The international competition to design Inaura, a 210-meter luxury hotel and residential building set within Downtown Dubai, has been won by MVRDV. Occupying a prominent site between Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, the project will have views toward the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, and the project adopts a deliberately restrained approach to landmark design within one of the world’s most visually saturated skylines.
Inaura establishes its identity through a single, unexpected architectural gesture: a luminous, jewel-like ovoid structure embedded within the high-rise at roughly three-quarters of its height. Inspired by the form of a pearl, the glowing volume is subtly revealed by lifting the upper portion of the otherwise refined, rectilinear building and creates a moment of intrigue that distinguishes it from its taller, more overtly expressive neighbors.
Developed by Arada, the project responds directly to questions posed in the competition brief regarding how a new skyscraper might achieve iconic presence without resorting to spectacle. MVRDV’s proposal provides clarity, efficiency, and spatial hierarchy, using the embedded Sky Lounge as both a visual marker and a functional organizer of the building’s program.
The ovoid structure houses the Sky Lounge, including a VIP space and club offering panoramic views across Downtown Dubai. Below, a four-story plinth contains ground-floor lobbies and a restaurant, with a three-story gym above, followed by a spa and infinity pool atop the podium. The lower portion of the tower accommodates a 101-room hotel and 105 “Urban Apartments,” while seven floors above the Sky Lounge are dedicated to nine expansive “Sky Villas” ranging from four to six bedrooms.
The façade reinforces a “city-to-sky” narrative through a series of gradual transitions. Deep, two-meter wraparound balconies provide solar shading while creating strong horizontal bands, with architectural elements becoming progressively lighter and more transparent toward the top.
“Inaura brings a new character to the Dubai skyline—exquisite yet demure,” said Jacob van Rijs, founding partner of MVRDV.
Following the competition win, MVRDV will continue its involvement as design guardian, with Dewan Architects + Engineers serving as lead consultant. Interiors will be developed based on an MVRDV concept aligned with Arada’s focus on fitness, wellness, and lifestyle.
Learn more at MVRDV.