Dubai has over the years grown to become one of the most famous places for visitors and work in the United Arab Emirates. Known for its tall skyscrapers, Dubai houses one of the tallest buildings and man made structures around the world. Millions of people around the world travel to Dubai annually for business or leisure. Overall, Dubai has 18 completed and topped out buildings that rise at least 300 meters in height, which is more than any other city in the world.
Below is a list of the 18 ten tallest buildings in Dubai.
Burj Khalifa
Standing at 829.8m, the Burj khalifa (an award winning tower) was crowned the tallest building in the world upon its completion. Construction of this building commenced in 2004 and ended in 2009. Previously named Burj Dubai, it was renamed in honor of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi and the UAE government lent Dubai money to pay its debts.
The building was opened to the public in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. Outside the building is an enormous fountain illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 color projectors. It is 900ft long and shoots water 500ft into the air, accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary music. It is the world’s second largest choreographed fountain. The building is also surrounded by an 11ha park which is designed like a desert plant (same design as the tower). The center of the park contains a water room made up of a series of pools and water jet fountains.
Marina 101
Located in Marina district and standing at 425m, Marina 101 is the second tallest building in the United Arab Emirates. As of 2020, it is the 30th tallest building in the world. The first 33 floors are designed to host a 5 star hard rock hotel with 281 rooms, while the floors from 34 to 100 have residential rooms. The 101st floor features a club lounge, restaurant and a rock shop merchandise store.
Construction of the building began in 2007 and ended in 2017 but the building is still incomplete. The original developer Sheffield holdings ran out of money.
Princess Tower
The residential only skyscraper on Marina is the third tallest building in Dubai and stands at 413.4m. From 2012 to 2015, it was the tallest residential building in the world until it was overtaken by New York’s Park Avenue. The building is made up of 763 units, 957 underground parking bays and eight retail outlets.
The development stands at 107 stories and includes basement floors, a ground floor and 100 levels above the ground. It comes with a high range of modern amenities, such as, indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, fully functioning gymnasium, exercise studio, game rooms, children’s play area, banqueting hall and an observation deck.
23 Marina
Standing at 392.8m, this is an 88-storey residential skyscraper that best defines luxury. Comprising 57 swimming pools, each duplex in the tower has its own private elevator. What’s more is that even before construction commenced, the building was already 79% sold. The biggest penthouse was bought by the youngest billionaire Abady Habra.
Elite Residents
Standing at 381m, the building was the tallest residential in the world upon its completion in January 2012 and following the completion of Park Avenue, it is ranked fourth tallest residential skyscraper in the world. It has 695 apartments and 12 elevators. Made up of swimming pools, spas, reception areas, health club, a business center and a gymnasium, this is definitely one of the best places to live.
The Address Boulevard
Featuring 200 hotels and 502 serviced apartments, the 63-storey hotel is 368m high. The address BLVD is located in Emaar and investors have the option of staying or renting out their homes.
With direct indoor access to both Dubai Mall, fashion avenue and the metro station, it is an ideal place to stay especially for tourists.
Almas Tower
360m, the 68-storey office building became the tallest building in Dubai upon its completion in 2009 but was soon overtaken by Burj Khalifa. It is located on its own artificial island in the center of the Jumeirah Lake Towers Free Zone Scheme.
The Dubai Multi Commodity Center (DMCC), the tower’s developer, was the first to move in. Almas tower now houses facilities that provide a wide range of services for the region’s diamond, colored gemstones and pearl industry.
Gevora Hotel
The four star hotel opened its doors to the public in February 2018, 12 years since its construction began. At 356m height, the Guinness world records hailed it the tallest hotel in the world. The construction of the building began in 2005 and was initially planned as a residential tower, but was converted into a hotel during construction. It consists of a main hotel building and a parking garage building.
The main structure consists of concrete and steel and is covered in a glass facade that includes gold-tinted elements. A pyramid shapes crown-like structure with a gold color and lattice pattern sits upon the roof. The parking garage has 13 floors and is situated to the east of the main building.
