Emaar invites tourists for 200-m-high Sky Walk

Emaar Properties has announced the launch of an exhilarating tourist attraction that will especially appeal to adventure lover with the new Sky Walk, a 200-m-high cantilever observation corridor at the Address Sky View development in Downtown Dubai. Sky Walk joins the league of Emaar’s other iconic attractions such as At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY. It opens to the entire expanse of Downtown Dubai including its famed attractions such as Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and The Dubai Fountain. The views expand further afield to the upcoming new icon Dubai Creek Tower and of the Arabian Gulf.

At level 53 of Address Sky View, and suspended at the imposing height of 200 metres, Sky Walk is another first-of-its-kind in Downtown Dubai. Address Sky View, a residential and hospitality project, also features the iconic 85-m-long Sky Bridge, at 220 m high, featuring eight units of luxurious Sky Collection Duplexes, a 70-m-long infinity pool and other amenities. Sky Walk offers the unique experience of taking in spectacular views from a height of 200 m as the visitors navigate the observation corridor in safety harnesses, walking literally ‘outside the building,’ said the developer of the world's tallest tower. The 30-m-long cantilever Sky Walk, fixed to the structure of one of the two Address Sky View towers, is a half-oval structure offering 45 m of walking distance. To ensure maximum comfort level of visitors, high-tech tuned damping parts are being fixed underneath the Sky Walk. Mohamed Alabbar, the chairman of Emaar Properties, said: "Address Sky View is one of the prestigious upcoming developments in Downtown Dubai that not only features a world-class hotel and serviced residence but also the iconic Sky Bridge and now a new Sky Walk." "Appealing to adventure seekers, Sky Walk will add to the touristic appeal of the city and offer visitors a never-before experience. Lifting the Sky Walk in place is a true engineering feat accomplished seamlessly by a team of experts from across the world. Sky Walk is another demonstration of the global collaboration that our nation promotes," observed Alabbar. A global team of over 300 engineering, construction and design experts worked on the project over a period of one year to achieve a new milestone as the Sky Walk, weighing over 350 tonnes of structural steel, has been lifted to position using customised strand jacking technology. The international team working on the project had to address several design challenges for Sky Walk from the use of extensive loads of steel to the ambient temperature difference. They introduced several innovative approaches for the on-schedule progress of Sky Walk construction. Among the engineering features, a 4-m-high steel girder was designed to hold the huge load of the Sky Walk that will be transferred to the core walls of the Address Sky View tower. The main body was assembled and erected in situ using high-capacity cranes that are not commonly used in the region. The Sky Walk Steel Structure was divided into two main pieces, the girder with a total weight of almost 250 tonnes, and the Sky Walk with a total weight of almost 350 tonnes. Special high-capacity hydraulic jacks were imported from Switzerland to lift the two main steel pieces. Each element was assembled on the ground over a period of three months from May to August 2017 and lifted into position using Strand Jacking Technology. The Sky Walk truss, the heaviest component, was lifted to the height of 200 m using high-capacity hydraulic jacks and cables, said Alabbar. The lifting of Sky Walk was accomplished through detailed planning, team work and the use of advanced technology. It had to take into consideration high wind speeds and the high ambient temperature during summer. Each element was lifted and erected following the highest standards of safety and security. Linked directly to The Dubai Mall Metro station through a travellator, the 60-floor Address Sky View towers are 260-m-high, and offers spectacular views of Downtown Dubai and the city, said the developer in a statement. It is designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architects of Burj Khalifa, and will feature 169 luxurious hotel rooms on 12 levels with amenities including restaurants, lounges, a world-class event venue, meeting rooms, three pools including a rooftop pool and a spa. Address Residences Sky View will have 551 serviced residences that are fully furnished with floor-to-ceiling windows, it stated. Address Sky View hotel and Address Residences Sky View are operated by Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium luxury hotel and serviced residences brand under Emaar Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of Emaar Properties