Architectural marvels in the UAE

The Etihad Towers comprise five glass-fronted high-rises along Abu Dhabi's waterfront, defining a major section of the capital's skyline with their reflective facades and contemporary design. The tallest of these towers reaches 1,000 feet (305 meters) and contains residential apartments, office space and a hotel. The complex includes a shopping mall and multiple dining venues overlooking the Arabian Gulf. A public observation deck on the 74th floor provides panoramic views across the city and offshore islands.

The Burj Khalifa rises 2,717 feet (828 meters) in central Dubai and has stood as the world's tallest building since its completion in 2010. The tower offers public observation decks on floors 124, 125 and 148, providing views across the city's development and the desert landscape. Designed by Adrian Smith, the structure houses offices, residences and hotel space within a steel frame that references traditional Islamic architectural motifs. The Burj Khalifa stands in the Downtown district beside the Dubai Mall and is illuminated after dark.

Palm Jumeirah extends across 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles) off the coast of Dubai, forming an artificial island shaped like a palm tree. This land reclamation project was built between 2001 and 2006, using more than 94 million cubic meters (123 million cubic yards) of sand secured with 7 million tons (6.4 million metric tons) of rock. The island consists of a central trunk, sixteen fronds and a crescent-shaped breakwater stretching 11 kilometers (6.8 miles). Palm Jumeirah now hosts several hotels, private residences and recreational facilities. The construction demonstrates the technical capabilities of modern coastal engineering in the United Arab Emirates and has added 56 kilometers (35 miles) to Dubai's coastline.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi presents an international art collection beneath a metal dome designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The structure features 7,777 perforations that create shifting patterns of light throughout the interior spaces and surrounding water features. The collections span works from ancient Mesopotamia to contemporary art, organized thematically to demonstrate connections across civilizations and time periods. This museum occupies a position on Saadiyat Island as part of a broader cultural district housing several international institutions. The architecture combines elements of Arabian design with modern construction techniques, offering visitors multiple perspectives on the displayed objects across its 260,000 square feet (24,000 square meters) of gallery space.

Ajman Museum displays art and historical artifacts from the Emirates in an 18th-century restored fortress. The collection documents daily life, trade history and maritime traditions through archaeological finds, traditional weapons and everyday objects. The fort, once the ruler's residence and defensive structure, opened as a museum in 1981 and presents exhibits on Ajman's development from a small fishing settlement to the present day. The permanent exhibition includes models of traditional boats and a reconstruction of a historical souk.

These beehive-shaped tombs were carved into the slope of Jebel Hafeet more than 5,000 years ago and mark one of the oldest archaeological sites in the region. The roughly 500 burial chambers discovered from the early Bronze Age document the existence of organized communities in this area, long before the present-day cities of the Emirates emerged. Excavations by archaeologists have uncovered pottery, copper objects and beads that point to trade connections as far as Mesopotamia.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque extends across 240,000 square feet (22,000 square meters) in central Abu Dhabi and ranks among the largest prayer halls worldwide. Construction integrates traditional Islamic architectural elements with contemporary techniques, including 82 domes and four minarets reaching 350 feet (107 meters) in height. Inside, a hand-knotted carpet covers the prayer hall floor, while the exterior incorporates white marble sourced from 28 countries. The mosque admits visitors daily outside prayer times and provides insight into Islamic building traditions alongside contemporary approaches to religious architecture in the United Arab Emirates.

Château d'Al Hayl stands at the foot of the Hajar Mountains and documents traditional building methods in the Fujairah region from the 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century. The fort was constructed from mud, stone and palm timber, serving multiple generations of the ruling Al Sharqi family as a residence. The structure includes several residential towers, a courtyard and defensive elements typical of architecture from this period. Following extensive restoration work, the château opened as a museum displaying everyday objects, weapons and documents related to local history. The site illustrates how architecture adapted to the desert climate and the building materials available in the region.

This stone fortress complex from the 18th century stands as the oldest surviving structure in the capital and documents the early history of Abu Dhabi. The Qasr Al Hosn initially served as a watchtower protecting freshwater wells and later expanded into a seat of government and residence for the ruling family. The restored fort now houses a museum that traces the region's development from a pearl trading settlement to a modern metropolis, displaying everyday objects, photographs and documents from different periods. The courtyard and exhibition halls provide insight into the building traditions and social structures of the Emirates before oil production.

