Dubai Frame Architecture – Design Story, Construction, and Symbolism

The Dubai Frame is much more than a photogenic Instagram spot. It's a deliberate piece of urban storytelling – a monumental window between Old and New Dubai.

In this article, we'll unpack the history, design concept, and engineering that turned a simple rectangle into a skyline-defining landmark.

1. From competition to concept

The Dubai Frame began as part of an international design competition organized by ThyssenKrupp Elevator and the Dubai Municipality.

The winning idea

• Architect: Fernando Donis, a Mexican architect who previously worked on iconic Dubai projects.
• Concept: Instead of adding yet another tower, he proposed a frame that would highlight the skyline rather than compete with it.
• Goal: Create a visual link between Old Dubai (to the north) and New Dubai (to the south), using one simple geometric form.

✏️ Design note: Donis described the idea as "a void that frames the city" – architecture that is as much about what it surrounds as what it is.

2. Why a frame? Symbolism and urban meaning

Most cities build towers to stand out. The Dubai Frame instead acts as a lens.

Three layers of symbolism

1. Time – On one side you see Old Dubai (creek, Deira, Karama); on the other, future‑leaning Downtown.
2. Ambition – The frame captures Dubai's journey from modest port to global city in just a few decades.
3. Perspective – The structure invites you to compare where the city came from with where it's going.

A frame in the park

• Location: Zabeel Park, a green space that sits between historic districts and the new central business areas.
• Effect: The Frame rises out of greenery, giving visitors a calm base before the dramatic views above.

3. Key architectural stats

4. Golden cladding and mashrabiya pattern

One of the first things you'll notice is the golden exterior.

Inspiration: Islamic geometry

The cladding is decorated with a stylized pattern inspired by mashrabiya – traditional Arabic latticework that filtered light and created privacy.

This pattern:

• Breaks the scale of the huge surfaces into human-readable detail.
• Casts ever‑changing shadows on the structure throughout the day.
• Gives the Frame a regional identity, tying contemporary design to Islamic art.

Materials & finish

• Aluminum panels with gold-colored stainless-steel coating.
• Designed to withstand harsh sun, heat, and occasional sandstorms.
• Regular cleaning keeps the facade shimmering against the blue sky.

5. Engineering challenges: building a giant rectangle

Building two 150 m legs connected by a 93 m horizontal deck at the top isn't simple.

Structural system

• The Frame uses reinforced concrete cores in the vertical legs.
• Steel trusses and beams form the top horizontal link.
• Engineers had to consider wind loads and thermal expansion in Dubai's climate.

Construction stages (simplified)

1. Foundations and basements – to anchor the enormous load and host services.
2. Vertical legs – cast and climbed in stages using formwork.
3. Top deck – assembled and connected at height, with significant temporary support.

👷 Fun fact: Workers used large cranes and temporary platforms to assemble the top section, a bit like putting the "bridge" between two skyscrapers.

6. Inside the Frame: layout and visitor flow

From an architectural point of view, the Frame is also a carefully choreographed experience.

Ground level

• Ticketing, security, and access via Zabeel Park Gate 4.
• "Old Dubai" multimedia gallery in a curved, tunnel‑like space.
• Elevators at the base of each leg.

Vertical circulation

• Two glass elevators carry visitors up the legs.
• Travel time is roughly 75 seconds, with glimpses of the city through the glass panels.

Top deck

• 360° panoramic corridor with floor‑to‑ceiling glass on both sides.
• Central glass floor strip made from multiple laminated glass layers.
• Subtle lighting strips guide movement and highlight views.

Descent & future gallery

• A different pathway leads down, channeling visitors into the Future Dubai tunnel.
• The exit connects back to the park, gift shop, and facilities.

7. Dubai Frame in context: comparing landmarks

If you're an architecture fan, it's interesting to compare the Frame with other icons:

Rather than reaching for the sky, the Frame reaches for meaning: it's about what you see through it.

8. How to appreciate the design during your visit

Next time you're at the Dubai Frame, try this mini-architecture walk-through:

1. From far away – Notice how the Frame aligns with the skyline; walk until you find a spot where it neatly boxes Burj Khalifa.
2. At the base – Look up along the leg and feel how your eye is pulled to the sky.
3. On the deck – Stand at each long side and compare the "frames" of Old vs New Dubai.
4. In the tunnel – Notice how the futuristic visuals mirror the glass-and-steel language of the structure itself.

Understanding the architectural story adds a whole extra layer to your photos – you're not just capturing a view, you're capturing an idea about a city.