Emaar to Reignite Dubai Creek Tower With New Tender in Three Months

Dubai’s skyline story isn’t done yet. Emaar is officially bringing Dubai Creek Tower back into the spotlight, with a new tender expected to roll out within the next three months, according to founder Mohamed Alabbar.

After years of silence, redesigns, and pandemic pauses, the long-awaited mega project is finally moving again.

A redesigned tower, not just a taller one

Speaking at the Dubai International Project Management Forum, Alabbar confirmed that the original design has been changed — even though it had already been announced before Covid-19 hit.

His message was clear: Dubai doesn’t need height for the sake of height anymore.

According to Alabbar, what matters now is design, beauty, and how the building fits into its surroundings, not just breaking records.

Why the project was paused

Dubai Creek Tower was first unveiled before the pandemic, with early buzz calling it a future rival to the Burj Khalifa. But the project was later put on hold as Emaar reworked the design.

Alabbar didn’t share construction costs or timelines, citing the complexity of the project, but confirmed that planning is now far enough along to move into the tender stage.

Height wars aren’t the goal anymore

With Saudi Arabia pushing forward again on the Kingdom Tower, which aims to be the world’s tallest skyscraper, comparisons were inevitable. Still, Alabbar played down the race.

His take: landmarks today need more than just altitude — they need meaning, aesthetics, and impact.

Big plans around Dubai Creek Harbour

The tower isn’t the only major move at Dubai Creek Harbour. In November 2025, Emaar launched Dubai Square, a massive mixed-use project anchored by Dubai Square Mall.

The mall, now under construction, is expected to open within three years and will be nearly three times the size of Downtown Dubai, with an estimated cost of Dh180 billion. It’s set to become the region’s second-largest retail and entertainment destination — just slightly smaller than Dubai Mall.

Alabbar on work culture and AI

Beyond real estate, Alabbar also shared strong views on modern work culture. He said many companies no longer need half their workforce and revealed that Emaar once banned all meetings for 30 days, including virtual ones.

His belief? Experienced professionals don’t need endless meetings to get work done.