Fortune and Fire-Breathing: Burj Al Arab celebrates Year of the Dragon

As the sun sets over the iconic Jumeirah Beach skyline on January 23rd, Burj Al Arab’s exterior ‘sail’ will be illuminated in fiery red with a massive golden dragon in its centre, which can be seen from miles away. Chinese dignitaries and guests will gather for a VIP reception to mark the lighting of the lion’s eyes, setting in motion two series of authentic Chinese lion dances accompanied by drums and gongs, a thousand-year-old tradition which wards off misfortune and brings luck to new year revellers.

Chinese New Year celebrations will be echoed throughout Burj Al Arab from January 23 to January 29, with Asian delicacies available for breakfast and lunch at Al Iwan, as well as dedicated banqueting facilities available for larger gatherings by companies and private guests.

Junsui, the authentic Asian dining destination within Burj Al Arab, will be celebrating the year of the dragon all week, with dumpling and dim sum breakfasts, celebratory lunches, and traditional New Year dinner experiences.

On the evening of January 23, guests will be greeted by the sounds of the Chinese zither, playing timeless musical classics, under the gaze of an awe-inspiring ice sculpture of mythical Chinese dragon. Live cooking stations will offer a celebratory twist on authentic Chinese dishes, each of which represents good wishes for the New Year, as well as beloved delicacies such as Nian gao and Fa gao. Artists have been specially commissioned to showcase the art of calligraphy and illustrate the names of each guest as well as a traditional Chinese blessing in Mandarin characters as a memento of the evening, while guests staying overnight at the hotel will receive a replica of Burj Al Arab emblazoned with the dragon symbol, encased in a traditional red lacquerware box.

Further information about special offers at Burj Al Arab can be found by calling +971 4 301 7600