Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab looks to be adding another star to its already constellation-esque rating. The emirate’s most famous hotel has announced a new island leisure concept, labelled “North Deck”. Described as a first in hotel construction, due to a combination of creative marine design, and clever engineering, the hotel extension is being delivered from Finland – a journey of more than 8,000 nautical miles.

Due to open to guests this spring, North Deck will stretch 100 metres into the Gulf, offering 32 cabanas, 400 sun loungers, a restaurant, bar and large freshwater and saltwater pool – all in an area roughly equivalent to a rugby pitch (10,000 sqm). The extension, made from steel and weighing around 5,000 tonnes, left Finland on January 9 and is due to arrive at the hotel in mid-February. The six sections will be lifted by crane and lowered onto a grid of 90 steel piles, each 914mm in diameter, stretching out into the Gulf.

North Deck also has a focus on environmental benefits, according to a spokesperson who explained how the installation process will cause minimal disturbance to the seabed and will, in the long term, create a habitat for fish and other marine life.

“The pillars of the structure provide the perfect environment for coral growth and within three to five years we expect to see a visible settlement of marine activity. North Deck will also provide shade and shelter for fish in the summer months when the sea temperature rises,” read a statement, which also explained that the deck was developed by marine construction experts ADMARES at a shipyard in Finland and the off-site process was chosen for minimal disruption.

“As a hotel we are dedicated to surpassing guest expectations by providing the ultimate Arabian hospitality experience and we have no doubt that North Deck will do just that,” added general manager Anthony McHale. “We are hugely excited about its arrival - North Deck is a true reflection of Dubai’s own ambition to provide the most outstanding experience for guests visiting and living in Dubai.”

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