One of the world’s most luxurious hotels – the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai – is set to receive a space-age extension in the form of a floating leisure deck attached by a causeway to the base of its sail-shaped tower.

The al fresco North Deck resort, as it will be called, will cover 10,000 sqm and extend 100 metres out into the waters of the Arabian Gulf. There will be two swimming pools – one freshwater, measuring 612 sqm, and one saltwater, at 828 sqm – as well as 32 cabanas, 400 sun loungers, a restaurant and a bar.BAA_Island_Development_2308_011

Even more surprising is the fact that entire project has been designed by marine engineering company Admares, and built at a shipyard in Finland. Made from steel and weighing 5,000 tonnes in its entirety, the deck is being transported in sections by sea to the UAE.

It will arrive in Dubai mid-February 2016, when each of the six pieces will be put together outside the hotel on top of a grid of 90 steel piles, which will also help provide shade for fish and local marine life. It will be open for guests in the second quarter of this year.

Robert Swade, Jumeirah Group chief operating officer, said: “Dubai is renowned for providing exceptional experiences. This is the first time a structure of this nature and size has been built in one country and then transported to another country to be assembled and operated.BAA_Island_Development_04100042_

“We are really pushing the boundaries of innovation and demonstrating how committed we are to positioning Dubai as the most exciting destination in the world and Burj Al Arab Jumeirah as the finest provider of luxury experiences.”

The Burj Arab Jumeirah stands at 321 metres tall and has 202 huge suites – from 170 sqm to 780 sqm each – with spa baths and butlers. A fleet of Rolls-Royce cars are also at guests’ disposal.

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