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The Ciel Dubai Marina has been dubbed the tallest hotel in the world at 1,237 feet
The structure, which overlooks the Dubai Marina, opened on Nov. 15
The hotel features more than 1,000 rooms as well as multiple pools, eight restaurants, and multiple outdoor spaces
The tallest hotel in the world has opened its doors.
The Ciel Dubai Marina is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and provides 360-degree views of Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf, according to the First Group website.
The towering structure was designed by London-based architect NORR Group and stands at 1,236.88 feet, making it the world’s tallest hotel.
However, despite the triumph, the hotel was never meant to be that high, according to the First Group’s CEO of project developer, Rob Burns.
“We knew we wanted to build something spectacular,” Burns told CNN. “But we certainly didn’t plan on building the tallest hotel in the world.”
Courtesy Ciel Dubai Marina
A room in the Ciel Dubai Marina
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The record-breaking hotel opened its doors on Nov. 15.
“Today, we proudly announce the opening of Ciel Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel, rising as a beacon in the heart of Dubai Marina,” they wrote on Instagram. “Ciel is more than a feat of architecture. It is a symbol of innovation, ambition, and belief, proof that true progress happens when vision becomes reality. This landmark stands as a tribute to Dubai’s pioneering spirit and to everyone who believes that the future is built, not imagined.”
Courtesy Ciel Dubai Marina
A lobby in the Ciel Dubai Marina
The caption added, “This is not just the opening of a hotel. It is the start of a new chapter, for The First Group, for Dubai and for the global skyline.”
In the post, a video of Ciel Dubai Marina captured its luxurious glass walls and windows as it filmed the outside of the hotel’s 82 floors. The structure features a large opening toward the top referred to as the “eye of the needle,” which was incorporated both for design and for function.
Courtesy Ciel Dubai Marina
An outdoor pool at the Ciel Dubai Marina
“If you want the height that is great, but how can you shape the building to minimize the wind load?” Burns noted. “So, by having the cutout we let the wind go through the tower.”
In addition to the luxury rooms, architect Yahya Jan has also incorporated “social community spaces,” which he refers to as “small parks,” turning the tower into “smaller neighborhoods.”
Courtesy Ciel Dubai Marina
Restaurant at the Ciel Dubai Marina
While it only opened last month, only 200 of its 1004 rooms are unoccupied, according to Gulf News.
Prices range from $375 per night for a deluxe room to $545 for a king suite.
Inside the building features a central atrium filled with natural light thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Guests are spoiled for choice with the hotel’s eight dining venues. There are also three pools including an infinity pool on level 76, located in the eye of the needle opening. There’s also a fitness center and a business center.
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