①Emaar Properties has postponed the tender process for the Dubai Creek Tower project by three to four months due to cost and supply chain issues.
②The structure was originally planned to serve as the centerpiece landmark of the Dubai Creek Harbour development, with an estimated construction cost of US$1 billion.
June 23 – Emaar Properties, the world’s second-largest real estate investor and a dominant player in Dubai’s property market, has delayed the tender process for its Dubai Creek Tower project by approximately three to four months, citing cost and supply chain challenges.
The tower was initially designed to stand “slightly taller” than the 828-meter Burj Khalifa, aiming to become the world’s tallest building.
According to local media reports, Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar explained that the decision to postpone the tender was driven by the closure of local ports, which has impacted the cost of construction materials and overall project pricing.
Speaking at the 11th UAE Media Forum, he announced that the company would wait approximately three to four months before reassessing the pricing of the Dubai Creek Tower.
The project was originally unveiled in April 2016 with an estimated construction cost of US$1 billion and a planned completion date of 2021. However, construction was subsequently delayed due to the global pandemic. In 2024, Emaar revealed a new design, with the tower’s height reduced to below that of the Burj Khalifa. Nevertheless, details regarding the redesigned project’s cost, timeline, or updated height have yet to be disclosed.
The Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is currently the world’s tallest building under construction, with its owner targeting a height of 1,008 meters and a completion date of 2028.
In January of this year, reports indicated that Emaar planned to launch the main construction tender for the redesigned Dubai Creek Tower within three months.
Designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava, this iconic observation tower will serve as the centerpiece landmark of the AED 180 billion (approximately US$49 billion) Dubai Creek Harbour development.
Furthermore, in December 2025, Emaar announced another core project within Dubai Creek Harbour—the “Dubai Square” project—a futuristic mixed-use complex spanning 2.6 million square meters, integrating retail, hospitality, and commercial spaces. The overall master plan for Dubai Creek Harbour covers 11 million square meters.
The developer stated at the time that construction on the Dubai Square project had already commenced, with an expected completion timeline of three years.
