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28 March 2024

Spiderman conquers world's tallest twisted tower in Dubai [video]

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

It just took him 65 minutes to climb the 310-metre Cayan Tower in Dubai Marina, the world's tallest tower with a 90-degree twist.

“An old dream of mine has finally come true,” Alain Robert, dubbed the French ‘Spiderman’, told Emirates 24|7 after reaching the top of the twisted tower.

“I was very anxious since I woke up at 5am (Sunday) and till 8 pm. The anxiety was also driven by the thought - ‘would it be my last climb’.”

He started his climb with confidence as onlookers cheered on. He did wave to the crowd on several occasions during his ascent, setting a Guinness World Record.

Robert had told this website earlier that it would take him 90 to 120 minutes to complete the ascent.

“It took me one hour and five minutes to complete the climb, though the building has rough ledges,” he added.

EARLIER: The prep time

The French Spiderman expects to reach the top of the 310-metre Cayan Tower in Dubai Marina, the world's tallest tower with a 90-degree twist, in 90 minutes today, but admits the climb will be “very tiring”.

“I am all prepared. The ledges are rough and the weather makes them slippery. Even the space to keep my feet is quite small and so it going to be really tiring,” Alain Robert told Emirates 24|7.

“I just ate a croissant and latte. I will have a late lunch, but have been drinking a lot of water,” he added.

His family has not accompanied him, but his two best friends are here in Dubai.

As a precaution, the expert climber will use tapes on his fingers and hands as protection, but will not use any safety harness as Emirates 24|7 reported earlier.

The climb is set to begin at 8pm tonight and will be broadcast ‘live’ on television.

Cayan residents on notice

A notice issued to residents of the tower says: “The coach of 'Spiderman' will need access to some of the apartments in the tower in order to give 'Spiderman' some water and supplies which is necessary for him to proceed with the climb. Your cooperation in this matter is highly appreciated.”

"It further requested residents to turn off the lights of their apartments and refrain from standing out on their balconies as it could distract him," adding,  that the best place to have a perfect view of the climb will be from the Marina, the side of Grosvenor House.

Ready to climb

Alain Robert, nicknamed, the French Spiderman, is getting ready to conquer the world’s tallest twisted tower in Dubai and without any safety harness - today.

But it is the 90 degree 'twists' of Cayan Tower along with the weather here that the expert climber is concerned of as he prepares to take the path down the 310-metre, 75-storey tower on Thursday – the same path for his Sunday’s ascent.

“It will be 39 degrees on Sunday, but the temperature will cool down by evening as I will start my ascent at 8 pm. I am a bit worried about the humidity as I believe it is going to be tiring,” Robert told Emirates 24/7 in an exclusive interview.

“There edges are sharp and the space on the windows is small to put my feet or hold on to them. I expect to complete my ascent in 90 to 120 minutes, but the time may depend on the weather conditions as well.”

(Image courtesy Alain Robert's Facebook page)

Robert has previously scaled a small distance on the twisted hi-rise - floor 68 to 72 – in year 2013 when he was planning to conquer it.

Emirates 24|7 did report on the plan.

Spiderman plans to net world's tallest twisted tower in his web

The climb is planned to promote Cayan’s Dh1-billion residential and serviced apartment project in Umm Suqeim area.

Robert has climbed more than 130 tall towers in the world, including Burj Khalifa, Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the Petronas Towers.

In August 2011, the climber had to use a rope and safety harness during his ascent of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai to comply with organisers' requirements.

He told this website earlier that he wanted to climb Burj Al Arab, Princess Tower, the world's tallest residential tower, and The Landmark, Abu Dhabi.

Cayan Tower facts

The tower is 310-metre high with 75 storeys

It has 495 apartments (studios to penthouses)

Construction started in 2006 and was finished in 2013

It has seven high-speed lifts (eight metres per second)

It has six underground basements

Total steel reinforcement grade used is 25,000 tonnes

Depth of excavation is 27 metres