a spa and massage, and a fitness centre. Children can take water rides.

» The Emirates Park Towers hotel complex is a two-story skyscraper demonstrating modern architecture and unusual design. The height of the twin towers is 376 m.
»  Marriott International Hotel, the largest business center, conference halls, wellness center, banquet halls, expensive branded boutiques, as well as residential apartments are located on the floors of the complex.
»  There are 20 restaurants and bars here.
»  The hotel provides free admission to the Wild Wadi Waterpark and to the private beach of Jumeirah.
»  Dubai's Emirates Towers and the International Airport are connected by a monorail.

» The Emirates Towers is a complex of two skyscrapers.
» It includes the 54-story Emirates Office Tower of 354.6 meters height and a 56-storey Jumeirah Emirates Towers that is 309 meters high.
» Both skyscrapers are built alongside and connected to each other; moreover, they are like two peas similar to each other.
» The complex of skyscrapers features the 25-meter swimming pool without a roof.
» The building has two floors of special, for women and men. On the women's floor ladies can look in the glass in beauty salons, do yoga, or look through fashion magazines. Men can enjoy spa center, where they can relax in the oxygen room or soak in hydropool.

» Several large Italian car producers came together to create their own corporation. To show their achievements, they arranged an exhibition and entertainment zone. The Ferrari World amusement park was opened in 2010.
» The huge pavilion is covered with a dangling roof of over 200,000 square metres. The red roof can be seen from afar. It resembles a flower in the form of a sports car of GT type. A graphic Ferrari logo – the largest of all the images present – can be seen on the roof.
» A message for descendants is laid in the foundation. A part of the engine of a champion car was put into the capsule. It’s going to be unsealed in 2047.
» Ferrari World has a great choice of various amusements. There’s a hall where you can watch a documentary on car racing. A special simulator lets you fly over Italy.
» The simulator can transfer you straight to a seabed. You can take a ride of 200 km/h on a roller coaster. There are rooms where a car-making process is demonstrated. Simulators show how pilots are trained. You can also take an amusement car ride.

» Jumeirah Beach Hotel is one of the largest and most famous hotels in Dubai.
» This five-star hotel was built in 1997 in form of a sea wave.
» The height of this 26-storey hotel is 104 meters.
» The hotel offers 598 rooms, 22 restaurants, 4 swimming pools, 7 tennis courts, a sauna, and a marina.
» Local wall sculptures up to 90 meters high are of great interest to tourists.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » Jumeirah Mosque with its two minarets and majestic dome is considered one of the most beautiful and elegant buildings, not only in Dubai, but also in all the UAE. The mosque is especially amazing at night, when it’s lit by backlight.
» It’s said that Jumeirah Mosque is the most photographed mosque in all of Dubai.
» This mosque is one of the few in Dubai that organizes travel tours and excursions, even for non-Muslims.
» This is the only shrine in Dubai that is open to the public 6 days a week (except Friday).
» Excursion to the Jumeirah Mosque begins at 10 am Monday through Thursday and lasts 75 minutes.