DUBAI: Even as the Burj Dubai, touted to become the world’s tallest building nears completion, plans have been announced for a new kilometer-high tower in this West Asian metropolis.
Master developer Nakheel, a subsidiary of the Dubai government’s investment company Dubai Holding, unveiled its Nakheel Harbor and Tower at a launch function here late on Sunday. It was attended by Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, local dignitaries and company officials.
The project, inspired by Islamic design and geometry, will be located at the upcoming New Dubai development area near Jebel Ali, the world’s largest manmade port south of here, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
“There is nothing like it in Dubai,” Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairperson of Dubai World, said at the launch function.
To be built at a cost of 140 billion dirhams ($38.12 billion), the tower’s construction will reportedly take 10 years. The new development will cover an area of more than 270 hectares and become home to more than 55,000 people, a workplace for 45,000 more and attract millions of visitors each year.
It will include 250,000 square meters of hotels and hospitality space, 100,000 square meters of retail space and huge expanses of green spaces including canal walks, parks and landscaping.
