23 Marina

23 Marina was developed by Hircon International, a joint venture of Dubai-based ETA Star and India's Hiranandani; CTBUH dates the proposal to 2005. In May 2005 the client picked Nasa Multiplex for the main contract and construction management, but later changed its strategy to seek more competitive bids. In 2006 Dubai Civil Engineering was selected from five bidders as main contractor. At that stage the tower was reported as a 380-metre, 88-storey building (MEED), while Gulf News described it as a 90-storey tower with 292 apartments. CTBUH gives 2006 as the construction start; in October 2006 piling was reported to be nearly complete.

The architect is Hafeez Contractor. CTBUH also lists KEO International Consultants among the design architects and as structural engineer of record, with CBM Engineers as design structural engineer; the structure is all-concrete. According to the architect, an initial elliptical plan was abandoned because of vortex-induced motion and replaced by an octagonal form, also shaped by limits on ground coverage.

The tower is clad in aluminium and blue-tinted glazing, with triangular balconies and a pointed spire framed by canopies over the roof terrace. A six-storey entrance hall sits in the podium. The programme combines two- and three-bedroom apartments with 48 duplexes on the upper floors; CTBUH describes these four-bedroom duplexes as having private elevators and plunge pools on their balconies.