The mixed-use tower will include offices, apartments, a hotel and retail space.

The final height has not been decided, but it is expected to be between 380 and 405 metres tall when completed, making it the tallest building at DIFC and one of the tallest in Dubai.

A 405-metre-tall tower would be the eighth tallest completed building in the world, although several other, far taller projects are under way, including the Burj Dubai.

The architect for the new tower is UK-based Broadway Malayan. The development manager is the local Roya International. The client is the local Al-Rihab.

Another 400-metre tower is planned for the DIFC area by the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority.

The Lighthouse tower has been designed as a low-carbon-emissions building.

Its energy consumption will be cut by up to 65 per cent and water consumption by up to 40 per cent using passive solar architecture such as awnings, low-energy and water use techniques, and recovery strategies for the energy and water used (MEED 27:4:08).

The UK’s Atkins is the consultant and US-based Hill International is the project manager.

Construction work is already well advanced on another super high-rise project at DIFC.

The local/Australian Nasa Multiplex is working on the AED1bn construction contract for the 328-metre Index Tower. The local Union Properties is the developer.