Dubai boasts a number of incredible buildings, and Dubai Frame situated in Zabeel Park is one of them. Being 150 m high and 93 m wide, it is the largest photo frame in the world. If you are looking for a perfect vantage point in the city, you should definitely take note of this structure.
The Frame was designed by Fernando Donis, a Mexican architect: this architectural concept of his let him win the ThyssenKrupp Elevator International Award competition. The participants were offered to submit an emblem which would promote “the new face for Dubai”. According to the architect, Dubai is full of emblems and instead of adding another one, he came up with an idea to frame them all. The building had to be positioned in such a way that old and new Dubai attractions and landmarks would be on either side of the frame, which later became quite a challenge. The Frame has been built using 9,900 m3 of reinforced concrete, 2,000 t of steel, and 2,900 m2 of laminated glass. It also has gold cladding (15,000 m2 in total) incorporating the Expo 2020 Dubai logo designs.
The Dubai Frame serves as a bridge linking the past, the present, and the future of the city, so its visitors are given an opportunity to travel through these three time periods.
On the mezzanine floor of the building, there is the Old Dubai Gallery which, as the name suggests, is dedicated to Dubai’s past. Here, one can explore a multimedia exhibition. Featuring 3D projections and special effects, it lets the visitors experience the sights, sounds, and even smells of old Dubai. The exhibition displays the elements of the Emirati traditions and heritage and provides an insight into the city’s transformation from a fishing village to a modern metropolis.
After getting familiar with Dubai’s old days, one is welcome to take the express lift to reach the Sky deck that represents Present Dubai. While walking on the 93 m long bridge which connects two towers forming the frame, the visitors can admire the awe-inspiring view of both Old Dubai and New Dubai. The transparent glass floor lets them see all 360 degrees. To the north, one sees the Dubai Creek and its surrounding souks, while the skyscrapers of the Burj Khalifa in Downtown and the apartments in Business Bay are located to the south. In the Sky deck area, special Augmented Reality screens are placed: they identify the landmarks which can be seen and give information about them. One can also learn about other aspects such as Dubai’s economy, architecture, infrastructure, and more.
Following the tour of the Sky deck, the visitors are taken back to the mezzanine level (to the other side of the Frame), where they find themselves in the Dubai Future Gallery. This neon vortex tunnel is a kind of a time machine. Walking through the tunnel, one is teleported to Dubai’s future: with the help of projections, special lights, and sound effects, the gallery shows what the city is expected to look like in 2050.
To learn more, please visit the official website of Dubai Frame.
If you would like to know more about Dubai’s past, you may be also interested in visiting Etihad Museum, Once Upon a Time Museum in the Jumeirah Mosque, and Museum Hub featuring UAE antiques. For fans of all things futuristic, we would recommend to go to Museum of the Future.
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