Designed to look like the sail of the ship, the hotel was built to be a landmark for Dubai, the way the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and the Opera House is for Sydney. In that regard, it has certainly been more than a resounding success, but the hotel has also become synonymous with ultra-luxury and the title of the world’s only seven-star hotel. With 201 luxurious duplex suites, nine world-class restaurants and bars, five swimming pools and Talise Spa, the hotel celebrates 20 years since it opened in December 1999.