Dubai Creek Tower Project Details
Name of Project: Dubai Creek Tower Address: Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai, UAE
Owner / Developer: Emaar Properties, led by Mohamed Alabbar
Lead Designer / Architect: Santiago Calatrava Valls, a Spanish-Swiss architect &
engineer
Lead Contractor: Foundations by Six Construct (subsidiary of BESIX Group)
Project Type: landmark mixed-use observation and broadcast tower with sky
gardens, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and cultural venues
Project Duration and Status:
October 2016 Introduction by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
May 2018 Completion of the foundation.
2020 Was halted because of COVID-19.
2023 The redesign will have a lower height than the Burj Khalifa.
August 2024 Restart With a new design in the works.
2026 - 2027 Aimed completion
Project Cost: Depending on the updated scope, the estimate ranges from USD 1
billion to USD 3.8 billion.
Status: Under redesign, early construction works, superstructure pending restart.
Scope:
To establish a brand new, recognizable landmark in the skyline of Dubai.
Anchor location for the broader master plan for Dubai Creek Harbour.
Offer excellent recreational, tourism, cultural, and business attractions.
Important Remarks:
intended to mimic an Islamic minaret and a lily flower.
When finished, it will reshape the Dubai skyline and function as a center for
culture and tourism.
Though its altered height makes it shorter than initially intended, it still aims to
compete with the Burj Khalifa.
Project Sector & Reasoning
Sector: Private Sector
Reasoning:
The private developer Emaar Properties, not the UAE government, is funding the
project.
Instead of public infrastructure like roads, hospitals, or transportation, the
primary objectives are tourism, hospitality, and real estate development.
Because it aims to draw in foreign tourists, investors, and buyers of luxury real
estate, it falls within the commercial and tourism development sector.
Guiding Questions
Are the projects funded privately or publicly?
Emaar Properties provided the majority of the private finance. Nonetheless, it has
indirect public backing because it is consistent with Dubai's official tourist plan
(Vision 2040).
What differences can you identify among projects from different sectors?
Dubai Creek Tower prioritizes luxury travel, economic branding, and real estate
value over government-funded public infrastructure initiatives that meet
everyday transit needs.
Although this corporate project prioritizes revenue and international renown,
public projects promote accessibility and national growth.
Types of companies involved in the project?
Developer: Emaar Properties (private real estate giant).
Architect / Designer: Santiago Calatrava (international architecture/engineering
firm).
Lead Constructor: Six Construct (BESIX Group, multinational contractor).
Trade Contractors: Specialist subcontractors.
References
Connector Dubai. (2024, August 7). Dubai Creek Tower project to restart in August
2024. Connector Dubai. https://connector.ae/updates/10598/dubai-creek-tower-
project-to-restart-in-august-2024
The National News. (2024, February 5). Emaar reveals Dubai Creek Harbour
update: Redesigned tower planned. The National.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/property/2024/02/05/emaar-
female-version-burj-khalifa-dubai-creek-harbour/
MPIRE Expo Europe. (2023). Dubai Creek Tower UAE – Facts, contractors, and
updates. MPIRE Expo. https://www.mpirexpo.eu/dubai-creek-tower-uae/
What’s On Dubai. (2023, August 8). Taller than the Burj Khalifa? Mega project
Dubai Creek Tower to be redesigned. What’s On Dubai.
https://whatson.ae/2023/08/taller-than-the-burj-khalia-mega-project-dubai-
creek-tower-to-be-redesigned/
Property Stellar. (2023, October 3). Dubai Creek Tower: World’s future landmark.
Property Stellar. https://propertystellar.com/blog/dubai-creek-tower/
