The UAE, currently ranked among the fastest growing real estate markets in the world, will have 192 skyscrapers, rising over 150 meters in height by end of 2015, says a new report.
Dubai's skyline will be home to 149 of those hi-rises, while Abu Dhabi will have 32 skycrapers, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) said.
Sharjah will have 8 towers, Fujairah two towers and Ajman one tower, it added.
The first 150-metre plus skyscraper built in Dubai was Burj Al Arab completed in 1999. The emirate, however, currently has only two 100-storey plus towers: Burj Khalifa, (160), is the tallest tower in the world and Princess Tower, (101), is the tallest residential tower in the world.
Emirates 24|7 reported earlier that Dubai is set to get a two new 100 storey towers, both planned on Sheikh Zayed Road.
There are only 21 towers in the world (constructed/under construction/proposed) over 100-storeys high.
– 289 towers in Middle East
The Middle East, overall, will have 289 towers that cross 150 meters in height by 2015.
Qatar comes in second on the list with Doha having 28 tall towers. Saudi Arabia is placed third with 10 tall towers in Riyadh, 8 in Jeddah eight, 7 in Mecca and one in Al Khobar. Kingdom Tower, 162
Twenty years ago, the Middle East region had only one tower over 150 meters in height, but by end of 2015 over 20 cities in 10 countries will have a completed 150 meters plus project.
– Living in the clouds
Besides, the dominance of the UAE in housing the tallest residential towers in the world is currently unchallenged as the seven tallest residential towers in the world are located in country, with the top four in Dubai Marina district.
Emporis, an organization collating information about building and construction projects, has said desire for recognition and prestige and demonstration of economic growth are the most significant factors leading to the boom in construction, particularly of such gigantic apartment palaces.
UK-based EC Harris, a global built asset consultancy, has stated that within the next decade, the trend of building "megatall" towers – those which reach more than 600 meters high – is likely to increase, particularly in the Middle East.
Emirates 24|7
16 November
