ETIHAD Towers, a path-breaking luxury development by Sheikh Suroor Projects Department (SSPD), is on schedule to hand over its first homes and offices later this year alongside rich lifestyle amenities including a five-star hotel and boutique retail arcade.

The spectacular five-tower development located near the Corniche in the exclusive beachside Al Ras Al Akhdar district of Abu Dhabi is a striking addition to the capital city’s skyline and promises a new life-style destination.

Sprawling over 500,000 sq m and costing Dh2.5 billion ($680 million), the elegantly-crafted Etihad Towers is designed by DBI Design, Australia’s largest architecture and design company.

DBI won a private competition for the project in 2006, against six other companies.

Using the capital’s history as a port city, the designers came up with the idea of billowing sails when imagining the curves of the building. Sketches of falcons and images of overlapping and unfurling flower petals provided the organic quality to how the buildings should be grouped.

The five towers, ranging from 54 to 75 floors, rise over 300 m high offering panoramic views of the city and Arabian Sea. These include three residential towers, one office tower and a hotel tower.

Every detail has been hand-picked and crafted to perfection – from materials, details, finishes, spatial planning to lighting and the overall ambiance, according to Sami Al Khuwaiter, project director, Etihad Towers.

“Abu Dhabi has established its credentials as a truly global city and today is witnessing an unprecedented developmental momentum. The rising prominence of the city as a regional thought leader and business hub has been complemented by the arrival of global professionals, who demand the best in lifestyle choices,” he says.

The different components of Etihad Towers will open doors in phases beginning this year. The 885 apartments and penthouses, ranging from one to five bedrooms in the residential towers are now available for lease. Each residential tower has a dedicated gymnasium, sauna, landscaped gardens and decked pool area. Residents will have access to an extensive choice of stylish cafes, restaurants, two levels of boutique shops, health clubs and round-the-clock concierge service.

Etihad Towers ... in close proximity to business and official nerve centres.

With more than 45,000 sq m of leasable area over 54 floors in the shortest of the five towers, the office building offers commercial environments with superior technology and design features, with the emphasis being on environmental sustainability, ergonomics, technical practicalities as well as luxury and comfort. Facilities include a high-capacity car-park, reception areas, concierge service and discreet but effective 24/7 security.

The shopping precinct spread over two levels features an exclusive collection of  more than 30 designer boutiques offering luxury fashion, jewelry, timepieces and accessories.

Etihad Towers’ signature building will be the ‘Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi’, a five-star hotel with 382 elegant rooms and suites, 199 luxurious serviced apartments, and an array of beauty, fashion and relaxation amenities including the Talise Spa, with 13 treatment suites including the Rasoul and Hammam suites. It will be operated by the Jumeirah Group.

The complex also features a selection of dining venues. These include 12 food and beverage outlets and two independent restaurants set in sophisticated and luxurious surroundings and offering the most diverse selection of cuisine from around the world, including French, Japanese and contemporary Lebanese.

The master-development, with its own private beach, will also feature within its podium one of Abu Dhabi’s largest and most contemporary convention centres that can cater for groups of more than 2,200 and a 1,800-sq-m grand ballroom that can accommodate 1,000 people for a set menu and about 1,400 people in conference mode.

Four levels of underground car parking with valet services will serve more than 3,000 cars, adding to the convenience of residents and visitors.

“Spectacularly landscaped, Etihad Towers is in close proximity to the business and official nerve centres of the city including the Central Bank, Foreign Ministry, Adnoc headquarters and Emirates Palace. The towers have quick and easy access to the international airport and local transport links,” concludes Al Khuwaiter.