The Burj Al Arab, one of Dubai’s iconic luxury hotels often referred to as the “sail hotel,” will undergo an 18-month restoration and has temporarily closed to facilitate the works.

Axar.az reports, citing The National, the project is being carried out under the supervision of interior architect Tristan Auer.

Speaking to The National, Auer said the renovation will preserve the hotel’s “essence” while carefully restoring and refreshing its design without altering its core identity.

“This is not about changing its DNA, but about reinforcing, refreshing and restoring it,” he noted, adding that the aim is for returning guests to feel as if “nothing has changed,” despite improvements designed to extend the hotel’s life for the next decades.

The project, which has been in planning for two years, focuses on minimal intervention, preserving much of the existing structure and design elements while selectively upgrading key areas such as the spa and internal flow of spaces. Sustainability and restoration of original materials are also central to the renovation strategy.

The hotel, which opened in 1999 and has become one of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks, will reopen once the restoration is completed.