Dubai is famous for its decadent hotels and record-breaking buildings. Now, the city is continuing to push the boundaries when it comes to architecture, with a 26-story skyscraper that has been designed to look like an iPod. Suitably called The Pad, the residential building is located in Business Bay in central Dubai. Inspired by Apple’s iPods and iPads, the building was designed by Hong Kong-based architecture firm James Law Cybertecture, which beat out stiff competition with its intriguing and unique proposal. Due to open at the end of the year, the building also includes a number of futuristic technological features that will allow the inhabitants to program their own software, such as mood lighting, voice control, biometric locks, and mirrors that can monitor health. Construction began in 2007, but was suspended in 2009, only to be restarted in 2013 again. Upon completion, The Pad will house 256 apartments, ranging from studios, to one- and three-bedroom duplexes overlooking the Dubai canal. The structure of the building is inclined at 6.5 degrees, as the leaning tower references the original iPod device on a charging dock. “Traditionally, architecture is a piece of concrete structure that contains conventional spaces to live or work. The Pad was conceived as the start of a new generation of architecture that is more akin to smart phones, where the buildings are programmable with software to match the needs of individual inhabitants. The concept came from designing the building to mimic a giant iPod,” architect James Law said.

The city of Dubai is home to some of the most innovative architecture in the world, but its latest skyscraper is certainly one of the most “picturesque” we’ve ever seen. The Dubai Frame, otherwise known as the “World’s Largest Picture Frame”, is a 150-meter-high rectangular structure which unique shape frames stunning views of the city’s growing skyline, including the iconic Burj Khalifa. The Dubai Frame opened to tourists and residents after five years in the making on the 1st January 2018. Now, visitors can take in 360-degree views from the 25-square-meter glass panel in the sky bridge’s center. Dubai’s newest landmark is now open to the public and allows visitors to see the city’s past, present, and future in a one-hour tour with unique views of “old” and “new” Dubai from a 150-meter-high glass 93-meter long sky bridge. The location, in Zabeel Park, was especially chosen to give visitors the best view of the city’s older neighborhoods as well as the sparkling new buildings, such as the Burj Khalifa, while telling the story of Dubai’s transformation from humble fishing village to glittering modern metropolis. The project was launched by Dubai Municipality in 2013, and anticipation has been building for the past five years. The unique skyscraper is expected to attract nearly 2 million tourists annually. The Frame is now open daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and is priced at just $US 13.61 for adults and $US 5.45 for children, while adults over 60 and people of determination can visit for free. In 2008, the Dubai Municipality and ThyssenKrupp Elevators hosted an international design competition searching for the city’s next amazing skyscraper. Architect Fernando Donis’s design was chosen as the winner of the competition. However, when it came time to collaborate on the construction of the project, the architect and the city failed to agree on contractual terms. Nonetheless, the city went on with the project, breaking ground in 2014, which resulted in Donis filing an Intellectual Property claim against the city for copyright infringement. On the ground floor museum, visitors will have the chance to take in an innovative augmented reality display that follows Dubai’s transformation from a remote fishing village to a bustling metropolis.

The foundations of the futuristic falcon-inspired UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai were laid down by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The groundbreaking ceremony also included his signing of an official agreement for the UAE’s participation in the expo, reported The Arabian Business. The pavilion is being built by Arabtec Construction, a subsidiary of Arabtec Holding, which won the contract after competing with various national and international companies. The UAE pavilion is designed in the shape of a flying falcon, and is designed to reflect the values of openness, communication and tolerance. Once completed, the pavilion will span an area of over 15,000 square meters, with four-floors including a 1,717 square meter top floor dedicated for hospitality and a 588-square-metre mezzanine floor to house support units. The entire structure is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, The design – by architect Santiago Calatrava – was approved after a seven month design competition in which nine international firms submitted 11 concepts, with the entries evaluated for the extent in which they embodied the main themes of the expo and their representation of UAE heritage.

UAE-based Azizi Developments announced a plan to launch a new US$ 6.8 billion mega community project in the heart of Dubai, reported the Arabian Business. The new project, whose name is yet to be announced, will have a distinctly British feel, with themes and elements influenced by contemporary British culture and way of living, Azizi said in a statement. It added that the development will comprise residential, commercial and retail space, with 105 mid-rise and high-rise residential buildings boasting 30,000 apartments. The new Azizi project will be located in central Dubai with a construction area of nearly 3.1 million square meters and will include education facilities, retail outlets, hospitality, a shopping area and outdoor recreation spaces. Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in November and be completed before Expo 2020. “The rules and regulations in Dubai have provided an ideal environment for business growth, establishing the city as a preferred destination for trade and property investments,” Azizi added.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to build a 176 516 square meters city that will simulate conditions for humans living on Mars. Mars Scientific City comprises the Emirate’s first step towards their ultimate goal of building a city on the red planet itself by 2117. The UAE Government unveiled plans for the Mars Scientific City at the first annual review of their plans for the future, according to The National. The project will cost around US$ 136.1 million. Inside the city, research laboratories will be set aside to investigate how future Mars colonists will produce everything from food and water to energy. In addition to research on Earth, the Emirates Mars Mission is working towards launching the Hope spacecraft in 2020. The spacecraft is set to arrive and begin orbiting Mars in 2021, in time for the UAE’s 50th anniversary. According to The National, the probe would be the first sent to Mars by a Muslim country. Earlier this year, the UAE unveiled their Mars 2117 plan and their goal of building the red planet’s first city within 100 years. They plan to conduct research for the Martian city with the help of an international scientific consortium. According to The National, the Mars Scientific City, as a specialist research city, could offer a first step towards Mars 2117 as scientists delve into how humans might survive in Mars’ harsh environment.