Dubai Dreams

May 1, 2024|On Camera|Kaija Wilkinson

Kaija Wilkinson
May 1, 2024

The magnificent appearance of the Burj Khalifa

Unique skyscrapers and other structures are multiplying, driving business for and innovation in VT.

by Kaija Wilkinson and M.J. Mohamed Iqbal, EW Correspondent; photos courtesy of M.J. Mohamed Iqbal

Attempting to wrap one’s head around the sheer volume and diversity of the towering and unique structures in Dubai, U.A.E., is just short of overwhelming. Since 1999, and especially from 2005 onward, Dubai has seen an extremely large skyscraper building boom, with all 73 of its buildings taller than 200 m (656 ft) completed after 1999.[1] Perhaps none is more remarkable than the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure with a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, or just over half a mile) and a roof height (excluding antenna, but including a 242.6 m spire) of 828 m (2,717 ft).

The Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its topping out in 2009, surpassing Taipei 101, the previous holder of that status. Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in 2009.^[2]

Otis provided the original vertical-transportation (VT) system for the supertall, mixed-use tower, and this year was selected by Emaar Properties to modernize 34 of its 57 elevators and all eight of its escalators. The contract includes servicing all units for an additional 10 years. To transport passengers to the top, two double-deck elevators travel at speeds of up to 10 m/s, taking passengers from the ground floor to the observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors in just 60 s.

Augmenting Otis technicians on-site around the clock to ensure VT equipment is operating at peak efficiency, elevator management system EMS Panorama continuously monitors the system’s performance, feeding information to displays in the control room. As part of the contract, EMS Panorama will be replaced by an upgraded version that will give building staff and Otis technicians real-time remote control of equipment and hall settings to help them manage scheduled tasks. The system will also manage a full range of operation-critical functions — such as travel, door and landing information — that will facilitate shorter wait times and faster, more efficient journeys. Otis Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) President Enrique Miñarro Viseras observed that Otis has been present in the U.A.E. for more than 50 years, and is particularly proud of its work at the Burj Khalifa. He stated:

“Otis will bring its experience and insights gained safely modernizing other iconic projects such as the Empire State Building in the U.S., Egée Tower in Paris and Elevador Lacerda in Brazil to this project to help minimize disruption to occupants and the approximately 17 million people who visit the world’s tallest building every year.”

Beyond the Burj Khalifa

Otis’ work in Dubai extends beyond the iconic Burj Khalifa. More recently, Otis provided the complex VT system for One Za’abeel, a twin-tower development distinguished by being the longest cantilevered building in the world. In 2022, Wasl 1 Residences, two 63-story towers connected by a podium in the heart of Dubai, completed, also served by Otis VT.

Other OEMs provided VT systems for the following Dubai landmarks:

DAMAC Park Towers, a pair of 49-story mixed-use towers completed in 2011 in Dubai International Financial Centre designed by Gensler and developed by DAMAC Properties^[4] — TK Elevator
Emirates Towers, a 354.6-m (1,163-ft) building complex completed in 1999 that contains the Emirates Office Tower and Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, which are connected by a 9,000-m2 (96,875-ft2) two-story retail complex known as “The Boulevard.” ^[5] — ETA-MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric)
Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai, a 58-story mixed tower on Sheikh Zayed Road completed in 2014 — Hitachi^[6]
Museum of the Future, a torus (a tubelike structure resembling an elongated donut)-shaped building with windows that spell out a poem about the future written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the U.A.E. and ruler of Dubai^[7]— KONE
The distinctive, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab. Completed in 1999, it is one of the tallest hotels in the world, although 39% of its total height is made up of non-occupiable space.^[3] — ETA-MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric, M.J. Mohamed Iqbal, project lead)

“Otis will bring its experience and insights gained safely modernizing other iconic projects such as the Empire State Building in the U.S., Egée Tower in Paris and Elevador Lacerda in Brazil to [the Burj Khalifa modernization].”
— Otis EMEA President Enrique Miñarro Viseras

High-Tech Innovations

Whichever icon companies are outfitting with VT, one can rest assured that these are not simple VT systems. VT providers pull out all the stops when it comes to high-tech innovations when working in Dubai. These innovations extend to companies’ construction solutions, as well: Schindler debuted its CLIMB Lift, with a new design option that enables integration of the lifting platform and crash deck with the structure’s formwork, in the Middle East at the 60-story The S mixed-use tower in Dubai in 2022. Once the CLIMB Lift is done transporting materials at up to 3 m/s at The S, the US$400 million property developed by Sobha Realty and designed by PNC Architects will be served by 11 Schindler 7000 SD and three Schindler 5500 elevators.[8] The S is set to open this year.

The innovation and ingenuity of One Za’abeel, including its Otis VT, have made it the “talk of the town,” according to Otis Gulf Managing Director Mohammed Al Quaisi, who recently told ELEVATOR WORLD Middle East:

“Otis has a rich legacy of pushing the boundaries of what is possible for an entire industry. By turning ideas into solutions, we constantly reinvent elevator experiences for passengers and customers. One Za’abeel is a cutting-edge architectural and engineering masterpiece. It is the perfect building for us to showcase our next-generation innovations.”^[8]

In all, the Otis VT system at One Za’abeel includes five double-deck and 27 single-deck Otis SkyRise® elevators paired with the Otis Compass® destination-dispatch system, as well as six escalators. In total, 184 Compass 360 capacitive touchscreens guide passengers to the right elevators throughout the massive, 398,364-ft2 development.^[9]

In addition to Dubai’s multitude of unique skyscrapers and other structures, the city also boasts excellent infrastructure, including a metro track system, bridges, roads and airports. The U.A.E.’s construction industry is expected to expand by 4% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2025, according to a report by GlobalData, so Dubai’s wealth of new, unique structures is sure to grow. The increased output is supported by developments in infrastructure, energy and utilities, as well as residential construction projects.^[10] There is no doubt that VT industry innovations will respond in kind.