The iconic seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel at dusk

Dubai is known for its dazzling desert skyscrapers, but it wasn't always that way. The fortune of the small fishing village that Dubai once was changed with the discovery of oil in the 1960s, and a decision was made in the 1980s to turn the trading port into a luxury tourist destination. A slew of stunning buildings were then constructed, often at lightning pace, including the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel, which opened in 1994. With its unforgettable sail shape, the 321-meter-tall skyscraper quickly became one of the Dubai skyline's most recognizable buildings. In the backdrop you see a beautiful shimmer of the Burj, Khalifa, Dubai’s tallest building (828 m) – Dubai, United Arab Emirates