DUBAI is getting ready to build the world's tallest residential clock tower in a nod to London's Big Ben.
The immense building will stand at a staggering 450 metres high (1,476ft) - almost five times higher than its 96-metre British counterpart.
Aeternitas Tower, dubbed 'London Gate', will be the child product of Dubai-based real estate developer London Gate and Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Franck Muller.
The sky-high tower will have a glistening all-glass facade with the enormous clock at the very top.
Measuring 40 metres tall by 30 metres wide, the clock will be built in Germany and be visible from miles away.
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Following the Swiss watchmaker's art-deco style, the clock will featured irregular squashed and stretched numbers.
The design will also be infused across the residences inside it.
“We believe the clock will be seen from six kilometers away because of the sheer height of the building,” said Tom Hill, media relations coordinator at London Gate.
“We wanted to do something different that hasn’t been done before in Dubai."
Developers purchased a plot of land in the heart of Dubai marina, which already has the beginnings of an unfinished 106-storey structure.
Once complete, the monumental building will be home to 649 units, ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments, villas and mansion duplexes.
The ultra-lux residential clock tower will offer residents access to hotel -like services and facilities, but with the privacy and comfort of their own home.
These include housekeeping, a concierge service, and a 24-hour valet and porter.
It will also feature shared amenities like health facilities, including a gym, padel court, spa, yoga studio, and swimming pool, to arts and culture spaces such as a cinema, music room, and library.
Residents should be ready to move into their new homes in 2027, London Gate estimates.
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London Gate launched phase one of its sales last week, with one-bedroom flats beginning at a whopping AED 1.6 million (£343,032).
The tower's name means "eternity" in Latin and is inspired by the Franck Muller Aeternitas watch series, one of the brand's most sophisticated designs with a "eternal calendar," said Erol Baliyan, managing director at Franck Muller.
Balyian added that luxury elements such as brushed and polished metals will be juxtaposed against marble surfaces, textured textiles, and vibrant colours.
Meanwhile, the foyer and reception area include curved walls, archways, and oval furniture to mimic the brand's characteristic oblong face of its Curvex watch.
“Attention to detail is paramount, with meticulously crafted joinery and carefully arranged lighting and furniture, ensuring a refined ambiance,” he said.
The Aeternitas Tower represents a developing trend in Dubai as branded residences—collaborations between designer labels and property developers—are becoming increasingly popular in the Emirate.
According to Savills Research, the city has 51 completed projects as of October 2023, a figure that is predicted to quadruple by 2030, with names such as fashion firm Karl Lagerfeld, automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, and hoteliers 25Hours all unveiling residential projects in the previous year.
