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Is Dubai's Burj Khalifa about to lose its crown? Abandoned skyscraper's comeback could reshape the skyline
Dubai's long-abandoned $1 billion project, the Dubai Creek Tower, is stirring back to life. Once envisioned to surpass Burj Khalifa at 1,300 metres, the tower's construction halted in 2018. Now, with a redesigned blueprint and scaled-down height, it may no longer be the tallest, but its resurrection still fuels Dubai's race to dominate the world skyline. (Image: X/Aamir Yousuf) Dubai, a city where the skyline never sleeps and architectural ambition knows no bounds, might soon witness a monumental reshuffle in its race to the heavens. For years, the towering Burj Khalifa—standing at a dizzying 830 metres—has reigned supreme as the tallest structure on Earth, symbolizing Dubai's glittering promise of wealth, imagination, and engineering marvel. But lurking in the shadows is a long-forgotten, billion-dollar contender that once aimed to shatter every record.
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First unveiled in 2016 with grandiose ambition and a jaw-dropping $1 billion investment, the Dubai Creek Tower was not just another high-rise. Designed by famed Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava, the structure was envisioned as a 1,300-metre-high masterpiece inspired by Islamic minarets. It was to be the crown jewel of Dubai Creek Harbour—a new-age marvel with sky gardens, 10 observation decks, and a luxury hotel perched among the clouds.
It promised an experience higher, grander, and more futuristic than anything the Burj Khalifa offered. With its striking silhouette and poetic architectural intent, it was heralded as the future of Dubai's vertical dream. But by 2018, the dream began to crumble. Progress halted. The pandemic only deepened the silence around the project. By early 2019, even the construction staging areas lay abandoned—just a massive foundation pit in the desert where greatness once aimed to grow.
Fast forward to 2024, and Emaar Properties—the developers behind the tower and the Burj Khalifa—have announced plans to revisit the dormant giant. This time, however, there's a twist. The redesign reportedly scales down the height, meaning the revised tower may no longer aim to surpass the Burj Khalifa. Official blueprints have not been made public yet, and while there's talk of renewed ambition, physical construction remains absent. In essence, the tower is alive on paper—but still asleep in reality.
The question now gripping architecture buffs and Dubai-watchers alike: will it ever rise to challenge its older sibling, or will it remain a mirage in the city's ambitious skyline?While the Dubai Creek Tower remains in limbo, the wider Dubai Creek Harbour project has quietly made progress. Residential blocks now line the banks of the historic 14-kilometre waterway, and public infrastructure has begun transforming the area into a modern urban oasis. But without its signature skyscraper, the heart of the development still beats with a question mark. Dubai has always sold dreams in steel and glass, and its skyline is a testament to that. Whether or not Dubai Creek Tower rises from the ashes of abandonment, its story speaks volumes about the city's relentless pursuit of architectural immortality—and the high stakes that come with it. For now, the Burj Khalifa remains unchallenged. But in a city where anything is possible, even a sleeping titan may awaken.
