A guide to a memorable visit to the Creek Tower in Dubai

Dubai has shot to the fore of most bucket lists over the past few decades. This reformed desert land is now home to many record-breaking structures - Burj Khalifa hogging most of the limelight since 2010. This 828-meter structure has been a mainstay in all Dubai travel brochures, but the next 2 years could see the rise of a new skyscraper. The Creek Tower Dubai has been under construction for a while and reports suggest that it could be close to a kilometer high. The stunning structure was initially known as The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour before settling on its current moniker.With its strategic prime location and record-breaking height could be the next big thing in Dubai and we can’t wait!

Creek Tower Dubai - In a Nutshell

Creek Tower Dubai

The Dubai Creek Tower is a hyper-tall tower under development in Dubai, which will become the World's Tallest Tower and Tallest Man-made Structure upon completion in 2022(exact dates TBA). It is the centerpiece of the Dubai Creek Harbor, around 8 kilometers east of Burj Khalifa. The Dubai Creek has long been Dubai’s center of history and culture and is in close proximity to the Ras Al Khor National Wildlife Sanctuary.

The tower is expected to have 10 observation decks offering 360-degree views of the cityscape of Dubai from a perspective of an unprecedented height. These observation decks are inspired by the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon and will have vertical hanging gardens.

Aside from the indoor decks, it is expected to have many smaller revolving platforms that resemble balconies set at the margin of the deck, half of such a platform is outside the façade of the tower. These rotating platforms can take visitors to an open air space to enjoy the more impressive views.

10 (Mindblowing) Facts about Creek Tower Dubai

• The estimated height of the Dubai Creek Tower is between 928-1400 meters which would make it the world's tallest building.The tower is expected to go 100 meters higher than the Burj Khalifa (928 meter).
• The Creek Tower has 140 barrette piles in its foundation, each capable of bearing a load of 36,000 tonnes. These numbers are beyond imagination!
• The tower’s design is inspired by an Islamic minaret as well as the lily flower. It will be tethered to the ground with cables akin to the ribbing of the lily leaves.
• The structure features a futuristic beacon at the top of the tower that will supposedly project a hovering flower above the structure.
• The top of the tower will be shaped like a flower-bud and will hold 10 observation decks. This includes the planned Pinnacle Room, offering a 360-degree view of Dubai.
• There will be dedicated VIP Observation Garden Decks that will be available to certain visitors only.
• Apart from the view of the horizon, the tower also provides a stunning view of Downtown Dubai and the Creek Harbour close to it.
• It is designed by Santiago Calatrava, who has also designed The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
• The architectural design was chosen and finalized by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum himself after an international design pitch.
• It is still unclear as to how high the tower will actually be as a lot of effort is going into keeping it a secret. Some reports have suggested that a height of 1300 meters is on the cards.
• EMAAR plans to utilize the tower as a smart hub for residential, commercial, retail and entertainment purposes in the Creek Harbour area.

Dubai Creek Tower Architecture & Design

The design for the Tower comes from the Spanish-Swiss architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava. Some of their best known works include the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City, revamped Olympic Athletic Center of Athens in Athens. This iconic structure combines modern, sustainable design with the rich culture and heritage of the United Arab Emirates. For example, the form of the tower is inspired by the form of a desert lily. The most distinctive feature are the cable arrays, which was inspired by the ribbing of lily leaves. Calatrava has also designed the tower with a large focus on energy efficiency. The tower will use a highly-efficient cooling system and the water collected from this system will clean the structure’s façade. They have also factored in elegant landscaping to encourage solar protection and an integrated shading system and wing doors that contribute to energy efficiency.

The structure is designed to include ten observation decks, including The Pinnacle Room, which offers unprecedented 360 degree views of the city and beyond. Among the various decks are two VIP observation garden decks, made to recreate the splendor of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Beside several observation decks, restaurants and a boutique hotel, there is talk about the world’s highest mosque. One can engage in their evening prayer with a view of the sun setting at 1000m altitude.

The tower’s ground-level Central Plaza will serve as a bustling neighborhood center with world-class retail, a museum, educational facilities, and an indoor auditorium.

Inside Creek Tower Dubai

Take an elevator to the top:Set to rise almost a kilometer into the sky, the Creek Tower is about three times the height of the Eiffel Tower. A ride to the top of this megastructure will be an experience of its own. Just like on the Burj Khalifa, you can expect an interplay of state-of-the-art technology onboard the elevator.

Enjoy a 360-degree view of Dubai: Expected to stand at least 100 meters taller than the Burj Khalifa, it will be capable of providing an even better birds-eye view of Dubai than the present tallest structure on the planet. The under-development Dubai Creek Harbour area will be quite a spectacle from the height of over 900 meters.

Visit the highest elevated garden in the world: The tower will be housing inside it the highest elevated garden in the world. The garden is expected to occupy multiple floors, some of which will only cater to VIP visitors.

Have a wholesome outing at the Creek Tower Plaza: At the foot of this gravity-defying structure will be a plaza featuring water features and curated landscaping. This plaza is set to measure around 800 square meters and will match the width of New York’s Central Park.

Creek Tower vs Burj Khalifa

Know Before You Go

Creek Tower Ticket Prices

Ticket prices are yet to be announced.

Dubai Creek Tower Opening Hours

As it is still under construction, the opening hours are yet to be announced.

Creek Tower Location

Directions To Creek Tower Dubai

By Bus : Route number 27, 4, and C7

By Metro : Route M1

By Car : Take Ras Al Khor Road/ E44 and exit towards Dubai Creek Harbour

Handy Tips

• Since the principal attraction of the Tower lies in the spectacular views it is capable of providing from its observation decks, pick a clear day for the visit.
• Visit the Tower during the evening, just in time to see the setting sun over the Persian Gulf.

Things To Do Around

Seawings Plane

Seawings Dubai on Deira Island is a seaplane that sets sail on the waters, giving you a glimpse of the Dubai Creek and gradually takes off and begins to fly, offering a stunning aerial view of Dubai’s remarkable landmarks. This 20-minute ride is truly once-in-a-lifetime kind!

Gold Souq

The Gold Souk is lined with dozens of shops gleaming with anything and everything that glitters - mostly gold, but also array of silver, gemstones, pearls and what not. Even if you aren’t keen on buying gold, a walk through this market is a dazzling experience

Spice Souq

Right next to gold souq, tucked away in Old Deira, the Spice Souk might look small but it has a world to offer! From cardamom to kafir lime, the fragrance of spices waft through the air as you walk through this beautiful market.

Al Seef

Featuring fabulous views of Dubai's historic creek, traditional dhows, and old-world architecture, Al Seef is the ideal tourist lifestyle destination. From Arabic to American, cuisine, this waterside lifestyle destination is the ideal place for a long evening stroll.

Frequently Asked Questions