Santiago Calatrava to Design Dubai Creek Harbour Tower and UAE Pavilion for Expo 2020

Swiss-Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava won an international competition to design a new tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, set to become a landmark hybrid between a skyscraper and a public gathering space. The tower, described as a 'stem' with a cable network evoking lily leaf veins, will house 20 apartments, a hotel, restaurants, and an observation deck. The project is backed by Emaar Properties, the developer behind the Burj Khalifa. Calatrava will also design the UAE pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs from October 2020 to April 2021. Emaar Properties is also coordinating Expo 2020, where BIG, Foster + Partners, and Grimshaw Architects have been commissioned for the three thematic pavilions on Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. The tower's height, cost, and completion timeline remain undisclosed. Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar emphasized the project's environmental and smart-tech features, aiming to add long-term economic value to Dubai and the UAE.