When most people hear the word “Dubai”, luxury, wealth, surreal architectures, seven star hotel, the world’s tallest building, and so on, are some of the things that come to their mind immediately.
The city of wonders has been a hub for business, luxury and tourism over the the years. The oil reserves are waning and Dubai has successfully carved out its own way to stay relevant in the modern world by heavily investing in tourism, architecture and engineering projects which has earned it that title of ‘The City of Wonders’.
Dubai is home to the world’s most amazing mega architectural structures like the world’s tallest building, the world’s only 7-star hotel, the world’s tallest hotel, one of the world’s largest shopping malls and exotic blooming gardens and ski resorts in the city.
Below are the top 10 architectural wonders of Dubai.
1. Burj Khalifa
Sitting gallantly on our number one spot is the iconic Burj Khalifa. With a total height of 829.8 m and a roof height of 828 m, Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since 2009. Designed by Adrian Smith, Burj Khalifa costs a whopping $1.5 billion USD to build, and the iconic design was inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra located in Iraq, from the 9th century.
2. Burj Al Arab
The only 7-star hotel in the world – Burj Al Arab, holds the number two spot on our list. Launched in December 1999, the ultra-luxe structure costs $1 billion USD to build, and can be found near the Jumeirah Beach. The building houses 202 expensive suites including the two-storey “Royal Suite” which is listed as one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world. Burj Al Arab was designed by Tom Wright, and the hotel features a sky view bar, an underwater restaurant, and an outdoor tennis court.
3. Cayan Tower
Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Cayan Tower is one of the most eye-catching towers found in Dubai Marina. The building is one of the world’s most massive residential towers with a height of 306 m. The tower boasts 73 storeys with rooms designed in such a way that ample of sunlight is mitigated. The building twists around 90 degrees from base to roof with no structural pillars, and views of the surrounding waterfront is second to none.
4. Atlantis, The Palm
One of the most iconic hotels in Dubai, Atlantis, The Palm, sits at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah. The building was designed by Wimberly, Allison, Tong and Goo, and it has a whopping 1539 rooms spread across the East and West Wing, connected by the Royal Bridge Suite. The lavish building has two underwater suites which provide views from floor-to-ceiling windows into the Lost Chambers Aquarium filled with 65,000 marine creatures, including sharks. The building is also complemented by the Aquaventure water park.
5. Palm Jumeirah
Although the Palm Jumeirah is not a single structure but a development, the fact that it is an artificial archipelago is wonderful and worthy of being on this list. Palm Jumeirah was developed by Nakheel, and the project is the world’s largest man-made island and has been touted as one of the most ambitious developments of the world. The palm-tree shaped archipelago is visible from space, and houses over 4500 luxury residential units, and more than 25 luxury hotel resorts including the iconic Atlantis, The Palm hotel.
6. Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Designed by WS Atkins, Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a 5-star hotel with striking wave-like design and it’s one of the architectural wonders that beautifies Dubai’s skyline. The hotel which is 93 meters high and 275 meters long contains 598 rooms and suites, 19 beachfront villas, and 20 restaurants and bars 20 restaurants and bars, with unlimited access to the famous Wild Wadi Water Park. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel is just adjacent to the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab.
7. The Dubai Mall
It’s impossible to leave out The Dubai Mall – the largest mall in the world by total land area, and the 26th-largest shopping mall in the world by gross leasable area. The Dubai Mall boasts more than 1,200 stores, and holds the title of world’s most-visited shopping and leisure destination, with over 92 million visits recorded in 2015. The mall also features a 250-room luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens, 120 restaurants and cafes, and the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Located just outside the mall is an incredible Dubai Fountain with its dancing waters.
8. The Opus
Designed by the legendary Zaha Hadid Architects and developed by Omniyat, The Opus is one of the most recent additions to Dubai’s surreal architectural scene, located in Business Bay. The structure which just launched in 2019, features a postmodernism architectural style and costs $465 million USD to build. The Opus houses a commercial, residential, retail and hospitality space, and is home to the ME by Melia hotel designed by Dame Zaha Hadid herself.
9. Dubai Frame
Designed by Fernando Donis, the Dubai Frame is one of the most recent additions to the UAE cultural landmarks. The Dubai Frame is an iconic structure that frames impressive views of Old and New Dubai, while serving as a metaphorical bridge connecting Dubai’s past with its magnificent present. The structure offers spectacular panoramic views across the city, and celebrates the story of Dubai from its early establishment to its ambitious plans for future development. The structure is 150 m tall and owned by Dubai Municipality.
10. Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future is a museum of innovation and design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The eye-catching structure located in the Emirates Towers area near Sheikh Zayed Road, is a visionary cultural institution that combines element of exhibition, immersive theater and themed attraction for visitors to see beyond the present. The window designs are made in the form of intricate Arabic calligraphy, based on the quotes of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and ruler of Dubai.
The Museum of the Future is 78 m high and it accommodates 6 exhibition and 1 administration floor above a 3-storey podium and a food and beverage deck, with auditorium, retail, and parking. The iconic structure will be a permanent home for many innovations which will see researchers, designers, inventors and financiers all come together under one roof.
