Scenes from the Day
CTBUH 2018 Middle East Conference Off-Site Programs took place in key developments and building throughout Dubai. In each of the 10 programs, delegates heard from colleagues on a specific theme related to the program, followed by in-depth tours of the sites led by professionals involved in each project.
Some Middle East 2018 Conference Dubai Off-Site tours were exclusive looks at groundbreaking new developments that were still under construction, allowing delegates a chance to see the inner workings of buildings like the Museum / Office of the Future.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Iconic Towers as Development Catalysts” included a tour of The Burj Khalifa and downtown Dubai and was kindly hosted and organized by Emaar Properties and the Burj Khalifa.
Delegates gathered on Level 112 of the Burj Khalifa to view presentations centered around constructing iconic towers as the centerpieces of developments.
Bashar Kassab, Director, HFM, Emaar Properties, gives a presentation entitled “Digital FM – The New Era (Case Study: Burj Khalifa)” at the Burj Khalifa.
Chris Harris, Project Executive, Turner Construction Company, provides a primer on identifying, synthesizing and learning from aerodynamic, seismic and construction design challenges faced during the development of the Burj Khalifa.
Following the presentations, attendees toured the Burj Khalifa, an architectural feat that catalyzed further skyscraper growth in the Middle East.
Outside the Burj Khalifa, the sun shines behind Dubai Opera, a cultural icon of Dubai also developed by Emaar Properties.
An elegant, glowing staircase and various art pieces ornament the interior of the Burj Khalifa.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Climactically (And Culturally) Appropriate Desert Skyscrapers” included a tour of The Index and was kindly hosted by Emirates REIT and organized by Equitativa Group.
Abdul Wahab Al-Halabi, Group Chief Investment Officer, Equitativa & Emirates REIT, gives a presentation entitled “The New Interest of REITs in Emerging Countries.”
Sylvain Vieujot, Co-Founder, Group Chairman, Equitativa & Emirates REIT, shares his viewpoint on how real estate can function as a financial product.
Dara John Towhidi, Partner, Foster + Partners, explores four projects of the past and four projects of the future in his talk about recontextualizing the skyscraper across scale, re-use and space, to enhance the lives of the urban populace.
Nida Baig, Business Development Manager, Equitativa Group, takes delegates on a tour of The Index, a desert skyscraper that serves as an example of the alternatives to the “glass box” model present in many tall buildings around the world.
Attendees had the opportunity to climb to the 326-meter-high rooftop of The Index and take in views of Dubai’s skyline.
The rooftop of The Index provides stunning views of Dubai’s skyline, featuring prominent buildings such as Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, Gevora Hotel, and Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
Attendees were treated to breathtaking views of The Palm during the Dubai Off-Site Program “At Sea: Dubai’s Extraordinary Land Reclamation Efforts,” which included a tour of Palm Tower and was kindly hosted by Nakheel and organized by WME.
During the program “At Sea: Dubai’s Extraordinary Land Reclamation Efforts,” hosted at Palm Tower, Sasa Popovic, Director of Structures, WME Consultants, gives a presentation entitled “Fountain Views: Statics in a Dynamic Market.”
Timothy Kelly, Senior Vice President, Operations and General Manager, Kerzner International break down the key tenants of tourism in Dubai in the program “At Sea: Dubai’s Extraordinary Land Reclamation Efforts,” hosted at Palm Tower.
Prabhanjan Kambadur, Director, MENA, RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers (MENA), teaches attendees about some of the project planning and engineering methodology applied to Palm Mall & Towers.
Maria Abdel-Rahman, VIP Delegation Department, Nakheel, discussed how Nakheel took plans for Palm Tower from vision to reality.
Attendees were treated to a tour, led by representatives from WME Consultants, of some of The Palm’s in-progress buildings. These projects are being constructed on what was open water just 15 years ago.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Delivering a Well-Balanced Community from the Start” included a tour of Town Square Dubai and was kindly hosted and organized by NSHAMA.
Tariq Chaudhry, Head of Marketing, Nshama, (left) along with Viktor Heinz, Development Manager, Nshama, (right) explores the burgeoning demand for experiential emphasis in the current real estate market during the Dubai Off-Site “Delivering a Well-Balanced Community from the Start.”
Attendees receive an in-depth tour of Town Square Dubai, a master planned medium-density community during the Dubai Off-Site Program “Delivering a Well-Balanced Community from the Start.”
The presenters and attendees from the Dubai Off-Site “Delivering a Well-Balanced Community from the Start” gather for a photo after an educational tour of Town Square Dubai.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “The World’s Tallest Residential City Block” included a tour of Marina Gate II and was kindly hosted and organized by Select Group.
Afaf Burki, Director, Marketing, Select Group (center) chaired the session "The World’s Tallest Residential City Block." Trevor Hardwick, COO, Select Group (left) and Kez Taylor, CEO, ALEC (right) presented at the session, which was hosted at Marina Gate II.
Participants tour Marina Gate II, the tallest of three residential buildings that are connected through a terraced, multi-level podium of villas. While on the tour, delegates got to have a birds-eye view of Dubai’s skyline.
The site-tour of Marina Gate II provided stunning views of Dubai Marina.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Constructing an Inter-Tower Skybridge Over a Highway” included a tour of One Za’abeel and was kindly hosted and organized by ALEC.
Delegates don hard hats for an under-construction tour of One Za’abeel, which will contain a towering skybridge that will be suspended 100-meters over a highway.
Attendees of the Dubai Off-Site “Constructing an Inter-Tower Skybridge Over a Highway” peer down at One Za’abeel, at the beginning of what will eventually be two interconnected towers at 330 meters and 235 meters in height.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Building an Efficient Structure and Skin for an Expressive Tower” included a site tour of the under-construction Al Wasl Tower, and was kindly hosted by Wasl and organized by Werner Sobek.
Holger Hinz, Principal, Werner Sobek Group, offers lessons about creating site-specific microclimates through a combination of passive and active techniques during his presentation at Al Wasl Tower.
Frans van Vuure, Director, Senior Architect, UNStudio, shares insight on hybrid public space and diverse programming within a single tower, through the exploration of three case studies during his presentation “Wasl Tower: Taking Cultural Sustainability, Health and Innovation to the Next Level”.
Hard hats and safety vests await delegates before the site tour of the under-construction Al Wasl Tower.
A detail shot of the under-construction Al Wasl Tower. When completed it will have the world’s tallest ceramic façade, with an unusual “contrapposto” shape which “faces” in every direction.
Delegates attending the Al Wasl Tower Off-Site Program were able to immerse themselves in the construction of the tower by climbing up stairs to view the site from various levels.
The Dubai Off-Site Program “Capturing the Future in 3D” included a tour of Museum / Office of the Future and was kindly hosted by Dubai Future Foundation and organized by Killa Design.