Dubai to build tower taller than Burj Khalifa

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Dubai to build tower taller than Burj Khalifa

AFP Published April 10, 2016

DUBAI: Dubai plans to build a tower that will stand higher than its Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest skyscraper, property developer Emaar said Sunday.

The viewing tower will cost around $1 billion and will be "a notch" taller than Burj Khalifa, Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar told reporters as he revealed details of the project.

But he said that the final height will be announced upon completion, adding that his company would like to present the tower as a "gift to the city before 2020", the year Dubai hosts the world Expo trading fair.

Designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, the tower will have observation decks, in addition to 18 to 20 mixed-use floors that will host restaurants and a boutique hotel, Alabbar said.

Burj Khalifa is 828 metres (2,700 feet) high and it cost $1.5bn to build. It was opened in January 2010.

Alabbar described the new structure as an "elegant monument" which would add value to property being developed by the company along the city's creek.

"Many would like to have a view" when considering buying a property, he said.

The tower will be slender, evoking the image of a minaret, and will be anchored to the ground with sturdy cables, Emaar said.

Dubai has established a reputation for building dozens of futuristic skyscrapers, which have transformed its skyline.

Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding is building a tower in Jeddah that is planned to surpass Burj Khalifa, rising more than a kilometre.

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Harmony-1©

Apr 10, 2016 05:05pm

Obscene use of $1 billion when they have enough tall towers already. But then again they don't know what else to do with this wealth!

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divergence

Apr 10, 2016 05:12pm

It would not be unwise if such ambitions are also showered upon the helpless Muslims, especially in arab countries.

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Raza

Apr 10, 2016 05:31pm

@Harmony-1© There is so much suffering in Syria ,Palestine Iraq and Libya . Refugees are sitting in camps waiting for some one to help them. This are even their Arab brother's.

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Rohit

Apr 10, 2016 06:07pm

The viewing tower will cost around $1 billion and will be "a notch" taller than Burj Khalifa, Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar told reporters as he revealed details of the project. ------------------------- That is because Emaar is siphoning money from India for this ......all their projects in India are behind schedule and people are getting frustrated with this company.....

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Khilari

Apr 10, 2016 06:14pm

Spare some money for Muslim brothers n sisters in need like in Syria, Iraq or Libya. These ugly structures won't help you in after world but the help extended to hapless would surely do.

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A. Mangal

Apr 10, 2016 06:45pm

What a waste of money? Build universities, colleges and research facilities. Aren't there enough towers?

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Razi

Apr 10, 2016 07:11pm

They should also try to surpass each other in making the world's best schools, research labs and hospitals.

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Mahmood

Apr 10, 2016 07:39pm

In the race to prove what exactly? Who can build the tallest skinniest pole by adding a few feet??

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Shan

Apr 10, 2016 07:39pm

Wasting of money. Rather then giving scholarships or establishing Universities in Muslim countries. They are wasting there in in cement.

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Skeptic

Apr 10, 2016 07:41pm

Burj Khalifa is neither impressive nor a architectural marvel. Whenever I pass by Downtown Dubai, it just looks like a skinny missile to me!

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The End is Near

Apr 10, 2016 08:10pm

I don't know what Dubai's coming to. The higher the buildings the lower the morals. They keep on building higher and higher buildings, instead of building higher and higher men!

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Ali

Apr 10, 2016 08:13pm

In US and other countries they started building skyscrapers because space was limited in cities. These clowns are just making them to show off. Everything they do is shallow and meaningless.

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Apr 10, 2016 08:25pm

Spend this money on free healthcare, give expats some good facilities. There can be so much good done with this 1 billion

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Apr 10, 2016 08:31pm

I wish they built best education centers, industries for their future generations

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Adnan

Apr 10, 2016 08:36pm

There are no concerns on environmental impact. Making Cement required burning fossil fuel which emits CO2.

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Ghani K

Apr 10, 2016 08:40pm

My tower is taller than your tower , that is all these petro dollars rich Arab autocratic rulers have to prove instead of building institutions. They are allergic to democracy, equality and human rights.

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Rashid Ali (Multan)

Apr 10, 2016 09:29pm

For all those that are bashing this development- consider this: at least they are building something. A saying goes 'something is better than nothing'. On that note - We must develop Pakistan.