The Dubai Opera adopts the form of a dhow, the traditional sailing vessel that plied the waters of the Persian Gulf for centuries. Opened in 2016, the building stands in Downtown Dubai and provides around 2,000 seats for opera, ballet and concert performances. The curved glass facade and timber interior finishes reference the maritime connection, while the technical facilities meet the requirements of international productions. This architecture combines Dubai's seafaring heritage with the cultural demands of a modern metropolis.

Al Jahili Fort was built in the late 19th century under Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa and originally served to protect the city of Al Ain and its date palm plantations. The fort displays traditional mud brick construction of the region, with massive towers and a central courtyard. After extensive restoration, the fort now houses a permanent exhibition about British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, who crossed the Rub al-Khali desert in the 1940s. The complex covers several thousand square meters (about 30,000 square feet) and provides visitors with insights into military architecture and life in the Emirates before the discovery of oil. The fort sits in central Al Ain and ranks among the best preserved fortifications in the country.

Fujairah Fort rises on a hill above the city and documents the military architecture of the region from the 16th century. This fortification includes several watchtowers and defensive walls made of mud and stone, expanded over centuries to control the trade routes through the mountains. The fort served as a protective structure for residents during conflicts and enabled surveillance of the coastline along the Indian Ocean. Archaeological work has uncovered objects from different periods, including weapons and pottery dating back more than 400 years. Fujairah Fort complements the series of historic structures in the Emirates and shows that the country preserves significant evidence of its pre-industrial past alongside its modern skyscrapers.

Hatta Heritage Village documents mountain life in the Hajar range before the oil era. The restored settlement comprises around thirty traditional baraasti houses built from palm fronds and mud, two 16th-century watchtowers, and a 200-year-old mosque. Exhibition rooms display farming tools, weapons and household items that illustrate daily life among mountain communities from the 16th through the 20th century. The village sits in a region where inhabitants cultivated date palms and practiced terrace farming to work the rocky terrain. This settlement complements the contemporary structures found elsewhere in the Emirates by providing insight into rural building techniques and traditional community organization in the highlands.

Dhayah Fort rises on a hilltop in the northern emirates and documents the military architecture of the region in the early 19th century. This fortress served as a strategic defense post during conflicts between local tribes and British forces in 1819. The structure consists of stone walls and watchtowers that overlook the surrounding valley from the elevated position. Visitors reach the fort via a staircase with several hundred steps that winds through the rocky terrain. From the ramparts, views extend over palm plantations and the adjacent mountains of the Hajar range. Dhayah Fort stands among the few preserved fortifications from this period in the emirates and illustrates the historical defense structures that predated the country's modern development.

The Al Bidiyah Mosque in Fujairah stands as the oldest Islamic place of worship in the United Arab Emirates, dating back to the 15th century. This compact structure spans roughly 540 square feet and features four domes constructed from dried mud bricks and gypsum, supported by a single central pillar inside the prayer hall. The building demonstrates traditional construction methods adapted to the regional climate, with thick walls that help maintain cooler interior temperatures. A more recent minaret adjoins the mosque, and a small museum on site documents the history of the prayer house. The mosque remains in active use for worship and welcomes visitors outside prayer times.

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary covers 1,530 acres (620 hectares) of saltwater lagoons at the upper reaches of Dubai Creek and hosts approximately 170 bird species. These protected wetlands provide stopover habitat for migratory birds traveling between East Africa and West Asia, including more than 2,000 flamingos that winter here between October and March. Three observation hides allow visitors to survey the area without disturbing wildlife: Flamingo Hide on the southern shore, Mangrove Hide on the western side, and Bird Hide in the northwest section. The hides feature large viewing windows and bench seating, with information boards identifying common species. The sanctuary also protects mangrove forests, mudflats, and waterbirds such as herons, cormorants, and various waders that reside here year round or seasonally.

Mall of the Emirates covers more than 2.4 million square feet (223,000 square meters) and ranks among the country's largest shopping centers. This commercial and leisure complex houses over 630 stores, an indoor ski facility with slopes and lifts, plus multiple restaurants and entertainment venues. Opened in 1996, the development has undergone several expansions and now includes a cinema complex and various dining options.

This luxury hotel stands on an artificial island off the coast of Dubai and reaches a height of 1,053 feet (321 meters). Completed in 1999, the building follows an architectural design shaped like a sail, referencing the maritime tradition of the region. The structure rests on piles driven 131 feet (40 meters) into the seabed, and the facade is clad in a white Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric. Inside, guest rooms occupy 28 floors, while the atrium reaches 590 feet (180 meters) in height. The hotel includes a helipad at 689 feet (210 meters) above sea level and an underwater restaurant accessed through a transparent tunnel from the seabed.

