The UAE's most populous city has long been one of superlatives, but even in Dubai a residential tower topped off with a crystal-like crown of diamond-shaped spires is likely to stand out as something special.
As has recently been announced, Burj Binghatti will have “more than 112 storeys” and is set to be the world’s tallest residential tower.
It will offer, its developers say, the chance for residents to “live amidst the clouds”.
Containing what the marketing material describes as “luxurious and high-end two and three-bedroom suites and penthouses”, Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences, to use the full name, is squarely aimed at those with deep pockets, as prices start at a cool Dh8 million ($2.1 million).
The development of the Business Bay tower is happening thanks to Binghatti, a Dubai-based developer of residential property, and Jacob & Co, a New York-headquartered watch and jewellery company.
In promotional material for the project, the companies say that the design for the tower is the work of Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co and a renowned diamond designer.
“This magnificent structure represents the aspirations of humans to reach for the stars,” the companies said.
“This Hyper Tower is the new word that has been coined for the planning of this colossal tower within a prime address in Dubai.”
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Five of the tallest residential towers in the world — in pictures
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To become the world’s highest residential tower, Burj Binghatti has to exceed the 472m height of the current record-holder, New York’s Central Park Tower, which has 98 above-ground storeys, along with three basement storeys. The Central Park Tower is currently the 15th-tallest building in the world.
In keeping with the ultra-luxurious lifestyle that Burj Binghatti’s developers are promoting, properties in the tower have names such as “Billionaire Penthouse”. Other apartment designs include the Fleur de Jardin Penthouse and the Astronomia Penthouse.
The developers have yet to announce when Burj Binghatti will be completed, but potential residents are expected to pay 60 per cent of the price of their property during construction, with the remaining 40 per cent required on handover.
Despite its impressive height, Burj Binghatti will be dwarfed by Burj Khalifa, the Dubai tower that remains the world’s tallest building. The tip of Burj Khalifa, which was completed in 2009 and opened in 2010, is 829.8m above ground.
Promotional images for Burj Binghatti show people relaxing at an “infinity swimming pool” — one that appears to stretch into the horizon — “overlooking the entirety of Dubai and its skylines”, with a grandstand view of Burj Khalifa.
Despite its height, Burj Khalifa is not regarded as being the world’s tallest residential tower because less than 85 per cent of it is taken up by residential properties.
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Dubai World Cup nominations
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.
Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40