Marina 101

Marina 101 is a skyscraper located in the Dubai Marina district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It stands 101 stories tall with a height of approximately 425 meters (1,394 feet), making it the second tallest building in the UAE after the Burj Khalifa and one of the tallest buildings in the world.

The building is a mixed-use development primarily designed for residential purposes with apartments occupying the upper floors, while the lower floors were initially planned to host a luxury hotel. Construction began in 2007, and although initially scheduled for completion in 2014, the project faced significant delays due to financial difficulties faced by the original developer, Sheffield Holdings Limited. By 2024, the building was approximately 97% complete.

The design of Marina 101 was undertaken by the National Engineering Bureau, with construction carried out by the Turkish firm TAV Construction. The skyscraper features a distinctive architectural style with art-deco elements, including a 45-meter crown at the top that caps the tower and makes it noticeable in Dubai’s skyline.

The façade consists of a granite base, two-tone aluminum cladding, and double glazing to reduce heat impact—important for Dubai’s desert climate. The vertical transportation system includes 28 elevators serving different sections of the tower.

Within Marina 101, the first 33 floors were intended to accommodate a five-star hotel initially branded as a Hard Rock Hotel, comprising around 281 to 300 rooms along with five restaurants. Floors 34 to 100 host more than 500 residential apartments, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom units, including six duplex penthouses on the top floors.

The 101st floor houses a club lounge, a restaurant, and a merchandise store. The building was designed to provide panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina, with residents experiencing sea views primarily from the 94th floor upwards.

Marina 101 also includes extensive amenities for residents and guests such as swimming pools, gyms, spas, children’s play areas, and barbecue decks. The tower has several levels of underground and podium parking with capacity for over 600 vehicles.

It stands as a symbol of modernity and luxury living in Dubai, reflecting the city’s ambition to establish a high-rise skyline with luxurious mixed-use developments. Despite its near completion, the project exemplifies the challenges large real estate ventures can face in terms of financing and execution in Dubai’s dynamic property market.

Marina 101 remains an iconic structure in the Dubai Marina district and an important addition to Dubai’s array of supertall buildings.