The Museum of the Future in Dubai's Financial District presents technological innovations and future visions within an oval steel and glass building that spans seven stories. The facade displays Arabic calligraphy featuring quotes from Dubai's ruler and consists of 1,024 panels manufactured using robotic fabrication techniques. The exhibition spaces address topics including climate change, space exploration, artificial intelligence and biotechnology through interactive installations. The building opened in 2022 and sits near the Emirates Towers, approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of Burj Khalifa. A visit provides insights into scientific developments and their potential impact on daily life.

These office towers in Abu Dhabi demonstrate an adaptive facade technique based on traditional mashrabiya elements. The two 476-foot (145-meter) buildings feature a computer-controlled system of movable shading panels that open and close according to sun position. This dynamic outer layer reduces solar heat gain and energy consumption for cooling the office spaces. The Al Bahar Towers were completed in 2012 and integrate contemporary building technology with references to regional architectural elements.

The Capital Gate leans at an 18-degree angle, making it one of the world's most tilted buildings, while most towers stand vertical. This 35-story high-rise was completed in 2011 and houses a hotel and office space in Abu Dhabi's Capital Centre business district. The facade features about 8,000 glass panels that give the building a diamond-like appearance, and a sophisticated core system of steel and concrete provides structural stability for the asymmetrical design.

The Sheikh Zayed Bridge spans a sea channel between Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland and was designed by architect Zaha Hadid. The 2,760-foot (842-meter) road bridge rests on curved steel arch structures rising at varying heights above the roadways. The asymmetrical arrangement of the arches creates a distinctive profile highlighted by lighting at night. The bridge carries four multi-lane roadways and connects the city center with the southern part of the emirate and the road to Dubai.

This presidential palace in Abu Dhabi was completed in 2017 and serves as the official seat of the government of the United Arab Emirates. The complex covers an area of 930 acres and includes several buildings with a combined interior space of approximately 1.6 million square feet. The central dome rises to a height of 240 feet with a diameter of 121 feet. Visitors can tour selected areas of the palace, including the reception halls featuring inlaid work, calligraphy and materials sourced from various countries. The grounds and architecture demonstrate the connection between traditional Arabian design elements and modern construction principles.

The Emirates Palace extends along Abu Dhabi's coastline across 247 acres (100 hectares) and opened as a palace hotel in 2005. The building contains 394 rooms and suites distributed across two side wings, while the central dome reaches a height of 238 feet (72.6 meters). The architecture combines Arabic design elements with modern hotel functionality, with marble, gold detailing and traditional motifs dominating the public areas. The hotel sits between Corniche Road and the Arabian Gulf and provides guests with a private beach section measuring 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) in length, along with multiple restaurants and conference facilities.

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization presents over 5,000 artifacts documenting 1,400 years of Islamic art and science. Seven galleries display manuscripts, ceramics, astronomical instruments and religious objects gathered from across the Islamic world. The museum traces scientific and artistic achievements from Marrakesh to Samarkand. A central dome features golden mosaic ornamentation with Islamic motifs. This former marketplace building was adapted for museum use and opened in its current form in 2008. The permanent exhibitions offer context to Sharjah's architectural development.

The Jameel Arts Centre presents contemporary art and architecture from the Arab world through rotating exhibitions in its light-filled gallery spaces along Dubai Creek. The museum offers insights into current artistic practices from the region and houses both a permanent collection and temporary displays by international artists. The building's architecture combines clean geometric forms with functional exhibition areas spread across multiple floors. The center regularly organizes events, workshops and educational programs for visitors of all ages.

The Dubai Frame rises in Zabeel Park and forms a 150-meter (492-foot) tall rectangular frame structure connecting two vertical towers with a glass-floored bridge. The observation deck on the upper level provides views of the older districts to the north of the frame and the modern high-rise quarters to the south. Opened in 2018, the structure features gold-tinted cladding and includes a museum on urban development in Dubai at ground level.

The Deira Clocktower has marked a central roundabout in Dubai since 1965 and stands as one of the city's first modern landmarks. The tower features four clock faces and sits at the intersection of major thoroughfares in the older Deira district, which served as Dubai's commercial center during the 1960s. This structure documents an early phase of urban development, when Dubai began expanding its traditional trading framework through new infrastructure projects. The roundabout now connects several roads leading to the port, the souks and residential neighborhoods. The clocktower represents the transition between historic Dubai and the modern metropolis.

Since 2006, this pilot city in Abu Dhabi has been developing a low-carbon urban model, featuring buildings designed to minimize energy consumption through facade orientation, solar panels, and natural cooling systems, representing a different approach to urban development in desert areas.