Dubai is far from ready to relinquish its status as home to the world’s tallest tower.
Emaar Properties Chairman Mohammed Ali Alabbar has once again reiterated that a new tallest skyscraper in the world will be built in Dubai.
“Emaar plans to build the tallest skyscraper in the world in Dubai,” Alabbar was quoted as saying in an interview to CNN, on the sidelines of launching of a $3 billion development in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Dubai is currently home to 828-metre-high Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, nestled in a district rated as one of the costliest in the world. Alabbar, however, refused to disclose the height of the new tower.
Alabbar cited the great ambitions of the emirate as the reason behind Emaar choosing to build the new tallest tower in Dubai.
In May, 2013, the Emaar Chairman had said that Dubai can accommodate a tower taller than Burj Khalifa.
Speaking at a conference in Dubai at the time, Alabbar said he’s considering building a tower which will be taller than the Kingdom Tower, which is currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Kingdom Tower, which is currently under construction, is set to overtake Burj Khalifa to become the world’s tallest by 2017-2018.
“Technology has really improved the value of tall buildings which are really important commercially.
“We have learned how to make money out of tall buildings.”
Besides Burj Khalifa, Dubai is home to the tallest residential tower (Princess Tower), the tallest hotel in the world (JW Marriott Marquis) and the tallest building with a 90degree twist (Cayan Tower).
Emporis, a global provider of building information, data reveals Dubai has 909 high-rise buildings, including 448 skyscrapers (comprising 40 floors or more).
