Emaar Properties is preparing to restart work on the long-delayed Dubai Creek Tower, with a tender for a redesigned scheme expected to be released within the next three months. The announcement was made by founder Mohamed Alabbar during the 11th Dubai International Project Management Forum held during the second week of January 2026. It signals a renewed momentum for one of the city’s most closely watched unbuilt landmarks.
Originally conceived as a structure that would surpass the Burj Khalifa in height, Dubai Creek Tower was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic as Emaar reassessed its ambition and direction. Alabbar confirmed that the project’s concept has since been reworked, noting that height alone is no longer the primary driver. Instead, the renewed vision prioritizes architectural quality and the relationship between the building and its surrounding environment within Dubai Creek Harbour.
Alabbar emphasized that Emaar is not pursuing records for their own sake, positioning the new Creek Tower as a qualitative evolution rather than a purely vertical one. In parallel, the developer is advancing Dubai Square, a large mixed-use district within Dubai Creek Harbour anchored by Dubai Square Mall, which is currently under construction and targeted to open within three years.
Remarks at the Forum frame the return of Dubai Creek Tower not only as a design milestone, but as part of a wider recalibration of how large-scale development is conceived and delivered in Dubai.
Read more at Construction Week Online.