Hilal also discusses a project to mark the anniversary which would have a much more long-lasting impact.
“After 15 years of delivering the very finest in Arabian hospitality, we expect the anniversary year to bring a further major innovation, which may see the hotel develop an exclusive beach stretching out into the Arabian Gulf,” he says.

“In the meantime, our remarkable team of colleagues listen closely to what our guests are telling us and continue to design unforgettable experiences for them.”

Of those 1600 colleagues, 43 have been with the property since the opening day, and one of them is director of engineering Mounir Lakkis, who speaks emotionally about working at perhaps the most famous hotel in the world — and the kudos that comes with it.

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“The moment you enter the building, crossing the bridge, it’s a new experience every day,” he explains. “It’s a memory, because when you come into this place, you feel the commitment you have on your shoulders. Working at the Burj is not just working; it becomes a lifestyle.”

“However you behave in the Burj, you automatically start behaving like that in the supermarket or on the street.
“You go to the traffic department or anywhere, and you can see people starting to smile. They appreciate that you work here — especially the Emiratis.

“For most of them it is a landmark for Dubai and they are proud of it. They look at you differently, which gives you more responsibility to behave to that standard.”

Of course, since the hotel first opened in 1999, the luxury hotel landscape has been completely transformed in Dubai, and the Burj Al Arab has an ever-increasing number of competitors ready to pry away its lucrative guests.
“Competition will always be there, and I always say that any hotel which has a suite that sells at our average suite rate is a competitor,” explains Hilal.

“That guest should be staying at this hotel if they can afford to pay the same amount in any other hotel in Dubai or anywhere in the world.

“We have a very dedicated team which is very focused on what the latest trends are. It’s not about copying; you can take a good idea from somebody, but you have to make it Burj Al Arab or Jumeirah.

“We watch our competition so that we can ensure that we stay ahead of it. You can learn a lot from your competitors and see how you can apply any greater idea or take it to the next level and make it fitting to the Burj Al Arab.

“It is important that you remain switched on and don’t lose the momentum for a single day at this hotel.
“Because if you do, the guests will notice. And your competition as well,” Hilal adds.

Riding the exponential growth of Dubai in its early years, Burj Al Arab had to weather the storm that was the global financial crisis.

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