Dubai, May 3 (Emirates 24x7) : Dubai’s Meydan Group will launch Meydan Tower, a 111-storey high tower, on Sheikh Zayed Road in the next six weeks, Emirates 24|7 can reveal.

“We launch the tower in the next six weeks. It will be 111-storey high and will be the second tallest tower on Sheikh Zayed Road after Burj Khalifa,” said Meydan Chairman Saeed Humaid Al Tayer.

The tower will be located close to Radisson Royal Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.
 
In Dubai alone, there are 19 buildings taller than 200 metres and 18 of them are on Sheikh Zayed Road. Burj Khalifa, 828-metres high (160 storey), is the tallest tower in the world, while Princess Tower, 413-metres high (99 storey), is the tallest residential tower in the world.

Meydan Tower is the group's first foray outside its iconic sporting, business and lifestyle destination 'Meydan City'. The new property will offer residential, commercial and leisure options.
 
Last year, the company said the tower will have office and retail spaces, serviced residences and a boutique hotel in addition to a select number of residential units, all designed with a signature interior by a top fashion brand.

It was also disclosed that Meydan Tower will have one of the largest spa and fitness centres in the region, featuring an indoor running track and tennis courts, while the community tower will house nine pools as well as private and community Sky Gardens. One of the other attractions would be the Club House, located on the top floor, home to a late-night Rooftop Nightclub.

However, the project was displayed at Cityscape 2013 just to gauge investor response only after which the company was to take the final decision on whether launching the project or not. No details were then given on the tower’s height or the number of floors.

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the UAE ranks third among countries having most buildings taller than 200 metres.

In its 2012 review on tall buildings, the Council said: “Dubai continues to be a significant market for tall building construction, despite the much-publicised drop in development after 2008.”

The average height of the four of the tallest buildings completed in 2012 in Dubai were 385 metres, while the four buildings completed in Guangzhou province in China averaged 310 metres and five buildings completed in Makkah, Saudi Arabia averaged 319 metres.

The title of the tallest residential building in the world changed twice in 2012 with both towers standing in Dubai Marina. Skyscrapers that were completed were: 414-metre Princess Tower, 395-metre 23 Marina, 381-metre Elite Residence and 355- metre JW Marriot Marquis.

Data tracked by the CTBUH’s Skyscraper Center reveals that 25 projects taller than 400 metres have been either stalled or cancelled in Dubai, even though the government in 2012 proposed several new projects.

Abu Dhabi saw completion of one building taller than 200 metres last year — the 268- metre Nation Towers, which has a sky bridge connecting the two towers. Seven towers were finished in 2011 with 13 towers over 200 metres under construction in the UAE capital and expected to be completed in the next three years, the report said.