“The world’s most famous helipad” on Burj al Arab turns 25

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The Dubai of 1993 was miles away from the world capital of today.

The financial and construction industries were not yet in full swing. The city had not yet established itself as a destination for the rich and powerful. The tallest building was still the first skyscraper ever built in Dubai: the World Trade Center, which was just 149 meters high.

This year, British architecture firm Atkins Global was approached by the Office of the Ruler of Dubai to design a building that would “create a recognisable link to the United Arab Emirates for people around the world”.

In other words, put the Emirates on the map.

Simon Crispe, Atkins' then Middle East managing director, recalls being asked to “provide the UAE with a powerful visual symbol that would have the same significance as the Sydney Opera House does to Australia or the Eiffel Tower in Paris to France.”

An international team of architects spent the next seven years in strict secrecy creating the artificial island and the 321-meter-high building.

The Burj al Arab (Arabic for “Arab Tower”) opened its doors in 1999 and over the next two decades became a magnet for the global elite. The hotel is now synonymous with the ultimate in luxury, from its palatial suites to the rare sharks in its aquarium.

But one feature has the greatest impact on the Burj’s reputation.

Interior views of the Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab for $25,000 per night

The hotel's helipad hangs 212 meters above sea level and protrudes dangerously from the building's distinctive sail shape.

“The biggest challenge was to ensure that the helipad was structurally sound and supported the overall architecture of the hotel,” former Burj al Arab CEO Anthony Costa told CNN in 2019. The 27-meter-wide helipad can support a maximum weight of 7.5 tons.

“The helipad had to meet both structural and safe landing criteria,” Crispe told CNN in 2019. “It had to visually 'float' and we wanted a minimally visible structural steel structure.”

The helipad primarily serves as part of the hotel's concierge service. Guests can choose to be picked up from the airport in a Rolls Royce or take advantage of a helicopter transfer service.

The flight route is a popular option, Costa said, as there are many arrivals and departures by helicopter each month.

Beyond its basic function, the helipad is best known as a location for stunts that range from death-defying to downright hair-raising.

Roger Federer got the ball rolling in 2005 when he played an exhibition match with Andre Agassi on a court built for the occasion and was filmed by helicopter. The Swiss returned in 2012 with his rival Novak Djokovic.

The helipad has also been converted into a golf course so that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy can tee off over the Persian Gulf.

In 2017, a ring was built for British boxer Anthony Joshua so that he could take part in a sparring session.

The most challenging stunt to date took place in 2013, when a Formula 1 racing car was airlifted to the helipad so David Coulthard could do “donuts” on a specially created surface, Costa said. Atkins engineers were again called in to ensure the stunt could be carried out safely.

The site has since become an attraction for daredevils of all kinds, serving as the platform for a record-breaking kiteboarding jump, a BMX jump from a helicopter and skydivers. In 2023, Polish pilot Lukasz Czepiela made aviation history when he became the first person to land a plane on the Burj Al Arab helipad.

According to Costa, many more stunts are rejected: “Every stunt requested is evaluated from a logistical, health and safety perspective, as well as from a feasibility perspective, before it is carried out.”

The helipad has become world famous for its stunts, but the hotel has also introduced safer ways to enjoy it.

Since 2014, the helipad has been available for weddings planned by a specialized “wedding architect.” The starting price is $55,000, although some ceremonies have reportedly cost several million dollars.

The site is also rented out for private parties with custom decorations. Costa said his favorite moment at the helipad was a guest's 50th birthday in 2018.

“We repainted the helipad so that it said 'Happy Birthday' next to her name, which she could see from the helicopter when it landed,” he recalls.

Such lavish occasions and expenditure may seem frivolous, but as one of Dubai's landmarks, there is a responsibility to showcase spectacle and grandeur.

As Costa puts it, the helipad events “enhance Dubai’s reputation for delivering spectacular experiences.”

Ministries often work with the hotel to hold events on the helipad and use it extensively for advertising campaigns.

The construction of the Burj al Arab was originally commissioned with the intention of establishing Dubai and the United Arab Emirates on the world map.

25 years after its opening, this claim has been realized – and not without the help of the most famous helipad in the world.