The hotel is entered through the lobby which is decorated using marble and gold-colored elements.
The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel
The building is 355m long and is run by Marriott International. It was originally conceived as a single, 350m , 77-storey tower intended to be completed in 2008. However, the design and location was changed due to the construction of a creek extension belonging to a business bay megaproject. The twin tower design was launched in 2006. The buildings were completed in 2012 surpassing the Rose Rayhaan by Rotana as the tallest hotel in the world.
The hotel has 1364 standard guest rooms, 240 suites, 4 presidential suites, a banquet hall, an auditorium, 18 shops, 19 restaurants and a spa. The design is inspired by the date palm and the towers are symmetrically placed on a 7-storey high podium to get views of Burj khalifa, Business Bay and the sea. The podium houses all the public areas , restaurants, banquet hall and back of house areas. The entrance lobby is four floors high and overlooks the business bay.
Emirates office tower
It is 354.6m high and located in the financial center of Dubai. Construction of the building was completed on 3rd November 1999 and consists of three large core walls. The walls support the load transferred at four levels by large steel trusses. The tower is surrounded by clad in silver aluminum panels, silver and copper reflective glass.
Connected with the 56-floor Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel by a retail Boulevard, the two towers form what is commonly referred to as the Emirates Towers complex.
The Marina Torch
This is another residential building standing at 336.8 meters. Upon its completion in 2011, it became the tallest residential building in the world until 2012 when it was overtaken by Elite residents. It has 676 apartments and six retail units. In 2015, the price of a one bedroom apartment started at USD$443,295. Since it was open to the public, the building has reported three fires and in 2020 a 34-year-old Emirates airlines hostess committed suicide by jumping off the building.
SLS Dubai Hotel and Residents
Located in the downtown district, the property offers unobtrusive views of Burj khalifa and Dubai Creek. Two magnificent infinity pools are situated atop the 75-storey tower offering 360 degree aspect of Dubai. It comprises of 254 hotel rooms and 321 hotel apartments. It is 336m tall.
DAMAC Residenze
DAMAC Heights is located in the upper part of the marina and is 335m tall. The tower was initially planned to be 420m tall but was reduced to 335 in 2013. The building overlooks the Palm Jumeriah. The residence are available in 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units as well as a 5-bedroom penthouse. It comes with ample parking, lobby for its residents, state of the art gymnasium, as well as separate steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi and playrooms for children.
Rose Rayhaan by Rotana
It is a 333m 72-storey building on Sheikh Rayed road. It was originally meant to be 380m tall but was reduced due to a re-design. Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2007. This is one of the first major hotel brands to open in Dubai as alcohol free. The hotel has two restaurants and a 24-hour coffee shop. The building has 462 rooms, suites and penthouses and officially opened on 23rd December 2009.
AMA Tower
Located in Sheikh Zayed road near Trade center 1, the project’s major scope of work consists of 62-storey commercial and residential tower. Strikingly beautiful with its contemporary architectural design, it allows urbanities to personalize their condo life with a wide selection of unit types and cuts, from flats to lofts and bi-level units. It is 333m high.
Address Residence- Fountain View II
It has been developed with continuously curving west façade that caters direct views of Burj khalifa and Dubai Fountain. Each of its corner apartments has around 270 degree with Northeast and Southwest balconies. It is 331m high.
Al Yaqoub Tower
This is a 328m tall skyscraper inspired by Elizabeth tower in London. It was completed in 2013 and has 69 floors. It functions as a 224 room hotel.
The Index
It is a 328m tall, 80-storey skyscraper. The first four floors are service floors, 5th to 29th are offices, 31st to 77th are meant for residential use, 73rd and 75th floor are duplex penthouses and 77th the to 80th are triplex penthouses. It is one of the first towers in the region to intelligently embrace its climatic surrounding environment within its fundamental design principles.