Dubai Mall Plaza teased as Emaar founder hints at new 'most beautiful' skyscraper

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar has teased a new project in Dubai by sharing a video of the Dubai Mall Plaza and Hotel on his verified social media accounts, accompanied by the message “Coming Soon”.

The post has sparked interest in the company's upcoming developments, particularly after Alabbar revealed at the Rise conference in Dubai that Emaar would soon unveil plans for a skyscraper he described as potentially one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

However, it remains unclear whether the Dubai Mall Plaza and Hotel project featured in the video is the same skyscraper Alabbar mentioned during his speech.

Emaar's New Skyscraper Is Fully Designed

Speaking at the Rise conference on Wednesday, Alabbar said Emaar had a unique building that was fully designed and ready for development.

He explained that the company was waiting for logistical operations and port conditions to improve before inviting tenders for the project.

Alabbar expressed confidence in the design, suggesting that the proposed skyscraper could become one of the world's most beautiful buildings.

His comments came in response to an audience question about when Dubai might see another skyscraper with the beauty and grandeur of the Burj Khalifa.

Strait of Hormuz Situation Could Affect Project Timeline

When asked when construction might begin, Alabbar said he was waiting for the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz to reopen and for the wider situation to improve.

His remarks highlighted the potential impact of regional developments and logistical challenges on the project's timeline.

Although the building has reportedly been designed, the tendering process has yet to proceed, and no official construction timeline was provided during the conference.

Could Future Construction Sites Operate Without Humans?

During the event, Alabbar was also asked whether construction sites could operate without human intervention over the next eight to 10 years.

He acknowledged that the possibility existed but expressed reservations about fully automated construction.

Alabbar pointed to advances in Chinese construction technology, highlighting a 15-storey building in Abu Dhabi that was reportedly completed in 12 days.

He said the building offered significantly improved energy efficiency and was four times more earthquake-resistant than a conventional building.

These developments, he suggested, demonstrated the potential of new construction technologies to improve building quality, efficiency and resilience.

Alabbar Questions Whether AI Can Build Entire Structures

Despite recognising the progress being made in construction technology, Alabbar said he found it difficult to imagine a future in which buildings could be constructed entirely by artificial intelligence.

He noted that human involvement would still be necessary to erect buildings, expressing uncertainty about whether AI could eventually manage the entire construction process independently.

His comments reflected the growing discussion around the role of artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced construction methods in shaping the future of the real estate industry.

Dubai's Next Architectural Landmark Remains Under Wraps

Emaar's teaser and Alabbar's remarks have generated anticipation around the developer's next major project.

While the Dubai Mall Plaza and Hotel video suggests that an announcement may be approaching, the company has yet to clarify whether it is connected to the proposed skyscraper.

For now, the building's identity, location, design details and construction schedule remain unconfirmed. Alabbar's comments indicate that the project is ready at the design stage, with its next steps dependent partly on improvements in logistical conditions.