6 OF THE LATEST TOWERS TO JOIN THE UAE SKYLINEDr. Ehsan Bayat

6 OF THE LATEST TOWERS TO JOIN THE UAE SKYLINE▪ The United Arab Emirates is renowned for its massive skylines. Tourists from around the

world visit to see the assortment of towers, including the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Building high into the sky is a matter of pride among real estate developers and investors in the Middle East, and those in the UAE all jockey for the position of standard-bearer.

▪ Next to the Burj Khalifa, a few of the top, high-reaching properties in the UAE include the Princess Tower, the Burj Mohammed bin Rashid, The Marina Torch, and the Rose Tower. These all reside either in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, where skyscrapers are a longstanding tradition. Interestingly, the upward trend of constructing tall and even super-tall towers came to a halt in 2016, at least in terms of completion.

▪ In the report Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2016, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) observed that the UAE only saw two 200-meter-plus tower projects finished: The 118 tower in Dubai and the Regent Emirates Pearl in Abu Dhabi. However, there are several other projects that are expected to open in 2017.

▪ The following is a brief list of the UAE’s recently completed and nearly completed towers:

1. THE 118▪ Designed for luxurious living, The 118 tower features more than 25

residences, each of which covers an entire floor and accommodates as many as four bedrooms. The building also includes two duplex penthouses, and every property offers a view of Dubai’s Downtown district, a prized location. Additionally, residences boast five-star facilities, such as a temperature-controlled swimming pool and a 4,000-square-foot rooftop lounge.

▪ The 118 is conveniently located within walking distance to The Address Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Mall, and the Opera District, which makes it easy for residents to take advantage of the area’s many leisure and cultural opportunities. To ensure the ultimate in privacy for residents, the properties don’t begin until the 14th floor—far away from street-level activity.

2. REGENT EMIRATES PEARL▪ First proposed in 2006, the Regent Emirates Pearl joined the impressive Abu Dhabi skyline in

2016. The structure overlooks the seafront with views of the water, the Emirates Palace Hotel, and the capital city. A mixed-use complex, the 45 stories follow a twisting floor plan that creates a spiraling optic effect. This design helps the tower to stand out among others in the area.

▪ A total of 60 luxury apartments occupy the first 10 floors, and the remaining 35 feature a five-star, 437-room hotel, including presidential and royal suites. The three-story-tall base podium’s roof offers a terrace, a juice pool bar, and a selection of Jacuzzis. At the top of the hotel section, select guests can take advantage of the hotel’s helipad for convenient and private arrivals and departures.

▪ In addition to the rooms and residences, the Regent Emirates Pearl offers a fully equipped health club, complete with a spa, gym, and fitness studio. The tower also houses a ballroom for special events, such as weddings, with room for up to 1,000 guests.

▪ The Regent Emirates Pearl was the tallest building to enter the market in 2016, standing at roughly 235 meters. Another 65 meters and the tower would have continued the 10-year stretch of at least one new structure in the Middle East reaching the 300-meter mark.

3. AHMED ABDUL RAHIM AL ATTAR▪ Construction on the Ahmed Abdul Rahim Al Attar began in 2004. After a

series of delays, the project is slated to finally open in 2017. At 342 meters, the 76-floor tower will rank as the 11th tallest in Dubai. It will also stand as one of the world’s 100 highest buildings.

4. MARINA 101▪ Builders broke ground on the $355-million Marina 101 project in 2005.

Once completed, the 457-meter tower, located in the Dubai’s fashionable Marina district, will be the tallest residential property in the world. With a focus on offering a range of aesthetics, the building will also feature a Hard Rock hotel and provide residents and guests with a 360-degree view of Dubai.

5. THE ADDRESS RESIDENCES BOULEVARD DUBAI▪ Developed by Emaar Properties, The Address Residences Boulevard

Dubai will have taken roughly five years to complete by the time it opens in 2017. The 72-story, five-star hotel will include 200 rooms along with more than 500 serviced residences, from studios to four-bedroom models. Altogether, the tower will reach 370 meters in height, making it the second-tallest project in the area.

6. DAMAC HEIGHTS▪ At 86 floors high, Damac Heights lives up to its name. When it opens

later this year, this avant-garde waterfront property will grant residents a view of Palm Jumeirah and the Gulf. Residents may choose from a variety of apartment floorplans, ranging in size from one to five bedrooms. The property has already won a number of accolades, including Best Residential High-Rise Architecture for Dubai, Arabia, and the world, at the 2014 Arabian Property Awards.