Plans for 1km high Dubai tower unveiled

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Plans to develop what could become the world's tallest building - a 1km high mixed-use tower in Dubai - have been unveiled.

Developer Nakheel said the Islamic design-inspired Nakheel Tower would have "more than 200 floors" and be part of a multi-billion pound harbour development.

It would not give eact figures on exactly how high or how expensive the tower would be. But it is expected the tower would rise above the emirate's own Burj Dubai, which is said to be current holder of the "world's tallest building" position.

Nakheel chief executive officer Christopher O'Donnell said: "From our perspective, we are building a tower that's going to be over 1km in height. This is a complete iconic development. It may be the tallest. Someone may build something taller."

The Nakheel Tower includes about 150 lifts and would be so tall that it experiences five different microclimatic conditions over its height. The temperature in the atmosphere at the top of the building could be as much as 10 degrees cooler than the bottom.

Planned high speed shuttle lifts will allow people to see the sunset twice - from the bottom and again from the top of the building.

Included in the development would be another 40 towers, ranging in height from 20 floors to 90 floors, over a site of 270 ha.

The project includes more than 19,000 residential apartments, from affordable family homes to exclusive villas and penthouses. There would also be more than 950,000 sq m  of commercial and retail space.

The proposal also details plans for some 3,500 hotel rooms. There will be a "super luxury" 100-room hotel at the top of Nakheel Tower.

The scheme is expected to take at least 10 years to build and the company said there would be about 30,000 workers involved in its development.

Nakheel's other developments in Dubai include the Palm Jumeirah and "The World" - 200 man-made islands shaped like continents.