The iconic sail-shaped silhouette of the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab cuts an unmistakably striking figure along Dubai’s coastline. Its interiors are just as awe-inducing – two massive aquariums flank the entrance. It also boasts the world’s tallest hotel atrium that soars to over 180m with over 1,790 sq m of 24-carat gold leaf used to decorate its opulent interiors.
We take a moment to crane our heads skywards and film a quick video of the capacious atrium. Then, the real action begins. Barbara Lang-Lenton, director of the aquarium at the Burj Al Arab leads us to a discreet corner of the building where we slip into a staff elevator.
We emerge “backstage” to the aquarium, where much of the turtle rescue work of the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is carried out. It is a particularly busy day since the team is readying some 63 rescued and rehabilitated turtles to be released back into the wild the next morning. I catch a whiff of tangy brine – the smell of the animals’ food being prepared – as I wiggle my fingers at a curious sea turtle which is playfully peering at me through a pothole.
Our small group of journalists from around the globe are here at the invitation of Dubai-based luxury hospitality group Jumeirah to commemorate 20 years of its turtle rehabilitation project, which was launched in 2004. But the best part is that this behind-the-scenes tour is not just a media event. It is part of the new turtle-themed stay experience offered to guests of the.