Nakheel to trump Burj Dubai with 1 km-plus high tower

Dubai-based developer Nakheel looks set to trump its United Arab Emirates (UAE) rival, Emaar Properties, in the contest to build the world's tallest building, with the announcement that it will construct a 1 km-plus high tower.

Unveiling the plans yesterday (6 October), the developer said the tower, four towers contained in a single structure connected by sky bridges, would be part of Nakheel's AED 140 billion (US$ 38.12 billion) Harbour & Tower project, which will include "the world's first inner city harbour".

The development, located at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road and the US$ 11 billion Arabian Canal will cover an area of more than 270 ha and eventually house more than 55000 people.

In a statement, Nakheel said the project will take more than 10 years to complete, but with some stages coming on line much earlier.

Arabian Business reported in April this year that sources at Australian architects Woods Bagot told it Nakheel was planning to build a 1200 m high tower on the Arabian Canal.

Emaars Burj Dubai is currently 688 m high and contains 160-storeys. It is rumoured to have a final height in excess of 900 m-plus, althoughthe developer is keeping the final high a closely guarded secret.

Kuwait has said the Burj Mubarak, part of the country's City of Silk development, will also be more than 1000 m high.