A Glance at Dubai’s Finest Skyline Wonders
When it comes to being a trendsetter for combining aesthetical beauty with modern amenities, there is hardly any city around the globe that can give Dubai a run for its money. The sheer architectural developments that this city has witnessed in the past few decades are nothing short of an astounding beauty.
With each architectural design defining chic, grandeur, and panache, gazing at the skyline of the city is truly a treat to the eyes. Be it residential complexes or office buildings; you will often find themselves to be mistaken for a painting in the sky.
Burj Khalifa
Starting with the most obvious, Burj Khalifa is probably the first thing that pops up in most people’s minds when they hear the word Dubai. And who could blame them? This titanic skyscraper is the tallest building in the world, standing at a height of more than 828 m.
From hotels to residential houses, from corporate suites to observatories, you will find everything that a modern building of this stature can hold of in this giant beauty. Such is its height that the sun is still visible for two and three minutes more for people living above the 80th and 150th floors, respectively than the ones below it.
Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab is the only hotel in the world that has the distinction of being referred to as a 7-star hotel, which is more than the highest official hotel ranking system. Its sail-shaped design speaks volumes about the enormous as well as intrinsic effort that went into constructing it.
With over 200 suites and even a helipad, it doesn’t get better than this. Standing on an artificial beach, it is connected to the mainland through a curving bridge. When you think of a royal treatment, this is what you get because forget sea-view; you are literally going to stay above the sea when you stay in this hotel.
Atlantis, The Palm
With an astounding view, Atlantis, The Palm is located at the apex point of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. A luxurious hotel resort, its design was inspired by the myth of Atlantis and Arabian elements. The interiors of the 1,548-roomed hotel are heavily inspired by the ocean. The two wings of the resort are connected through a royal bridge suite that gives this hotel its extraordinary appearance.
Among its many notable features, the one that keeps on getting the attention of tourists is its underwater rooms that give a splendid view of the lagoon and its exotic sea creatures. This nautically themed resort also features a water park and a vast aquarium that houses over 65,000 marine animals.
Marina 101
With 101 floors of supreme architectural display, Marina 101 defines gravity with its sheer existence and has over the years, become a prime landmark of the city that attracts tourist views from around the globe. This mixed-use building stands at 425 m and is one of the most anticipated projects to come to fruition in the city.
With hotel chains owning the first 33 floors, the rest of the tower is home to residential apartments, duplexes, and penthouses. Standing tall above the rest, its design signifies the power and hold of the city over the world.
Princess Tower
Enshrined by a majestic royal dome, which seems fitting for its name, the Princess Tower is a residential skyscraper that serves as one of the noteworthy examples of the architectural supremacy of Dubai. Surrounded by a convenient line of public transport, it is no wonder why this is one of the most aspired residences to live in owing to its close vicinity to the educational, business, and shopping centers.
With 107 floors, including six floors below the ground, it houses apartments, duplexes, and penthouses within its 763 residential units. Its residents have the privilege of being privy to its steam rooms, gymnasiums, banquet hall, swimming pools, game rooms, and exercise studios, among others.
23 Marina
A premium residential skyscraper, 23 Marina demonstrates chic design and urbanity. With each duplex having its own private elevator, this building has a whopping 57 swimming pools. Apart from the duplexes, it also features sophisticated two and three-bedroom apartments.
To add to its sense of luxury, it has also provided private heated Jacuzzi-styled plunge pools in each of its duplexes. Bearing the theme of modern European, the interiors of the building are adorned with color schemes of brown, beige, and white.
Elite Residence
Overlooking the iconic view of Palm Jumeirah, Elite Residence is a 91-story residential high-rise building standing at a height of 380.5m. It holds the honor of being among the ten tallest residential buildings in the world and has 695 apartments and 12 elevators.
Besides, it also features premium gymnasiums, pools, spas, business centers, and health clubs, among other world-class amenities. The architectural inspiration of this building was drawn from post-modernism, which is also reflected in its furnished apartments that exude regal touch.
The Address Boulevard
The Address Boulevard is the perfect amalgamation of art and architecture that one must witness to truly appreciate it from within. This 73-story (76 including basements) hotel exhibits 251 magnificent and specially-commissioned original artworks by 48 artists around the world.
Dedicated to providing its guest with a premium lifestyle with a dash of elegance, it features 196 5-star rooms, cascading pools, kids’ clubs, restaurants, and lounges for you to have the holiday of your dream. It also offers a luxurious setting for events of any kind – be it intimate or grand.
Almas Towers
A highly developed commercial skyscraper, Almas Towers is situated at the center of Jumeirah Lake Towers in Dubai. It houses some of the biggest corporate offices in the country, and due to the tremendous flow of transactions that takes place here daily, it is also one of the most secure buildings in the city.
It derives its name from the Arabic word for diamonds, representing its striking shape and promoting the city as one of the biggest diamond trading destinations in the world. The Almas Towers features 68 floors above the ground and five floors below the ground, with high-end conference rooms that provide amazing views of the lakes surrounding it.
Gevora Hotel
Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest hotel with a staggering height of 356 m (358 m to tip), Gevora Hotel is a sight of behold. From pool deck to world-class restaurants, from health club to steam and sauna rooms, it provides you with a royal treatment through its amenities and style.
There are 529 rooms to choose from that range from deluxe to penthouse suites where you can unwind and enjoy some breathtaking views of the city. In addition, it also has an exclusive car exhibition where you get to take a first-hand look at some of the most expensive and rare automobiles in the world.
