Dubai, UAE – Dubai’s sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, is bringing an expansive outdoor luxury leisure concept, called ‘North Deck’, to the market – by ship from Finland, over 8,000 nautical miles away. The hotel, which is renowned for pushing the boundaries of architectural design and luxury service, unveils a global first in hotel construction with a breakthrough combination of creative marine design, ingenious engineering and guest-friendly planning.

The North Deck, which is due to open to guests in the second quarter of 2016, has been developed using state-of-the-art marine technology, design and manufacturing expertise, with a strong focus on environmental benefits. The 10,000 square metres private luxury deck will fan 100 metres out into the Arabian Gulf and accommodate 32 cabanas, 400 sun loungers, one fresh water pool measuring 612 square metres and one salt water pool measuring 828 square metres, one restaurant and a bar.

The deck has been developed by marine construction experts ADMARES at a shipyard in Finland that specialisies in the construction of cruise ships and yachts, guaranteeing the highest standards in both manufacture and finish. The off-site process has meant minimal disruption to guests.
Made from steel and weighing around 5,000 tonnes, the North Deck left Finland on 9th January 2016 and is currently being transported to Dubai by sea. On arrival 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 from the hotel out into the Arabian Gulf.

The construction and steel pile installation process will cause minimal impact to the marine environment. In fact it has been designed to provide shade for local fish and to attract undersea ecosystems that are known to cluster around steel piles.