Al Habtoor Tower Opens with Luxury Apartments and Unique Features

Dubai’s latest architectural marvel, the 350-meter Al Habtoor Tower, has officially opened its doors, offering residents a blend of luxury and urban living. Situated in Al Habtoor City, the tower stands as one of the world’s tallest residential buildings, featuring three below-grade basement floors, a ground floor, and 85 residential floors, covering a built-up area of over 25,000 square meters.

The tower’s 1,740 luxury apartments are available in various sizes, ranging from one-bedroom units (78-141 square meters) to three-bedroom apartments (162-229 square meters). The largest and most luxurious residences, the Ultra Residences and Sky Villas, occupy the top six floors. The tower boasts 24 high-speed elevators, the world’s fastest, capable of reaching a speed of 7 meters per second.

Sam Annous, Managing Director of Penetron Saudi Arabia, highlighted the unique features of the tower: “Al Habtoor Tower offers panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa, Business Bay, the Arabian Gulf, and Sheikh Zayed Road. Additionally, it features the world’s highest terraced gardens and multiple pool decks.”

The tower’s amenities include a wellness spa, a fitness gym, padel and tennis courts, multiple indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a children’s playground, a library, event and networking rooms, a concierge desk, and on-site restaurants. The building’s construction was a testament to innovative engineering, with MAK Engineering, the project engineering consultants, and the China Railway 18th Bureau Group, the general contractor, using a top-down approach for the basement construction.

According to Annous, the decision to use a top-down approach was driven by the need to protect the massive tower’s new below-grade structures from groundwater pressure. “Due to the depth of the below-grade structures, a reliable concrete waterproofing solution was required to ensure the longevity of the building,” he explained. “PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was specified to protect the raft foundation and retaining walls.”

PENETRON ADMIX works by generating an insoluble crystalline formation that prevents water and moisture from entering the microcracks, pores, and capillaries of the concrete, even under high hydrostatic pressure. This process also allows cracks to self-heal, providing permanent concrete protection.

The construction of Al Habtoor Tower presented unique challenges, particularly with the depth of the below-grade structures. The team set unprecedented benchmarks with six-day floor cycle times for the construction of the above-ground floors. Within just eight months, they completed approximately six kilometers of Barrettes (90 meters deep shear walls) and one kilometer of circular piles.

The Penetron Group, a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems, played a crucial role in ensuring the tower’s durability. The company operates through a global network, providing support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.