Beyond Infinity: World's tallest twisted tower in Dubai gets new name

The Dh1 billion Infinity Tower, the world's tallest tower featuring a 90-degree twist, has a new name – Cayan Tower, with the developer not planning to replicate the project anywhere in the world. 

“No, we are not planning to build any more tower twisted towers. But, we will be unveiling a new project in Saudi Arabia, which will be a unique one,” company Chairman Ahmed M Al Hatti said. 

The 310-metre-high, 75-storey tower in Dubai Marina was inaugurated on Monday night. 

Last week, Emirates 24|7 reported Cayan Investment and Development, a Saudi-based property development company, had received the Dubai Municipality’s certificate of completion. 

So why change the name? 

Al Hatti said: “There are more than one tower with the name Infinity and we wanted something different.

“We are very attached with this unique project and it was a very conscious decision we took. We know there won’t be any Cayan Tower in the world and this will be the only one.”

The tower will twist similar to the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, which is a series of cantilevered plates rotated about a straight structure, Infinity Tower's has much larger floor plates that require the structure to be twisted as it raised from level to level.

Each floor is rotated by 1.2 degrees to achieve the full 90-degree spiral, creating the shape of a helix.

Cayan Tower has 495 apartments and is 80 per cent sold. It has seven high-speed lifts (eight metres per second) and has six underground basements.

The total steel reinforcement grade used in the tower is 25,000 tonnes with the depth of excavation being 27 metres.

Why did it take almost six years to complete the tower?

When asked, Al Hatti says: “It was not our fault at all. The two-year delay was because the diaphragm collapsed and we needed time to get it right.

“There was a lot of paperwork and it also took time to get all service and utilities connection.” 

Refusing to give any price at which the unsold 20 per cent inventory will be released, he said: “We are not in a hurry to sell. We will begin sales at an appropriate time.” 

A total of 68 units are listed for sale in propertyfinder.ae, with prices ranging between Dh1,400 and Dh2,000 per square feet.

Dubai is already home to Burj Khalifa (828 metres), the world's tallest tower, Princess Tower (414 metres), the world's highest residential tower and JW Marriott Marquis (355 metres), the world's highest hotel.

Emporis data reveals that Dubai has 1,881 tall buildings of which 856 exist, 627 are planned, 355 under construction, 42 un-built and one demolished. Overall, there are 909 high-rises and 448 skyscrapers.

Infinity Tower has been designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill, the firm behind Burj Khalifa.

Cayan is planning to launch two new projects in Dubai and they will be announced soon, Al Hatti said.

It has already handed over are La Residencia Del Mar, Dorrabay and The Jewels in Dubai Marina and Cayan Business Centre in Tecom.

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