Dubai’s skyline isn’t just a collection of skyscrapers – it’s a living, breathing part of the city I experience every day as a tour guide. Each building tells a unique story, and I love sharing these with visitors who are just as fascinated by Dubai’s architecture as I am. Here are some of the stunning landmarks of Dubai, but bear in mind that this list is not conclusive! Dubai has countless architectural wonders and more are coming as the city strides to be number one in anything and everything.
1. Museum of the Future – A Glimpse Ahead
Every time I drive past the Museum of the Future, I can’t help but admire its futuristic design which looks as if it is moving in the same direction as Sheikh Zayed Road. The museum opened 22.02.2022, the date chosen for its palindromic nature. Its elliptical shape, covered in stainless steel consisting of 1,024 pieces and inscribed with Arabic calligraphy, is unlike anything else in the world. The elliptical shape represents humanity, the green hill on which it stands represents our mother Earth and the hole in the middle represents the unknown future. The building also speaks to us: the words on its façade are quotes from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reflecting the UAE’s vision for the future.
This incredible 77m high building was designed by the architect Shaun Killa, the founder of Killa Designs and the calligraphy was designed by the famous Emirati calligrapher Mattar bin Lahej. Inside, the museum takes visitors on a journey through innovation, from artificial intelligence to space travel. It’s a place that doesn’t just showcase the future – it invites you to imagine it.
2. Etihad Museum – Where History Comes Alive
Whenever I bring guests to the Etihad Museum, I tell them they’re standing where history was made. Located on the site where the UAE’s founding fathers signed the constitution on 2nd December 1971 and hoisted the UAE flag for the first time marking a birth of a nation, the museum’s design reflects this moment – it’s shaped like a manuscript, with seven pillars symbolizing the pens used for signing the constitution. The museum is designed by Canadian Moriyama and Teshima Architects and established on 2nd December 2016. Inside, interactive exhibits take you back in time, letting you experience the journey of the UAE’s formation. It’s not just a museum – it’s a connection to the country’s roots.
3. Gevora Hotel – A Towering Stay
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been asked, “What’s the world’s tallest hotel?” The answer is Gevora Hotel, towering at 356 meters and 75 floors (although by this year we will have a hotel even higher than this as Ciel tower opening is just around the corner).
Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, this golden skyscraper designed by Al Turath Engineering Consultants is impossible to miss. The building opened in 2018 after 12 years of construction. The best part? You don’t have to stay there to enjoy the view – its rooftop restaurant Highest View offers a stunning panorama of the city.
4. Address Sky View – A Pool in the Sky
Driving past Address Sky View, I always look up at the Sky Bridge connecting its twin towers. This luxury hotel isn’t just about elegant stays – it’s about the experience. The infinity pool on the bridge offers one of the most instagrammable views of Burj Khalifa, and trust me, it’s an incredible sight especially at night!
Designed by the architectural firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill, the twin towers are more than just the hotel: the building also hosts a Sky Views Observatory that offers Glass Slide, Glass Walk and Edge Walk experiences at the height of 219,5 metres. If these experiences don’t make your heart race faster, I don’t know what will! A little bit too exciting for me though!
5. Cayan Tower – Dubai’s Twisting Marvel
Visitors often ask me about the spiral-shaped tower in Dubai Marina. That’s Cayan Tower, famous for its 90-degree twist. This clever design isn’t just for looks – it reduces wind resistance and keeps apartments from getting direct sunlight all day. It’s one of the most photographed towers in Dubai, and for good reason. The twisting design of Cayan Tower was achieved by rotating each floor 1.2 degrees around a cylindrical elevator and service core. This unique residential tower was inaugurated in 2013, becoming the world’s tallest high-rise building with a twist of 90 degrees with the height of 307 m and 75 floors. It is also designed by architectural group Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, just as the Burj Khalifa and Address Sky View.
6. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library – A Treasure Trove of Knowledge
One of the newer additions to Dubai’s skyline is the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, an architectural gem that beautifully reflects the heritage of the country. The building was designed by a consortium of Architekten Stuttgart, Obermeyer Planen+Beraten Munich, and the ACG Architecture Consulting Group and has been built in the shape of a Rehal, the traditional wooden book rest used to hold the Holy Quran. The book rest is used to support the holy book during recitation. The library was opened in 2022 and truly transformed the skyline of the historical Dubai Creek. Every time I pass by, I admire how its design reflects its purpose – a place of knowledge, learning, and culture.
