estate / ae
Ready2008306 M63 FLOORSEmaar Properties

The Address Downtown

Emaar Properties · Downtown Dubai · 25.1960°N, 55.2730°E

The Address Downtown is Emaar's first hotel and residence under the Address brand. Opened in 2008 — two years before Burj Khalifa — it immediately became the calling card of Downtown Dubai. The 306-metre tower with its asymmetrical crown and gold-and-black cladding is recognisable from any vantage point in the district.

Design was led by UK firm Atkins (now part of AtkinsRéalis) — the same studio behind Burj Al Arab. Construction was executed by ALEC in parallel with Burj Khalifa. At opening in 2008, the building was briefly the world's tallest hotel — until Rose Tower in Dubai overtook it in 2009.

On 31 December 2015, during the New Year's Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa, a fire broke out on the 14th floor. The flames engulfed most of the facade within minutes — the aluminium composite panels burned intensely. 16 people were injured, 1,500 guests evacuated. Restoration took roughly two years: the facade was entirely rebuilt with new-generation fire-resistant panels and engineering systems were modernised. The property reopened in 2017.

196 apartments occupy the upper floors: from 1-bedroom layouts of around 90 m² to 400 m² penthouses with views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. All residences receive hotel-grade service: housekeeping, room service, concierge. The rooftop infinity pool with its Burj Khalifa view ranks among the world's most photographed pools. Resale prices: 1BR from 4.5M AED, 2BR 7–10M, penthouses 25–60M. Long-term yields run 5–6%, short-term up to 9% via the hotel programme.

  • 01

    The world's first Address hotel.

  • 02

    Dubai's most photographed rooftop pool.

  • 03

    Direct underground passage to Dubai Mall.

HEIGHT
306
METRES
FLOORS
63
ABOVE
UNITS
196
RESIDENCES
YEAR
2008
DELIVERED

Key facts

#Opened 2008, restored 2017#196 residences on the upper floors#63 floors, 306 metres#Designed by Atkins (Burj Al Arab)#Rooftop infinity pool with Burj Khalifa view#Direct passage to Dubai Mall#World's first Address hotel

Story

01Origin2003 — 2005 · CONCEPT

«Address had to be what separates 'Dubai luxury' from any other luxury in the world.»

EMAAR HOSPITALITY · BRAND POSITIONING, 2005

In the early 2000s Emaar began the masterplan for Downtown Dubai — at the time, three kilometres of desert from the shore. The Burj Khalifa tower was already in design, but a hospitality anchor was needed — a flagship under Emaar's own luxury brand. Address was born: a new mark from Emaar Hospitality intended to set the benchmark for 'Dubai luxury.' In 2005 a contract was signed with British firm Atkins — the same studio that designed Burj Al Arab.

02Design2005 — 2006 · DESIGN

Atkins designed a 63-storey, 306-metre tower with an asymmetric crown — a reference to motifs of Arab architectural ornament. The cladding: gold-and-black composite panel that reflects sunlight by day and is illuminated at night. The interiors were planned by Wilson Associates: a 9-storey atrium, Italian marble floors, custom chandeliers weighing up to a tonne.

The lower 18 floors house the Address Downtown hotel with 196 keys; the upper floors hold the serviced apartments in a hotel-residence concept.

03Construction2006 — 2008 · CONSTRUCTION
FLOORS
63
306 M HEIGHT
TOTAL
196
RESIDENCES
PARALLEL
BURJ
KHALIFA SITE
OPENING
2008
BEFORE BURJ

Construction was executed by ALEC in parallel with Burj Khalifa, just a few hundred metres away. Opening took place in October 2008, eighteen months before Burj Khalifa. For a short period — until Rose Tower's completion in 2009 — The Address Downtown was the world's tallest hotel.

04FireDEC 2015 · FIRE

On 31 December 2015, around 21:30, during preparations for the Burj Khalifa New Year's Eve fireworks show, a fire broke out on the 14th floor. The flames spread along the facade at a pace that surprised firefighters: the older-generation aluminium composite panels burned intensely, producing the now-iconic vertical 'torch' along the entire building.

By the time the fire brigade arrived, the flames had engulfed more than 40 floors. 1,500 guests and residents were evacuated, 16 people were injured, and one died of a heart attack. Despite the scale, the Burj Khalifa fireworks went ahead — images of the burning Address against a celebratory Burj travelled the global media.

05Restoration2016 — 2017 · RESTORATION
Q1Re-opened2017

Restoration took about two years. The facade was entirely rebuilt using new-generation fire-resistant aluminium composite panels — after the Address fire, the UAE tightened the building code for all high-rises, requiring inspection of over 1,000 towers nationwide. Internal infrastructure was upgraded: new fire-suppression systems, sprinklers in every room, updated electricals. Interior design was gently refreshed without altering the concept. The reopening took place in Q1 2017.

06Life today2017 — TODAY · LIFE

Today Address Downtown operates as it did before the fire — the flagship of the Address chain, which now numbers 8 hotels in Dubai. Hotel occupancy in 2024 exceeded 85%, the best figure in Downtown Dubai among luxury hotels. Residents choose between two strategies: long-term rental (5–6% annual yield) or enrolment in the hotel programme run by Emaar Hospitality (up to 9% annually). Resale prices have been climbing steadily — units have appreciated by an average of 30% since the reopening.

196
RESIDENCES
5–6%
LONG-TERM YIELD
9%
HOTEL-PROGRAM YIELD

Architecture and construction

Main contractor
ALECUAE
Structure
Reinforced concrete with steel reinforcement, rebuilt after 2015 fire
Facade
New-generation fire-resistant aluminium composite panels (post-restoration)
Elevators
14
Parking spaces
800

Standards and finish

BRANDED PARTNER
Address Hotels + Resorts
www.addresshotels.com
FINISH STANDARD
5* hotel
marble, custom chandeliers, Wilson Associates interiors
LAYOUTS
1BR2BR3BR4BRPENTHOUSE
CEILING HEIGHT
3M

Amenities and infrastructure

Rooftop infinity pool with Burj Khalifa viewAddress Spa with 8 treatment rooms24/7 fitness centre5 restaurants and barsHukama — Chinese restaurantRestaurant Atrium — fine diningBusiness centre and meeting roomsDirect passage to Dubai Mall24/7 conciergeValet parking24/7 room service

Timeline and status

2005
ATKINS CONTRACT
2008
OPENING
2015
FIRE · 31 DECEMBER
2017
RE-OPENING

Location and surroundings

↗ TO BURJ KHALIFA
200 M
Across the boulevard
↗ TO DUBAI MALL
0 M
Underground passage
↗ TO DXB AIRPORT
12 MIN
By car

Schools nearby

Shopping nearby

Souk Al Bahar3 MIN

Records and awards

1

World's first Address Hotel.

OPENED 2008 · FLAGSHIP OF THE EMAAR CHAIN

2

World's tallest hotel at completion.

2008 — UNTIL ROSE TOWER · 306 M

ON THE DEVELOPER'S SITE

www.emaar.com

We don't sell property. Direct contact only.

About the developer

Emaar Properties

The largest developer in the UAE, creator of Burj Khalifa and the entire Downtown Dubai.

Other projects in Downtown Dubai