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Shoaib Arif

Apr 10, 2016 09:36pm

not only is this a complete waste of money but exactly how safe have the buildings there been shown to be?

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Saima

Apr 10, 2016 10:12pm

What a shame and what a waste of money !!! Nothing to be proud of.....

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abdullah

Apr 10, 2016 10:27pm

DUBAI u r d best.its such an amazing city.Love staying here.

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Jawaid kamal

Apr 10, 2016 10:33pm

Science technology philanthropy ,health care education ,gender equality,women empowerment,end of child labor,end of child marriage,education for masses, clean water for millions,investment in vaccines development,cheap health care for poor, investment in agriculture,if tried to be achieved,will be taller than any building in the world.but you need a heart with feelings and a brain capable of of thinking.

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Surprising

Apr 10, 2016 10:47pm

spend half of this on a decent university.

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Ahmed

Apr 10, 2016 11:33pm

What's the hell they are going to get from tallest tower rather they must improve their occupational health & safety and human right standards. Recent fire in their one tower had exposed their safety standard and preparedness.

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Ahmad

Apr 11, 2016 01:39am

Half of the investment money from Nawaz Family from Panama, Rest cash from Zardari to complete this project.

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khurram

Apr 11, 2016 01:44am

There is more to life then just building another tower

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M.ASIF

Apr 11, 2016 01:54am

Tower taller than the world's tallest skyscraper to cost $.1 billion, a gift to the city !!! Some smoke a cigarette made of one hundred dollar bill and now one billion dollar cigar like structure....great vision to burn wealth.

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ISRA

Apr 11, 2016 01:59am

Symbol of materialistic obsession. I wish if they can envision any project that can also improve the under privileged and impact society in general. Yes it can be done with great return on investment.

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flipflop

Apr 11, 2016 02:29am

Cool, but this shows that they have so much wealth and money that they have lost all purpose to use it for something better. These countries have poverty that we don't get to see. Perhaps uplift those people from the poverty and bring them into the society which would benefit everyone. If they say they don't have any poor people then help a neighbouring country. Build schools and hospitals, improve infrastructures etc.

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Vivek (Indore)

Apr 11, 2016 03:01am

China did the same, all they have now are ghost towns.

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Junaid

Apr 11, 2016 03:58am

It nothing but a tower of egos! What a waste of resources!

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A. Khan

Apr 11, 2016 04:27am

Building tall structures with imported technology and labour proves nothing. I wish the Arabs would spend their petro-dollars to setting up universities and research labs so they can provide some ground breaking technological innovation rather than the flashiest buildings with dubious fire protection.

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Desi

Apr 11, 2016 10:40am

Emaar is the Property of Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid al Makhtom, the ruler of Dubai. If this building is being made then it is being made out of the pockets of Sheikh Muhammad.

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divergence

Apr 11, 2016 08:06pm

@Vivek (Indore) Perhaps China has some things in her favor, like limited space to accommodate a massive population. Moreover, these arab countries which are blindly following western models of materialism, not considering that their countries might not have the same limited space issue to accommodate swamps of people, so that's some senseless imitation of west without any gain for poor Muslims crying helplessly in Arab region.

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divergence

Apr 11, 2016 08:08pm

@Desi If Sheikh Muhammad boasts to have a vision, then that vision must also include the welfare of Muslims, which are devastated due to wars in Middle east, it is quite foolish to overlook dying people and preferring to build towers upon towers, what good will they do to people besides western tourists!

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divergence

Apr 11, 2016 08:10pm

Rashid Sultan from Multan, people are not bashing this "development", people are simply stating to straighten your priorities everywhere in the world, and try to use this money to stop wars and save dying people.

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Prashantjain

Apr 11, 2016 11:47pm

Skyscrapers are symbol of prosperity,if it is economically viable then it should be constructed.

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jamshed

Apr 12, 2016 01:27am

$1.00 billion will be more than enough to establish (at least) 5 world class universities. And the long term return on investment (ROI) would be just phenomenal !!

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PMD

Apr 12, 2016 05:40am

Craziness has no limits!

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