Joanna James
As one of the world's most cosmopolitan tourist hotspots, Dubai is home to some of the globe's tallest skyscrapers. Here are the top five tallest buildings in the desert capital.
As the most iconic structure in all of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is located in Downtown Dubai and is among the tallest buildings in the world. Having been officially opened in 2009, the Burj Khalifa surpassed the second tallest structure in the globe, the Shanghai Tower, by an impressive 200 meters at the time of its opening. It took only 5 years to complete this mammoth building which has been divided into 163 floors. Paying homage to Islamic architectural motifs the Burj Khalifa is also decidedly modern. Home to the highest observation deck in the world, the views from the outdoor viewing platform is spectacular, to say the least.
The Princess Tower is the third tallest structure in all of Dubai and occupies a coastal location with captivating views of the Dubai Eye as well as the remaining coastline. The Princess Tower held the position of the tallest residential structure in the globe for 3 years from 2012 to 2015 but was surpassed by 432 Park Avenue in the Big Apple. As one of the more extravagant buildings adorning the Dubai skyline, the Princess Tower is ornate, to say the least, and its facade is divided into sections. A series of balconies also jut out of the building while the highest floors feature intricate glass patterns that cross cut the horizontal as well as vertical panels of the building.
Measuring in at 363 meters the Almas Tower is a part of the Jumeirah Lake Towers community. The high rise was built in 2008 and is the 7th highest building in the city. Dubbed the Diamond Tower, the architectural inspiration for the structure was the shape of the precious stone. The fact that the venue also houses the Dubai Diamond Exchange is another reason for its nickname. Visitors based at the Ascott Park Place Dubai or any similar serviced apartments in Dubai should visit the tower just to walk around the Diamond Exchange as it features eight triangles representing the sides of a well-cut diamond.
As the third tallest building in the city, 23 Marina enjoys an advantageous position in the Dubai Marina area. The building was one of the most successful residential towers in all of Dubai with 79% of the apartments being sold before ground was even broken to build the tower. With 92 floors, the structure took six years to build. Placed upon a podium the building is renowned for its geometric patterns and designs with attractive angled glass walls. One of the main attractions inside the building is its central waterfall statue which is located just before the concierge area.
The Marina 101 is the second highest building in Dubai and houses a high-end residential community near the Dubai Marina. As one of the newer buildings to enter the fray, the Marina 101 was declared open in 2016. The building also holds the record for being the tallest residential tower on the planet and it earned this honour by surpassing a Park Avenue apartment building in New York by a mere meter. Showcasing a mixture of diverse architectural influences, the building's crown is also lit and is visible for miles around during night time. An impressive 28 elevators of varying speeds also occupy the structure.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
