Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is unquestionably the most iconic hotel silhouette on Earth, having defined Dubai's visual identity since 1999 more than any other single structure. Its Teflon-coated fibreglass sail is visible from 40 kilometres across the Gulf and has been printed on more luggage tags than any landmark outside Paris, with over 8 million passport stamps referencing it annually. This hotel outperforms #2 Burj Khalifa in global recognisability among non-residents, as 95% of surveyed tourists identified its shape compared to 89% for the tower. It was also the world's tallest dedicated hotel structure until 2018, its helipad hosting tennis matches 321 metres above the Arabian Gulf.