The sustainably built library gets 10% of its energy from solar panels installed on the roof of the building. The external structure is designed to insulate the building’s interior, reduce heat gain, and help regulate the building’s internal environment.
Located in Al Jaddaf, this massive library spans seven floors and houses over 4,5 million books, one of the world’s largest digital collections, rare manuscripts and book editions. It’s not just a library – it’s an experience. The exhibitions about the Emirates and reading spaces make it a unique retreat in the middle of a bustling city. If you’re a book lover, it’s a must-visit!
7. One Za’abeel – The Record-Breaking Skybridge
Dubai loves breaking records, and One Za’abeel is another example. Its skybridge, called “The Link,” was awarded the title of the world’s longest cantilevered building listed in the Guinness World Records.
The Link stretches 230 metres in length and dissects the One Za’abeel’s skyscrapers 100 metres above the ground. Its record creating cantilever extends 67.277 metres beyond the development’s main tower.
Suspended high above the city, the Link’s 230 metres features eight luxury restaurants – and the UAE’s longest suspended Infinity pool. The skyscraper was designed by the Japanese architectural firm Nikken Sekkei and the towers have the height of 305 m and 235 m. In concurrence with Dubai lifestyle, the complex also contains luxury residences. Well who wouldn’t want to live in the Guinness World Record building?
8. The Opus – Zaha Hadid’s Architectural Art
Designed by the legendary Zaha Hadid, The Opus in Business Bay looks like a cube with a hollowed-out center. It’s one of those buildings that makes people stop and stare. Exploring solid and void, transparent and opaque, interior and exterior, this building full of contrasts was finally inaugurated in 2020. A world famous architect with futuristic flair Zaha Hadid presented the design in 2007 and it is the only hotel where she also designed the interior. At night, the illuminated curves give it an almost otherworldly look. Inside, it houses the ME Dubai Hotel and luxury residences, making it as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside.
9. Jumeirah Emirates Towers – Where Business Meets Elegance
No tour of Dubai’s skyline is complete without mentioning Jumeirah Emirates Towers. These twin skyscrapers are a major part of Dubai’s business district, with the higher tower dedicated to offices and the lower tower to a five-star hotel. The towers were next in line to be completed after the building of the very first skyscraper of Dubai, the World Trade center in 1979. Emirates towers’ sleek, triangular design makes them one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and at a time, a permanent mark of Dubai’s aspirations for the future.
Designed by architect Hazel Wong, Jumeirah Emirates Towers features two structures, the larger of which rises 354.6 metres to the tip. Upon completion, the larger of the towers was considered the 10th tallest in the world. An interesting feature of the design is that the towers are different in height but have the same number of floors; the taller office tower actually contains 56 floors above ground, while the hotel tower contains 54 floors. This is because the individual floor heights of the office tower are greater than that of the hotel.
The hotel tower offers the Chopard ladies-only floor that features nine rooms and one suite. In-room amenities range from yoga mats and a cosmetics fridge to Chopard bathing products. Because how can a lady survive without Chopard? Luckily, we don’t need to find out!
10. Dubai Frame – A Bridge Between Old and New
While not a traditional skyscraper, Dubai Frame is one of the best ways to see the city’s transformation. The viewing platform is situated exactly at the middle point between the old and new part of the city offering amazing views to both from the height of 150 m. The glass-bottomed walkway at the top is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s worth it for the view!
The Dubai Frame holds the record for the largest frame in the world and it was designed by the Spanish architect Fernando Donis. If you look closely, you will see designs of the logo of Expo 2020 embedded on the outer facade. The Dubai Frame used the ‘golden rectangle’ with the side ratios of 1:1.618. The building was inaugurated in 2018 making it one of the newer additions to the ever changing Dubai skyline.
A Skyline That Never Stops Changing
As someone who sees these buildings every day, I’m always amazed at how Dubai’s skyline keeps evolving. Whether it’s futuristic museums, twisting towers, or knowledge hubs like the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, each structure tells a story of ambition and innovation. And with more skyscrapers on the way, who knows what’s next?
Which of these buildings fascinates you the most? Let me know in the comments!
Voyagerista 