Sustainable high-rise design trends – Dubai’s strategy

Until recently, the construction industry in Dubai was the creator of unsustainable world breaking high rise towers. This approach led to Dubai becoming labeled as the largest polluter in UAE and seen by the construction industry worldwide as an example of an unsustainable city. The current global crisis, however, has provided Dubai with the opportunity to firstly understand the benefits of sustainable practice and then implement this concept strategically within the construction industry. This study aims to identify the prototype for sustainable high rise design trends for the future by examining whether the future high rise towers align with the Dubai Government’s strategy based on a number of case studies. It is within this context that this research generates a discussion regarding the Dubai Government Strategic Plan (2015) in conjunction with the recently revised green building rating system BREEAM Gulf and establishes that sustainable high rise buildings are being promoted throughout these strategies. Furthermore, this research presents case studies which discuss the future high rise functional use trend, the Burj Dubai / Nakheel Tower and the Dynamic Tower, leading to a determination being made that these projects align with the Dubai Government’s strategy. It is highly recommended that the future prototype should be mixed-use, respond to the growing needs of the economy, and achieve the highest possible energy rating. Future research directions have also been pinpointed.