Emaar’s $1 bln Dubai tower to be higher than Burj Khalifa

Emaar Properties on Sunday revealed the design for its $1 billion high-rise tower that will be at center of its Dubai Creek Harbour project.

The new project, simply called The Tower, will be “a notch” taller than Burj Khalifa, chairman Mohamed Alabbar said.

“We are keeping the height quiet at this stage. It will probably be announced when we open up the tower, but it will be a notch probably taller than Burj Khalifa,” Alabbar was quoted as saying by local media.

Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world at a height of 828 meters. Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding is building a 1,000-meter high tower in Jeddah, construction for which is reported to have reached up to 37th floor.

Emaar’s new tower is being designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava and draws inspiration from the minaret structure and the lily flower. It will include a 360 degree viewing deck and “The Pinnacle Room”, which will allow view of open skies.

“The design will be finalized following elaborate wind tunnel testing and all mandatory seismic testing,” Emaar said in a statement.

Spread over 6 square kilometers, Dubai Creek Harbour will be approximately twice the size of Downtown Dubai.