Dubai Uptown Tower, UAE

Rising 340 metres above Dubai, Uptown Tower stands as the centrepiece of the Uptown Dubai district developed by DMCC. Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the 77-storey tower introduces a new architectural landmark to Dubai’s skyline.

The tower’s design draws inspiration from the facets of a diamond, reflecting Dubai’s role as one of the world’s leading diamond trading hubs. This concept is translated into a sculpted glass façade composed of angled surfaces that capture and reflect light differently throughout the day, giving the building a constantly evolving appearance.

Architectural concept

The architecture of Uptown Tower emphasizes vertical elegance and transparency. Its slender proportions and faceted glass envelope create a distinctive silhouette while maximizing natural daylight and panoramic views across the city.

The tower accommodates a mix of hospitality, office, and residential functions, including the SO/ Uptown Dubai hotel, premium offices, and lifestyle spaces. This vertical integration transforms the tower into a dynamic destination within the emerging Uptown Dubai district.

The façade challenge

Designing the façade for a supertall tower requires addressing complex structural and environmental conditions. At heights exceeding 300 metres, façade systems must withstand significant wind loads, structural movement, and temperature variations while maintaining precise alignment across the entire building envelope.

For Uptown Tower, the façade covers approximately 46,000 m² and incorporates more than 8,500 glass panels, forming the distinctive diamond-inspired geometry of the building.

Delivering such a large façade system required exceptional coordination between engineering, fabrication, and installation teams to ensure both performance and architectural accuracy.

TECHNAL façade solution

TECHNAL unitised façade systems contribute to the tower’s glazed envelope, enabling the integration of large glass panels that support the building’s faceted architectural expression.

The bespoke solution used provide the structural stability and durability required for a high-rise façade while maintaining the visual clarity of the tower’s glass surfaces. The modular façade approach also enabled efficient fabrication and installation during the construction phase.

During peak construction, façade installation progressed at an average rate of one floor every two days, demonstrating the efficiency and precision required to deliver a project of this scale.

Performance at height

For supertall buildings, façade systems must deliver exceptional performance. Aluminium curtain wall solutions provide high resistance to wind loads, air and water tightness, and long-term durability in Dubai’s demanding climate.

These characteristics allow the façade to maintain both architectural refinement and environmental performance, ensuring comfort for occupants while supporting the tower’s iconic architectural identity.

Uptown Tower has achieved LEED Gold certification, reflecting its commitment to high-performance building design, energy efficiency, and sustainable construction.

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Project Information

Location: JLT Dubai Architect: AS+GG (design architect) / Woods Bagot (Architectural and Interior Design consultant) Facade Contractor: Besix Facade Consultant: WSP Developer: DMCC Aluminium Systems Used: Unitized Curtain wall, SOLEAL hinged doors, AMBIAL Folding Door