Dubai’s skyline is about to get a new landmark shaped like a traditionally dressed Gulf national that will act as a truly welcoming beacon for people flying into the new Jebel Ali International Airport.

As well as being visible to those flying in and out of Jebel Ali Airport, the AED 500 million Burj Al Arabi building will also keep a watchful eye over those living in both the Jebel Ali and Jumeirah Palm developments.

An AAA Group project, it will be part of the Jumeirah Village being developed by Limitless Co and will be expected to feature in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest concrete and glass human shaped building in the world when completed in 2009.

Burj Al Arabi will be 140 metres tall and have 35 floors. It will have a total built area of 400,000 sq.ft, of which 350,000 sq.ft will be for commercial offices and the remainder will be for retail outlets, restaurants and parking. A major feature will be the use of specially coloured glass that will be harmonised in the Arabic fashion. The “iqal” or peak of the tower may include a rotating restaurant and conference centre.

AAA Group Chairman Mohammed Al Syoufi says the development of the Burj Al Arabi concept has come about through his desire to celebrate all that is good about the people of the Gulf and the Arab world in general.

“It will rank alongside the Burj Arab and similar projects as a truly local icon that reflects both Islamic and Arabic history,” Al Syoufi says.

Burj Al Arabi has won praise from a leading local Islamic scholar, Mr Ahmed Al Kubaisi, who says the project is both aesthetic and elegant in design.

“Our Islamic and Arabic history is full of what we can be proud of but we do not make enough effort to reflect this in our real estate sector, as many developers race to copy foreign buildings which have nothing to do with our property heritage nor highlight our historic values,” Mr Al Kubaisi says.

“Burj Al Arabi is not intended to be the statute of a person, but symbolises a particular style of dress. It honours the religion, culture and language of the Arab people from a real estate perspective.” Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of this year, but those interested in purchasing a part of what will become a local icon will have to wait – the developer has decided not to launch it for sale at the present time.