Select Group · Dubai Marina · 25.0905°N, 55.1445°E
The Torch is an 86-storey Select Group tower in Dubai Marina, delivered 2011. At its peak (2011–2012) it held the title of world's tallest residence-only building, until 23 Marina and Princess Tower opened in 2012. 348 metres, 676 apartments: 1-, 2-, 3-bedroom and penthouses.
The defining feature of its history is two major facade fires: on 21 February 2015 and 4 August 2017. Both without casualties, both followed by full restoration. The fires became a turning point not only for The Torch but for the entire Dubai construction industry: afterwards the UAE revised its Building Code, ordered facade inspections of more than 1,000 high-rises nationwide, and imposed much stricter rules on combustible facade materials.
After the second fire in 2017, Select Group spent three years entirely re-cladding The Torch: removing the old aluminium composite panels and installing new fire-rated ones. Today the building is fully compliant with the updated Code and operates as standard residential.
Current prices are among the most accessible in upper Marina: 1BR from 1.2M AED, 2BR from 2M, 3BR from 3.5M. Yields 7–8% — high thanks to a low entry price.
Was the world's tallest residential building — 2011–2012.
Two facade fires — no casualties, full restoration.
Changed the Building Code for all of the UAE.
«Upper Marina needs a landmark — a high-rise residence for the mid segment, without luxury markups.»
— SELECT GROUP · 2007 LAUNCH
In 2005 Select Group, a Dubai developer focused on mid-luxury, acquired a plot in the northern part of Dubai Marina for a high-rise residence project. The idea differed from neighbouring projects: not super-luxury (like 23 Marina), but accessible housing at large volume. A big inventory (676 units) allowed construction costs to be amortised through mass sales.
Construction ran 2007–2011. The object was delivered in March 2011 and automatically gained the status of world's tallest purely residential building (348m) — at that time exceeding HHHR Tower in Dubai (317m) by 31 metres.
The record stood for about a year: in March 2012 23 Marina (392m) was delivered and took the title, and two months later — Princess Tower (414m). However, The Torch remained one of the tallest residences in Dubai Marina for years.
Late on the evening of 21 February 2015, around 22:00, a fire broke out on the 50th floor of The Torch. Within 30 minutes flames had engulfed most of the facade — the aluminium composite panels burned intensely, producing the characteristic vertical 'torch' shape.
Fortunately there were no casualties or serious injuries. Around 1,500 residents and guests were evacuated. The Dubai fire service worked for six hours. The interiors of most apartments remained intact — the fire spread along the external facade and did not penetrate inside.
Two and a half years after the first fire, on 4 August 2017, a second fire broke out on the 9th floor of The Torch. Ironically — the post-2015 inspection programme for all UAE buildings was not yet complete, and the new material had not yet replaced the old.
As before — no casualties. Evacuation completed in 25 minutes. This was the last straw for the industry: the UAE accelerated rollout of the new Building Code and forced re-cladding of all affected buildings.
From 2017 to 2020 Select Group fully re-clad The Torch. The old aluminium composite panels were removed from all 86 floors. The new facade uses FR-A2 (fire-rated) materials that do not sustain combustion even under direct flame exposure. In parallel, more than 1,000 high-rises across the UAE were inspected — a third required facade replacement.
After full reconstruction, The Torch operates as standard residential. New facade, new fire-suppression systems, sprinklers in every apartment — the building today is one of the safest in Marina by fire-safety standards, paradoxically thanks to those very fires.
Price per square metre here remains consistently lower than neighbouring towers of the same age, reflecting the 'reputational hangover.' For investors, however, this delivers high rental yields — 7–8% per annum, among Marina's best. Reputation is gradually recovering: prices have been rising 8–10% per year since 2020.
— Schools nearby
— Shopping nearby
Was the world's tallest residence.
2011 — 2012 · 348 M · OVERTAKEN BY 23 MARINA
The object that changed the UAE's entire Building Code.
FIRES 2015 & 2017 → NEW REGULATIONS
— ON THE DEVELOPER'S SITE
www.select-group.ae
We don't sell property. Direct contact only.
Select Group
Marina Gate, The Torch, No.9 and Studio One. A key Dubai Marina developer.