Superstructures of Dubai

From a small pearl-fishing village to an oil-rich city, Dubai has made rapid inroads to emerge as one of the well-known cosmopolitan cities and powerful economies in the world in a very short span of time. A free port, Dubai was popular for electronics, perfumes, gold and designer wear earlier; however now, the city is fast evolving into a realty hub. Stable currency, strong economy, high investment returns, virtually 0% crime rate, vast career opportunities and a clean society are some of the criteria for investing in Dubai real estate.

The real estate boom commenced in Dubai in May 2002, when HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the then Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE Defense Minister and the present Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Shaikh of Dubai, announced 100% freehold ownership of properties at certain locales in Dubai for all nationalities. Since then, Dubai has experienced a heavy inrush of realty buyers that continues to gather momentum steadily. Dubai is now more synonymous with pioneering towers, modern world’s architectural wonders and skyscrapers.

Ever since man walked the earth, it has always been his endeavor to dominate his surroundings to display his assumed supremacy. This could be best done by constructing magnificently tall and prominent structures. The Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Castles and the Cathedrals were built to express and confirm the dominating position of those who built them. In fact, building the largest or the tallest structures in the world is strongly associated with the most dominant powers of the time.

At present, there are six skyscrapers under construction in Dubai. They are, namely, iconic Burj Dubai, slated to be tallest tower in the world; Burj Al Alam, billed as the tallest residential tower in the world with 108 floors; Marina 101, housing the highest hotel in the world with 101 floors; Princess Tower, one of the highest residential towers in Dubai with 107 floors and Pentominium, the world’s tallest penthouse tower with 120 floors. All of these high-rises are in different phases of planning and construction. The frontrunner among these is the Burj Dubai, which has one floor added to it per week, and is now the second tallest tower in the world at a height of 468.1 m (1,535.8 ft) and 130 storeys. The work on Al Burj has not yet commenced but it is expected to have somewhere between 180 to 200 storeys.

Dubai has one of the highest numbers of towers and skyscrapers under construction on both sides of Shaikh Zayed Road, the upcoming new Dubai. More than 1,850 are in pipeline to be constructed at the Dubai World Central Airport City in Jebel Ali. The work on these super-towers will be complete only by 2015. These skyscrapers are much talked about not merely for their majestic height but also for their designs, architecture and aesthetics.

Although construction of skyscrapers is very expensive, yet it provides large revenues. Conventionally, the tallest towers in the world have become the hub of economic development and usually attract the powerful diplomats, wealthy businessmen, tourists and artists from all over the world. Therefore, superstructures are not only built to express and establish power, but also to assert and accumulate it. With 6 super-towers on various stages of construction in Dubai, the position and importance of the city is sure to rise. When all the towers are complete by 2015 with more than 100 floors, Dubai will be the only city to have several towers with more than 100 floors.

Apart from these skyscrapers, Dubai is also famous its Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped 7-star hotel; and the Emirates Towers, twin towers with offices and hotel. These structures are not only reputed for their impressive heights but also are the most photographed towers in Dubai due to their striking designs and aesthetic appeal.

By: Shuchita Bist

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