The most eye-catching hotels and towers in the emirate…

It’s strange to think that only 50 years ago Dubai looked completely different to the concrete jungle we reside in today. What was once a stretch of desert and ghaf trees, is now a metropolis of skyscrapers, resorts and man-made islands. Amongst the clusters of residential towers and office blocks, there’s some enchanting architecture created to catch the eye and stand out.

Here’s the most unusual buildings showcased in the Dubai skyline.

Hotels

Burj Al Arab

Built in 1999, Burj Al Arab is the fifth tallest hotel in the world (and the only seven-star). It was designed by architect Tim Watkins, who took inspiration from ‘the billowing spinnaker sail of a J-class yacht’. The building has a unique helipad element, which is suspended from the roof of the hotel and hangs out in front 210 metres above ground.

Raffles

Inspired by Egyptian architecture (unsurprisingly), Raffles Hotel is a 19-storey pyramid in Wafi. Built in 2007 by Bryn Lummus, atop the pyramid is a gold beacon of light, shining bright in the city landscape. This was the first Raffles to be built outside of Asia so it was important to the architect to blend multiple cultures in one.

Gevora

Despite being the tallest hotel in the world, Gevora wanted to make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed. Not only is the exterior 100 per cent gold (how Dubai!), the crown cone structure on the roof glows brighter than any other building every night, and can be seen from Palm Jumeirah when the weather is clear.

Atlantis, The Palm

The first hotel to be built on Palm Jumeirah was Atlantis, The Palm and it has become a symbol for the iconic island ever since. The hotel is ocean themed, drawing inspiration on the original mythology of Atlantis island. The colour of the exterior was inspired by coral, while the interesting shape incorporated Arabic design elements.

Towers

Solar Innovation Centre

The Innovation Centre at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world. The unique twisty design rises to more than 85 metres and is based on the principles of ‘divine geometry’ seen in Islamic art.

O-14

This Business Bay tower’s official name is O14, after the plot of land its built on, but it has a nickname that people are more familiar with – Swiss Cheese. The building has a 40 centimetre exoskelton, enabling its design to stand out among the rest but also acts as a cooling method with its 1,300 holes.

Cayan

This twisty tower is the second tallest of its kind in the world (after it was built the Shanghai Tower took over). There’s a full 90 degree turn from top to bottom, making it stand out from the rest of the marina skyline. Cayan is a residential building standing at 75 storeys high.

The Opus

Designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid, this unique structure opened earlier this year in Dubai’s Business Bay. It features a variety of residences, alongside the soon-to-open Me Dubai hotel, office space, a nightclub, 12 restaurants and a rooftop bar. You’ll find Maine Land Brasserie as well as Zuma’s sister restaurant, Roka, when the hotel opens in a few months.

Burj Khalifa

Despite being a decade old now, this iconic building hasn’t had any competition when it comes to its world record for the tallest tower. Standing at an eye-watering 829.8 metres, it still manages to take our breath away every time we see it.

Coming soon…

Museum of the Future

Not only is this the world’s first fully functional 3D printed building but once the construction on this mind-blowing project is complete, it might take the top spot for the most unusual building in Dubai. Opening later this year, the museum will take visitors to the year 2035, where they can discover innovations in science and technology.

Images: Facebook