Mysteries of Burj Al Arab revealed in unique 'behind the scenes' documentary on Discovery Channel in co-operation with DTCM

The whole project was carried out in co-operation with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

The hotel has acquired the reputation of being the world's most luxurious hotel and has been swamped with critical acclaim from travel writers around the globe.

Journalist Kathi Everden commented: "There is no such thing as a seven star hotel because hotel ratings only go up to five star. But there are hotels that go beyond five star so the terminology has grown up around Burj Al Arab because it is an exceptional hotel.

"It's not only the suites, restaurants or spa; it's the service as much as anything else. It's all wrapped up in one package and it is a seven star product from the minute one steps inside."

Burj Al Arab is the flagship property of Jumeirah International, the Dubai based luxury hospitality group. Commissioned in 1993, it took five years to build the iconic structure.

Tom Wills Wright, architect with WS Atkins, explained: "The brief was to create a building that would become an icon for Dubai rather like Sydney has its Opera House and Egypt has the pyramids. The brief was given by Jumierah International who wanted something novel, different, which can be symbol of Dubai.

The litmus test we used to assess if we had fulfilled the brief was to see if we could draw the building in five seconds Pictionary style and ask everybody to name it.

"We built the tower on its own island because we thought it enhanced the iconic nature of the building, and that seemed logical because the building looks like a sail of a ship."

Central to the hotel's design is the atrium. It takes up a third of the interior space and, with a height of 182 metres; it could accommodate the Statue of Liberty.

Technology is everywhere in the hotel from the suite-only bedrooms to the submarine that carries guests to the Al Mahara underwater restaurant. A team of marine biologists look after the three huge aquariams which create a coral reef that is home to 40 species of fish.

The documentary also takes a close look at other key personnel who help make Burj Al Arab what it is. There is a segment focusing on the butlers - there's one for every suite - and the particular challenges involved in cleaning the tallest hotel in the world and keeping it clean with the aid of a falcon.

Experience luxury of the highest degree with the extraordinary documentary, World's Most Luxurious Hotel, premiering on Discovery Channel on Sunday 16 November at 21:00 KSA (or 20:00 UAE) only on the Showtime television network.

Discovery Channel is also inviting ten journalists from ten different countries around the globe to view the documentary at Burj Al Arab in November.

Discovery Networks International's (DNI) diverse portfolio includes ten TV channels including Discovery Channel and Discovery Civilisation which are available exclusively on the Showtime network in the Middle East. Showtime also carries Animal Planet.