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29 March 2024

Height of towers at DWC cut

Published
By Joseph George

(AFP)   

 
 

The maximum height of towers at the commercial city being built at the Dubai World Central (DWC) aviation development in Jebel Ali has been reduced.

 

The decision follows a change to the original designs, which allowed buildings as tall as 75 floors. Now almost 99 per cent of more than 850 towers being built will not exceed 45 storeys, a senior official has revealed. However, a couple could be as high as 70 floors. The change was made following aviation and noise studies and research that showed high-rise buildings were not popular with potential buyers.

 

“After conducting several studies we have realised people prefer to live in villas and townhouses rather than tall towers,” said Khalid bin Harib, DWC’s real estate CEO.

 

“Therefore we have decided to reduce

 

the height of towers and build more villas and townhouses,” he said. “Why should people stay in an apartment, when they can buy a villa or townhouse for almost the same amount. Our strategy is to cater to this section. We have increased the number of villas and townhouses in the city considerably.”

 

DWC is a 140-square-kilometre community being built around the world’s largest international airport, Al Maktoum International. The project, which is 40 kilometres from the existing Dubai International Airport, is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island.

 

DWC, with infrastructure costs estimated at around $33 billion (Dh122bn), comprises six specialised zones – the airport, logistics, commercial, residential, aviation and golf cities. The commercial city is the only development that will have high-rise buildings. It will form the business and finance hub of DWC, with most buildings ranging in size from six to 45 storeys.

 

The city is expected to provide employment for 130,000 people and will include 25 hotels ranging from deluxe through to five-star, four-star and three-star. Meanwhile, several international hotel chains have shown interest in DWC. The development’s tourism potential was set out in a presentation to regional and global operators at this week’s Tourism Development Projects and Investment Market exhibition in Dubai.

 

“Our planners ensured the tourism aspect is well woven into the designs,” said bin Harib. “DWC, with an expected population of more than 900,000, will provide a total living experience for residents and a complete travelling experience for tourists.”