Capital Gate - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 23 km from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Capital Gate is a skyscraper situated at Khaleej Al Arabi Street in Abu Dhabi. Also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, it is one of the architectural marvels in UAE and among the top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.

Developed by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Capital Gate was designed by architectural firm RMJM and was completed in 2011. It measures 160 m in height which translates to 35 storeys and occupies 16, 000 sq. m of area for commercial usage. It is one of the tallest buildings in the city and was designed to incline 18° west, more than four times that of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It has been certified as the 'World's Furthest Leaning Man Made Tower,' by the Guinness World Records.

Every aspect of this amazing structure is unique and truly a symbol of Abu Dhabi's economic and technological prowess. The tower is distinguished by a dramatic steel and glass facade with a striking organic form that represents a swirling spiral of sand. A sculptural stainless steel 'splash' flows down the front and at low-level forms the hotel entrance canopy, flowing over the existing grandstand and acting as a solar shading device for both the building and the grandstand seating.

Structurally, this challenging building sits on an intensive distribution of 490 piles which were drilled 30 m underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind and seismic forces caused by the distinctive lean of the building. The Capital Gate project was able to achieve its 18° inclination through an engineering technique, known as pre-cambering, that allows floor plates to be stacked vertically up to the 12th story and staggered, one over another, between 300 to 1,400 millimeters (12 to 55 in). A free form of an internal atrium with a dynamic glass roof brings natural light and space deep into the tower. External lighting is designed to minimize both light pollution and energy consumption, based on a combination of low-level landscape lighting with facade lighting comprising a net of compact LED clusters integrated into the design of the steel glazing system.

The tower is the focal point of the Capital Centre. Capital Gate is not only a visually appealing monument but a hardcore functional building with offices, a large exhibition center and a hotel as well. It is also home to one of a kind 'sky spa' in Abu Dhabi which is located on the nineteenth floor offering a stunning view of the city's skyline. It amalgamates commerce, tourism, and hospitality all under one roof.

Timings: 24 Hours

Entry: Free