Dubai's landmark Burj Al Arab hotel will shut for 18-month refurb amid tourism decline

By Mireia MerinoApril 15 (Reuters) - Luxury hotel Burj Al Arab in Dubai will shut during a major 18-month renovation, a staff member confirmed on Wednesday, its first since opening in 1999 and at a time when tourism in the region has slowed due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.The hotel's owner Jumeirah said in a statement on Tuesday the work would be carried out in phases over some 18 months and would be led by Paris-based interior architect Tristan Auer. It did not specify that the property would be closed during the renovation.