The “Burj al Arab” in Dubai, UAE is the tallest hotel in the world at 1,053 feet to the top of its spire. Focus Lighting designed, coordinated, and programmed the control system for the Burj al Arab exterior lighting, which was designed by Speirs & MajorAssociates, UK.

A single automated, touch-screen system contols: 148 Irideon AR500 computerized color changing fixtures illuminate the tower’s impressive fabric “sail” facade. 90 High End Systems Dataflash strobes line the tower, individually controlled for maximum programmability. Four 7KW Xenon Skytrackers create pencil beams of light in the sky. When heliocopers approach the landing pad atop the tower, these elements are isolated to ensure they will not blind the pilot.

Four 7KW PIGI large format scrolling projectors are located on the shore, 985 feet away (the longest throw distance in the world in a permanent installation), creating 400′x 130′ images and dynamic “shows” on the “sail”. One projector is used solely for projecting faces of Arab dignitaries onto the tower. This has proven popular with HRH Sheikh Mohammed, who dines frequently in the hotel; his image is often seen, 130′ square, on its facade.

The control system also handles landscape and exterior lighting for all of the Jumeirah Beach Development, and provides time signals to coordinate interior lighting shows and WET design interior and exterior fire and water shows.