Description
It is the UAE's latest surreal landmark: The unusual giant rectangular frame officially opened to public in January 2018. The Dubai Frame, a big, gold-plated picture frame, is the emirate's latest enormous architectural ventures. Measuring 150 metres by 93 metres, its location near Zabeel Park was carefully chosen to give its visitors the best view of both old and new Dubai: To the north you can see the city as it was, to the south you can see it as it is and will be with its hyper-modern skyscrapers and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. This is one of the spots where to take in the emirate's ever expanding skyline!
360-Degree View
The towers, two in number, are connected by a 100 sqm bridge, which has a 25 sqm glass panel providing a 360-degree view. Why it is worth visiting? Dubai Frame makes for an incredible vantage point 48 floors above the ground - yes, this is not for the faint-hearted, as it leaves you giggling nervously! Good news: On Fridays, Zabeel Park hosts the Ripe Market, where you can walk around and eat and drink local specialties. Bye, bye nervous stomach!
Mezzanine Museum
The Dubai Frame takes visitors on a journey through time on three different levels: Old and present Dubai as well as future Dubai, which is supported by augmented reality activated screens helping visitors to identify, explore and observe buildings and landmarks. The Mezzanine Museum showcases Dubai's transformation from dusty, sleepy fishing village to nascent oil state to glittering metropolis.
Historical Information
The exterior design was inspired by the logo of Expo 2020. The Dubai Frame was designed by the award-winning architect Fernando Donis, who also designed Dubai's Porsche Design Towers and the Renaissance Tower. The giant frame officially opened to the public on January 1st, 2018.
The accusation of it being a stolen idea from the Mexican architect Donis overshadowed the opening of the 50-storey portal. It hit the headlines all over the world as the "biggest stolen building of all time". Donis' frame proposal won the international architecture competition of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award Dubai in 2009.
How to get there
Dubai Frame is located at Zabeel Park. Parking is available near the gates of the park. The best way to get to the frame is gate #4. Dubai Metro runs every five minutes. Take the red line to Al Jafiliya; from there the frame is just within minutes of walking distance.