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City of Gold

Dubai architecture

Dubai is a city of superlatives, home to the world's tallest building, the largest shopping mall, and the deepest diving pool. Its police force is equally legendary, famously patrolling the streets in a fleet of supercars that includes Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and even a Bugatti Veyron.

  • 9Landmarks
  • 1999Oldest · Burj Al Arab
  • 354 mTallest · Jumeirah Emirates Towers
  • 9Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoDubai International (DXB)

    Consistently ranked as the world's busiest airport for international passengers, DXB serves as a massive global crossroads connecting over 240 destinations. Travelers can enjoy world-class duty-free shopping, indoor Zen gardens, and even sleep 'SnoozeCubes' within the terminals.

  • CurrencyUAE Dirham (د.إ)
  • LanguageArabic & English

    English is the undisputed lingua franca of daily life, commerce, and tourism in this global hub. While Arabic remains the official language for government and law, most residents communicate in English.

  • Getting aroundDubai Metro

    The Dubai Metro is the world's longest fully automated driverless metro network and features luxurious 'Gold Class' cabins. A tram system serves the popular Marina district and integrates seamlessly with the metro's payment system. Traditional 'Abra' water taxis still ferry passengers across the Dubai Creek for a very small fee.

9 landmarks in Dubai

  1. Burj Al Arab

    Jumeirah St, Umm Suqeim 3, PO Box 74147, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Burj Al Arab was designed to resemble the billowing sail of a traditional J-class yacht. It stands prominently on a purpose-built artificial island connected to the mainland by a private bridge. The structure features a massive cantilevered helipad that has famously hosted world-class sporting events. Inside, guests are greeted by a 180-meter tall atrium decorated with nearly 1,790 square meters of 24-carat gold leaf. It is frequently cited as the world's most luxurious hotel due to its extreme hospitality standards.

    Built
    1999
    Architect
    Tom Wright
    Style
    Modern High-Tech
    Height
    321 m (1,053 ft)
    Stories
    56
    Today
    Luxury Hotel

  2. Museum of the Future

    Building 65, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre 2, P.O. Box 66610, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    This torus-shaped building features a distinct void in the center to represent the unknown future. Its stainless steel exterior is covered in intricate Arabic calligraphy featuring quotes from the ruler of Dubai. The windows are ingeniously integrated into the spaces between the calligraphy lines across the entire facade. This parametric design pushes architectural boundaries through complex computer-aided modeling and construction techniques. It serves as a global intellectual center and a functional hub for future innovation.

    Built
    2022
    Architect
    Killa Design
    Style
    Parametric Design
    Height
    77 m (253 ft)
    Stories
    7
    Today
    Museum / Innovation Hub
  3. Atlantis The Royal
    Photo: EditQ, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Atlantis The Royal

    Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, PO Box 211222, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    This deconstructed skyscraper consists of a series of stacked blocks that create a silhouette of sky-high bridges. The design challenges the traditional solid tower concept by introducing large gaps and gardens throughout the structure. These openings allow for 44 private infinity pools in the sky and unique breezeways for ventilation. Residents and guests enjoy framed views of the Palm Jumeirah through the building’s various architectural voids. It stands as a new landmark for ultra-luxury hospitality on the outer crescent of the Palm.

    Built
    2023
    Architect
    Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)
    Style
    Contemporary Deconstructivism
    Height
    193 m (633 ft)
    Stories
    43
    Today
    Ultra-Luxury Resort

  4. Cayan Tower

    14 Al Sharta Street, Dubai Marina, PO Box 12922, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Formerly known as Infinity Tower, this residential skyscraper features a dramatic 90-degree twist from bottom to top. Each individual floor is rotated 1.2 degrees relative to the level immediately below it. This spiraling design helps to significantly reduce wind load on the tower's overall structure. Additionally, the rotation provides a greater number of residential units with direct views of the Dubai Marina. It is a world-renowned example of twisted high-tech architecture and engineering excellence.

    Built
    2013
    Architect
    Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
    Style
    High-Tech / Twisted
    Height
    306 m (1,004 ft)
    Stories
    75
    Today
    Residential

  5. The Dubai Frame

    Zabeel Park Jogging Track, Za'abeel, Al Kifaf, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Dubai Frame is designed as a literal picture frame to capture the city’s rapid evolution. It provides views of Old Dubai to the north and the modern skyline of New Dubai to the south. The two vertical towers are connected by a 93-meter long bridge at the very top. This bridge features a 25-square-meter glass walkway that switches from opaque to transparent as guests walk across. It serves as a metaphorical bridge between the past and the future of the emirate's culture.

    Built
    2018
    Architect
    Fernando Donis
    Style
    Contemporary Metaphorical
    Height
    150 m (492 ft)
    Stories
    48
    Today
    Observatory / Museum

  6. Jumeirah Emirates Towers

    Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre 2, PO Box 72127, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    These twin towers feature equilateral triangle shapes and serve as iconic symbols of the financial district. The design utilizes a specialized double-skin glass facade to mitigate the intense desert heat. Despite their nearly identical appearance, one tower is dedicated to offices while the other functions as a hotel. They are linked by a central retail podium known as The Boulevard, containing high-end shops. The towers remain one of the most recognizable and enduring pairs in the Dubai skyline.

    Built
    2000
    Architect
    Hazel Wong
    Style
    Modernist High-Tech
    Height
    354 m (1,161 ft)
    Stories
    56
    Today
    Office & Hotel

  7. The Opus

    5-7 Al A'amal Street, Business Bay, PO Box 25394, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Opus is a mirrored glass cube featuring a free-form fluid void carved directly out of its center. This central void is actually a 3D curved surface that glows at night with integrated lighting. The two halves of the building are connected by an asymmetric bridge 71 meters above the ground. It holds the distinction of being the only building in Dubai designed entirely by the late Zaha Hadid. The building's fluid interior spaces continue the architect's signature deconstructivist style throughout.

    Built
    2019
    Architect
    Zaha Hadid
    Style
    Deconstructivist
    Height
    93 m (305 ft)
    Stories
    20
    Today
    Hotel / Residential / Office

  8. The Index

    Al Sa'ada Street, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), PO Box 507341, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The Index is a sustainable skyscraper specifically designed to withstand the harsh regional climate of the Gulf. The building's orientation shields the interior from the afternoon sun using massive concrete fins. Its first 25 floors are dedicated to premium office spaces for the Dubai International Financial Centre. The upper floors house luxury apartments that are separated from the offices by a scenic sky lobby. This high-tech approach to environmental design makes it a global model for desert high-rises.

    Built
    2010
    Architect
    Foster + Partners
    Style
    High-Tech / Sustainable
    Height
    328 m (1,076 ft)
    Stories
    80
    Today
    Mixed-use

  9. Etihad Museum

    1 Jumeirah St, Al Mina, PO Box 115222, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    The museum's roof is shaped like a manuscript to honor the parchment of the UAE constitution. Seven distinct columns support the roof, representing the seven pens used by the nation's founding fathers. Most of the museum's exhibition space is located underground to minimize the visual impact on the historic site. This architectural choice preserves the integrity of the Union House located immediately next door. It serves as a contemporary symbolic landmark dedicated to the heritage of the United Arab Emirates.

    Built
    2017
    Architect
    Moriyama & Teshima
    Style
    Contemporary Symbolic
    Height
    15 m (49 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    History Museum

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