Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Opened in 1999 on a man-made island 280 metres off Jumeirah Beach, the Burj Al Arab is still the building most people picture when they hear the word Dubai. The sail-shaped tower, designed by Tom Wright, encloses a vast atrium lined in gold leaf and coloured glass, and every one of its 200-odd units is a duplex suite reached by private lift lobby.

Suites start at around 170 square metres across two floors, with floor-to-ceiling sea windows, a dedicated butler and a pillow and bath menu that has been widely imitated since. The Terrace, a 10,000-square-metre deck built out over the water, adds two pools, cabanas and a saltwater section.

Dining includes an undersea-themed seafood restaurant reached by a simulated submarine and a restaurant cantilevered 200 metres up over the Gulf. It is not subtle, and it does not intend to be, but it remains a genuine piece of architectural history and the service standard holds up.