Local developer Wasl has invited firms to express interest in a contract to build a high-rise tower on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road.

In 2015, Wasl engaged with contractors to discuss the iconic tower scheme. The firms that attended talks with the developer were understood to be:

• Alec (local)
• Arabian Construction Company (ACC; Lebanon)
• Arabtec Construction (local)
• Bel Hasa Six Construct (local/Belgium)
• Brookfield Multiplex (Canada)
• Samsung C+T (South Korea)

At the time, Wasl was planning to tender the contract in early 2016, with completion set for 2019 ahead of the Dubai Expo in 2020.

The 60-storey tower will be about 300 metres tall and will feature the world’s tallest ceramic facade. It has been designed by sustainability expert Werner Sobek and architect Ben van Berkel.

One of the key features is the exterior self-lighting techniques that will be utilised to reflect various occasions and events held in the city.

Wasl is also managing another project with two 50-storey towers on Sheikh Zayed Road known as Tiara United Towers. Earlier this year Arabtec Construction started working on the completion of the towers, on which work stopped work in late 2008.

Located on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road in the Business Bay area, the project involves the construction of two steel frame towers with a height of about 212 metres each.

The project had previously been developed by Zabeel Properties. The local developer had appointed Arabtec as the contractor. The scheme was put on hold in late 2008.