JW Marriott Marquis
The world’s second tallest hotel standing at 355 m, the JW Marriott Marquis comprises two iconic towers beside the Dubai Water Canal. With over 1,600 lavish rooms and 12 award-winning restaurants and bars, along with a fully equipped business center, it gives everything and more.
Not to forget, the two ballrooms and three stunning outdoor sites provide a stunning view of Downtown Dubai; it features over 8,000 m2 of indoor and outdoor event space. This makes it a perfect and one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Dubai, an ideal place for you to exchange your vows with your loved one.
Emirates Towers
The beginning of the 21st century saw the opening of this breathtaking building complex that houses the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel and the Emirates Office Tower – collectively known as the Emirates Tower. Connected to each other through “The Boulevard” – a retail complex, this art piece for architecture is located on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The design of the towers has been constructed keeping in mind traditional Islamic themes. The changing light of the sun throughout the day gives this stunning skyline a different perspective depending on which part of the city you are viewing it from. With 56 and 54 floors, the office and the hotel stand at a staggering height of 355 m and 309 m, respectively.
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DAMAC Residenze
An ultra-modern and state-of-the-art skyscraper, DAMAC Residenze is a supertall project by DAMAC Properties that has already put itself on the list of the tallest residential buildings in the world. With a view of Palm Jumeirah, it has been specifically designed to increase the field of view for its residents.
This 84-story tower boasts luxurious penthouses, duplexes, and apartments with premium interiors to give you an exquisite experience of living. With a sophisticated and cosmopolitan outlook, it stands as a striking symbol of the aspiring lifestyle of the Dubai Marina.
Rose Rayhaan
One of the most luxurious hotels in not only Dubai but the entire globe, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is a stylistically varied landmark of sheer architectural excellence. This 72-story (71 above ground and one floor below the ground) mega-structure gives the illusion of a blue diamond amidst its peers owing to the blue and silver mirrored glass facade that is adorned with gold ornamentation.
It derives its name from the visual illusion it gives through the two cylindrical forms that fold into each other at the top of the tower, much like a rose. Standing at 333 m, it is one of the tallest hotels in Dubai and also holds the distinction of being one of the first alcohol-free major hotel brands in the city.
Cayan Tower
An epitome of sleek and slender, the Cayan Tower is a 306 m high skyscraper that took seven years in the making before being completed in 2013. The swirl design of the residential building gives it an absolutely unique demeanor, one that you are sure not to forget once you take a glimpse at it.
Its 90-degree twist makes this high-rise building a one-of-its-kind. It has been intentionally given a 1.2-degree rotation to give it its helix design. To help the residents escape the scorching heat of the sunrays, the Cayan Tower was filled with repetitive staggered screen panels of titanium-colored metal panels that stop the sunlight from penetrating inside.
Dubai Frame
As someone rightly said, simplicity is the best style. And nothing fits this line better than the Dubai Frame. To think how a simple frame can be a phenomenal design structure in itself is a mystery, but when you stand under the world’s largest frame that stands over 150 m, you will find the answer on your own.
An observatory building that gives a splendid view of the city, it was built to frame the past, present, and future of the city – a structure to frame the city. A panoramic elevator will take you to the top of the frame in a matter of seconds, where you can talk a stroll on the glass walkway and enjoy the interactive screens.
The Opus
In what appears to be a structure straight from a futuristic anime series, The Opus is uniquely identifiable because of its avant-garde design. Despite comprising of three distinct towers, they give the illusion of a single standalone unit that is marked with a curvaceous void at its core, resembling a cube.
Designed by Zaha Hadid, who is the first and so far the only woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, this houses some of Dubai’s most famous rooftop restaurants, lounges, hotels, and residencies. While the cube reflects the sunlight and the surrounding city during the day, it is illuminated by a series of dynamic LEDs – installed within each glass panel at night – giving an extraordinary visual.
Dubai Opera
Amidst its hotel and residential complex peers, here stands a performance center equally captivating and worthy of your attention. The Dubai Opera, located in Downtown Dubai, hosts the best and most prestigious operas, exhibitions, concerts, ballets, theatres, fashion shows, gala dinners, weddings, and conferences in the city.
Inspired by the traditional Arabian sailing Ship – dhow – the Dubai Opera is a perfect mix of old-school and contemporary designs and has been regarded as a style tribute to the city’s maritime history. This 2000-seat art theatre has hosted some of the biggest musicals and celebrated performers around the globe and is the place to visit for art and cultural enthusiasts.
Infinity Bridge
As evident by its name, the Infinity Bridge was inspired by the mathematical symbol of infinity. Poetically, it also represents the city’s infinite dreams and aspirations. The bridge gives a dramatic appearance as it rises above the majestic waters of Dubai Creek.
With arches that stand more than 40 m tall having six lanes in each direction, it gives the vision of the infinity wrapping the road like a gift ribbon. The bridge turns into a spectacular vision of dramatic illumination as the night falls with its stunning lighting design. So, give it a visit in the evening to experience it in the best possible manner.
Conclusion
Dubai’s ingenious architecture deserves to make its name to the wonders of the world. The level of dedication and artistry that these landmarks display makes it hard to believe that all these are humanly possible.
A major part of the city’s sophistication, walking the lanes of Dubai and coming across these marvels is similar to walking in a dreamland that everyone deserves to witness in their lifetime.
