Tall & Urban News

The official opening of the One Za’abeel project, developed by the Investment Corporation of Dubai and designed by Japanese architectural consulting firm Nikken Sekkei, had a ceremony celebrating the achievement on the site on 10 February 2024. Distinguished attendees included members of the United Arab Emirates Royal Family, major stakeholders, and select members of the media. Nikken Sekkei was represented by Chairman Tadao Kamei, President and CEO Atsushi Omatsu, and Dr. Fadi Jabri, CEO of Nikken Sekkei Dubai (NIKKEN SEKKEI FZ-LLC).

One Za’abeel’s unique design comprises of rectangular twin-tower structures connected by a cantilever skybridge. The 67-story One Za’abeel Tower 1 houses offices, hotels, and residences, while One Za’abeel Tower 2, The Residences, is 58 stories. The Link, the horizontal sky concourse, joins the two buildings, attached at 100 meters above ground, and has a total length of 230 meters. Its 67.5m cantilevered section extends over empty space.

_{© Courtesy of One Za’abeel}

The development is one of the first major real estate projects to greet visitors as they travel to the city center from Dubai International Airport and marks a new era for the city’s skyline while adding a must-see world-class travel destination.

After being selected through an international design competition in 2014, Nikken Sekkei served as Lead Consultant on the development, with responsibilities over architectural, structural, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), landscape, and signage design, as well as site supervision and project management.

“We wanted to create an elegant building that both represents the spirit of Dubai and provides a strong gateway for the city,” said Nikken Sekkei Chief Architect Koko Nakamura. 

The Link, the project’s marquee feature, offers a plethora of restaurants and bars and a rooftop infinity pool. It was created using a robust outer tubular structure system with its main steel members arranged in a “diagrid” pattern along four sides -- a design that minimizes torsion while yielding one large, column-free interior space. The resulting shape offers the illusion of floating in mid-air. 

Both functional and aesthetic, The Link helps stabilize the towers and suppress wind-driven sway, a key issue in tall tower design. The structure’s careful ascent took 12 days to lift its first 8,500-ton section into place. The last remaining cantilevered portion of the bridge, weighing nearly 900 tons, was hoisted up and attached during a second four-day process. 

The skyscrapers’ exteriors are made of Low-E glass with high transparency and high solar shielding performance. Glass fins attached offer a variety of optical expressions to observers depending on the viewing angle. The fins’ dotted white pattern provides solar shielding while also creating a sense of depth.

_{© Courtesy of One Za’abeel}

Strategically located in Dubai’s central business district, the complex symbolizes Dubai's continuous growth and vision for the future while offering residents and international visitors an immersive environment with world-class dining, unparalleled retail experiences, dynamic workspaces, and superior urban hotel accommodations. In all, the project provides 530,000 square meters of mixed-use space.

“A marvel of engineering and design, One Za’abeel is redefining Dubai’s skyline,” said Director of One Za’abeel Holdings Issam Galadari. “The development embodies the pioneering spirit of the Emirate, exemplifying ambition and innovation in its architectural excellence. Reimagining the way we stay, work, dine, live, and thrive, it is a one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination that offers the very best in mixed-use development.”