Meet Yahya Jan: The Architect Behind Dubai's Ciel Tower, the World's Tallest Hotel
Gazing at the Dubai skyline, youโre likely admiring the work of Yahya Jan, president and design director of the architecture and engineering firm NORR. His portfolio includes notable landmarks like the Atlantis and Shangri-La Hotels.
Jan's latest endeavor is his most ambitious yet. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, the Ciel Dubai Marina, also known as Ciel Tower, will feature over 1,000 rooms and suites across 82 floors. Standing approximately 1,200 feet (365 meters) tall, it is poised to become the worldโs tallest hotel.
Jan was challenged to design the skyscraper on a triangular plot at Dubai Marina, spanning just 2,500 square metersโremarkably small for such a tall building. โItโs a property thatโs very compressed,โ he told CNN in 2021. โThe constraints were tremendous, and yet we had to make it work.โ
A rendering of Ciel Tower at night. Courtesy of NORR The design includes a glass observation deck offering 360-degree views of the city, the coastline, and iconic landmarks like the Palm Jumeirah. Visitors will also enjoy a rooftop swimming pool and restaurants.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the project is energy efficient, using 25% less power for air conditioning compared to similar buildings. โThis project is not just about architecture. Itโs about architecture and engineering coming together,โ Jan said. โThatโs why I love the project so much. It is my passion, the convergence of science and art.โ
Throughout the construction, Jan has remained deeply involved. โWhen you design a project as complex as the Ciel, you can never let your guard down, you can never say itโs over,โ he stated. โItโs a continuous process.โ
Arriving in Dubai in 1996, Jan never envisioned leaving such a legacy, having designed many of the cityโs iconic office developments, residential towers, and malls.
Jan, who grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, moved to the US at 18 on a scholarship. After studying structural engineering at Princeton, he earned a Masterโs in architecture. He worked in the US for nine years before a job offer to design the Emirates Towers office and hotel complex brought him to Dubai.
Now 61, Jan has spent 28 years in Dubai, despite not planning to stay so long. โI got carried away with the excitement here,โ he said.
Regarding Ciel Tower, named after the French word for sky, Jan hopes it will achieve timeless status, akin to New York Cityโs Empire State Building or Chrysler Building. โThe reason I like the name Ciel is because in our own lives, the sky is the limit,โ he said. โIโve had a chance to grow and do things I didnโt think I would get a chance to do. Itโs been amazing.โ
